Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development Elements of A Southern Agenda

To better understand Southern concerns about the forthcoming trade and environment negotiations and to explore how an emergent Southern agenda might take shape.

Analysis based on two ‘data sets’: #1. Synoptic table of Southern Proposals. #2. Synoptic table of Delegate Consultations.

#1#1 Environment to Sustainable Development Development #4#4 Qatar changed the whole ballgame Qatar changed the whole ballgame #2#2 Apprehension to Opportunity Southern Apprehensions #3#3

Actors Agenda Arenas ~ Globalization ~ Sustainable Development ~ WTO ~ MEAs ~ Domestic Agency The Motors of the Trade and Environment Agenda: 3 A’s ~ Multiple Actors ~ Multiple Locales

Yes. But it ain’t what it used to be! Life After Doha?

Hesitantly, and as part of larger compromise, the South has accepted T&E on the agenda.

Its no longer a question of whether trade and environment will be linked, but how! Life After Doha?

a) The Doha mandate on trade and environment was left purposely vague.

Life After Doha? b) The issue is very new and its implications to the WTO still unexplored.

Life After Doha? c) Parties have yet to fully develop and firm up their positions.

The Big News: #1. Just because the developing countries accepted the Doha Workplan (paras 31, 32, 33) does not mean that their long-standing apprehensions on trade and environment have disappeared. #1. Just because the developing countries accepted the Doha Workplan (paras 31, 32, 33) does not mean that their long-standing apprehensions on trade and environment have disappeared. #2. There IS an emerging sense of opportunity about possibly turning the trade and environment agenda into a trade and sustainable development agenda as a way of better aligning discussions to developing country interests. #2. There IS an emerging sense of opportunity about possibly turning the trade and environment agenda into a trade and sustainable development agenda as a way of better aligning discussions to developing country interests.

On the one hand: There is now both the opportunity (within the Doha text) and the inclination (by Southern delegates) to move the agenda towards sustainable development. On the one hand: There is now both the opportunity (within the Doha text) and the inclination (by Southern delegates) to move the agenda towards sustainable development.

On the other hand: Given the South’s capacity constraints and the history for suspicion of environmental issues, the South could very easily slip back into a defensive, risk- minimizing strategy of containment. On the other hand: Given the South’s capacity constraints and the history for suspicion of environmental issues, the South could very easily slip back into a defensive, risk- minimizing strategy of containment.

Footnotes for the South #2. The burden of moving towards a proactive agenda lies firmly with the South. #1. Retreating into the defensive trenches is likely to be a recipe for frustration.

Market Access (protectionism, competitiveness) Technical Barriers to Trade Especially, Labeling, IPR Southern Apprehensions – 1: Fears of Environmental Protectionism

Which MEAs are trade related Environmental Goods & Services Environmental Measures Southern Apprehensions – 2: Nervousness about Doha’s Unclear Mandate

Pushing the agenda too hard, too fast, could backfire. Southern Apprehensions – 3: Unease about an Agenda that might spiral out of control

Getting from Apprehension to Opportunity Challenges for the South Moving to a Proactive Agenda is going to be neither easy, nor automatic. The responsibility as well as the incentive to do so lies squarely with the South.

Getting from Apprehension to Opportunity - 1 Build Clarity Seek clarity on Doha’s mandate; and seek it fast.

Getting from Apprehension to Opportunity - 2 Build a Southern Agenda Only the South itself can build an authentic Southern Agenda Traditional Knowledge, Benefit Sharing & IPR Polluter Pays Principle ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibility’ and ‘Special and Differential Treatment’ Putting Development into MEAs

Getting from Apprehension to Opportunity - 3 Build Linkages National Linkages Intra- Institutional Linkages Inter- Institutional Linkages

Getting from Apprehension to Opportunity - 4 Build Capacity Build Capacities where they Count: Negotiation processes National Research & Analysis Domestic Dissemination & Implementation

#1. West Africa (Senegal) Southern & East Africa West Asia & North Africa Central America North Asia Caribbean Southern & East Africa West Asia & North Africa Central America North Asia Caribbean #2. South America (Chile) #3. South & South-East Asia (Sri Lanka)

Identifying Our Own Priorities #1 Creating Options & Alternatives #2 Envisioning a New Agenda #3 Where do we go from here? Taking the Next Step: Imagining a Southern Agenda

Imagining a New Agenda Identifying Our Own Priorities What are the most important concerns and most pressing priorities for the South in general, and the region in particular, in terms of the current trade and environment issues (including issues beyond Doha and Beyond the CTE)?

Imagining a New Agenda Creating Options and Alternatives What innovative options can be envisaged that would meet the South’s and the region’s Trade and Environment concerns in the immediate and ongoing negotiations?

Imagining a New Agenda Envisioning a New Agenda Thinking about the longer term trade and environment debate in the longer term (thinking ), what would be the form and content of a trade and environment agenda that the South can own and advance as its own?

Outputs & Outcomes Most Important: It’s a Dialogue A Southern Conversation Indigenous Analysis Regionally Informed

#3. A Resource-book on Trade and Environment #3. A Resource-book on Trade and Environment Outputs & Outcomes #1. Regional Backgrounders Regional Think-Pieces Regional Consultations #1. Regional Backgrounders Regional Think-Pieces Regional Consultations #2. Elements of A Southern Agenda #2. Elements of A Southern Agenda