Trade and Sustainable Development is addressed in Chapter 2 of Agenda
21, and in Chapters V and
X of the
Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation.
Trade liberalisation and globalisation can have both positive and negative
effects on sustainable development. There is a continued need to support
efforts by developing countries to integrate themselves into and derive
benefits from the multilateral trading system. At the same time, attention
also must be given to enhancing the contribution of the multilateral trading
system to sustainable development.
A supportive international economic environment is crucial. Agenda 21
calls for “a supportive international climate for achieving environment
and development goals by: (a) promoting sustainable development through
trade liberalisation; (b) making trade and environment mutually
supportive; (c) providing adequate financial resources to developing
countries dealing with international debt; and (d) encouraging
macroeconomic policies conducive to environment and development.”
Trade and and sustainable development were discussed at the first,
second, third, fourth and fifth session of the Commission. Within the
framework of the Commission’s multi-year programme of work, this issue
was again discussed at the eighth session, together with economic growth
and investment, as one of the major cross-sectoral themes.
Recognizing the major role that trade can play in achieving sustainable
development and in poverty eradication, the Plan of Implementation
encourages WTO members to pursue the work programme agreed at the Fourth
WTO Ministerial Conference.
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