Towards sustainable trade: Lamy hosts day-long event to explore pathways (Cancún)

European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy today, on the eve of the World Trade Organisation Ministerial, opened a day-long event dedicated to exploring pathways for sustainable trade. The event, entitled 'Sustainable Trade Day', brings together negotiators and civil society to enhance mutual understanding.

'Nobody has a monopoly on wisdom, least of all in an area as complex as the relationship between trade and sustainable development, and we in the European Commission are eager to hear - and listen to - your points of view on the issues identified for today's discussions and presentations,' Commissioner Lamy said in remarks prepared for the opening. He said the Commission was particularly open to suggestions for concrete steps to advance sustainable trade.

Dr. Supachai, WTO Director General said: "sustainable development issues permeate all aspects of the Doha agenda. The WSSD called for the successful completion of the Doha Round. This Ministerial Conference is an important step along the way. Success in this Round will be a contribution to sustainable development vital for us all".

He appealed to all present to send a strong message to all of those involved in negotiations in Cancun to convince them that all parties had a responsibility to ensure that what came out of the week's discussions supports sustainable development - and is seen to do so.

WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi is keynote speaker at the event. The Commission hopes it will help to identify new ideas and policies to enrich the contribution trade policy makes to sustainable development, as well as leading to successful outcomes for the World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation.

Possible paths include the use of market-driven initiatives to support sustainable development; the development of public-private partnerships ; and the role of Sustainability Impact Assessments in trade policy.


For more on Sustainability Impact Assessments, go to:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/global/sia/index_en.htm

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