Brussels, 04/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - The negotiations for a plurilateral agreement on liberalising environmental goods (EGA) continue apace along the path mapped out in early March, following the COP21 climate conference, by the countries taking part in the negotiations (see EUROPE 11515).
Negotiators from the EU and 16 other WTO countries taking part in the EGA deepened their discussions at the 13th round of technical level negotiations on 18-22 April. The European Commission stated in a report on Wednesday 4 May that these discussions covered goods that should be included in the future agreement, and that the discussions were based on so-called staging lists which were tabled before the round.
The staging lists comprise goods that will be liberalised immediately at the entry into force of the EGA; goods to be liberalised after some transitional periods; and other goods, including goods on which reservations have been expressed. Working bilaterally or in groups, the negotiators identified goods of common interest and discussed sensitive goods.
The negotiators also examined technical work done by customs experts during the previous rounds on the customs classification of 340 environmental goods included on a list drawn up in December 2015. This aim of this work is to ensure customs' and industry's practical implementation of the removal of customs duties for environmental goods included in the future agreement.
In addition, the negotiators discussed the draft legal text of the agreement, including a possible work programme on services and non-tariff issues, and the relations of other WTO members to the EGA. An information session on the EGA negotiations has furthermore been programmed for member countries interested in taking part in the EGA in the long term.
The next round is planned for 20 June, and the parties want to stimulate negotiations on the political level at the next ministerial meetings of the G20 and OECD. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)