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18 November  2021 
(21-8717) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Trade and Environment  
Special Session   
 
  
REPORT BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT  
IN SPECIAL SESSION (CTESS) TO THE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE (TNC)  
AMBASSADOR  LEOPOLD ISMAEL SAMBA  
1. Regarding the work per se of the Committee on Trade and Environment in Special Session,  
there have been no new developments . Having said that , I am pleased to note renewed interest , 
especially these past two years , in issues crosscutting  trade and the environment , even though 
delegations  have chosen to have mor e in-depth  discussions on this topic in other forums . I note in 
this respect the work done by the  Committee on Trade and Environment in Regular Session , 
Trade  and Environmental Sustainability Structured Dialogue (TESSD) discussions , the 
Informal  Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP) and the 
discussions on fossil fuel subsidy reform.  
2. Moreover , in this period leading up to the Twelfth Ministerial Conference , I am keen to lend 
my support to the inclusion in any draft ministerial declaration  of a strong reference to trade and  
environment  issues , including climate change and recognition of the crucial role  played by the WTO  
in making much -needed progress in this domain . 
3. Lastly , I continue to be very involved  in the work of the least developed countries (LDCs)  on 
environmental issues . With the support of the Secretariat, I have decided  to hold  an information 
session for this group of countries  on trade and environment issues . The purpose of this session is 
to update the delegations from these countries  in order to enable them to make a meaningful 
contribution  to the various discussion and negotiation  forums that are dealing for the time being 
with trade and environment issues , and to allow them to prepare thems elves as best as they can  for 
the ministerial conference . This session will take place on  19 November  2021.  
4. As always , I remain at the disposal of all delegations  to assist in any way I can on this matter.  
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