Global conversation aimed at removing environmental tariffs
Officials from 14 governments meeting in Geneva today announced the launch of international negotiations that will aim to eliminate tariffs on "environmental goods" "“ products like wind turbines, solar water heaters, filters for wastewater treatment, and photovoltaic panels.
The governments involved in the talks represent Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the EU, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States.
In a joint statement, the governments noted that "urgent action" is needed to address challenges such as environmental protection and climate change.
"We will now engage in intensive negotiations, meeting regularly in Geneva, to discuss the substance of the agreement, including product coverage," the joint statement said. "We are committed to work towards the timely and successful conclusion of the agreement."
The statement added that an environmental goods deal could be extended to all members of the WTO if a "critical mass" of the organization's members agrees to participate.
The first stage of the talks, which officials say they aim to conclude by the end of 2015, will focus on eliminating tariffs on environmental goods. To that end, the negotiations will build on a list of 54 environmental goods that was agreed by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2012. Subsequent negotiating rounds may tackle more complicated topics like environmental services, non-tariff barriers, and government procurement.
"By eliminating tariffs on the technologies we all need to protect our environment, we can make environmental goods cheaper and more accessible for everyone, making essential progress toward our environmental protection and trade policy goals," said Peter Froman, the US Trade Representative.
Peter C. Brun, Managing Director of the SETI Alliance, also welcomed the announcement saying,"An early breakthrough in international trade negotiations on environmental goods would serve as an important signal to the world of the need to remove unnecessary barriers to trade in the technologies that are meant to deliver important and affordable climate change solutions."