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Trade and trade policy play a key role in the green transition needed to tackle climate change, the world’s biggest threat to human development and ecological survival. The Climate Competitiveness project aims to support developing countries’ engagement in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE).

The CTE contributes to identifying and understanding the relationship between trade and the environment in order to promote sustainable development.

This project is working with the following countries - Kenya, Mauritius, Senegal, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Viet Nam, Nepal and the Philippines.

Furthermore, it will support small businesses to build climate resilience as well as facilitate the preparation of submissions by the countries.

Why Mauritius sees opportunity in old batteries

5 March 2025

Mauritius is importing electric vehicles to bring down the country’s carbon emissions. The problem is what to do with the batteries once they wear out. That’s why ITC is working with the island nation to explore the case for a regional approach to recycling end-of-life batteries from Mauritius and nearby countries.

5 March 2025, Port Louis, Mauritius – Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, together with EU Ambassador Oskar Benedikt open the workshop on trade policy and lithium ion battery waste.

Photo by ITC

Vehicles produce about a quarter of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, so switching to electric vehicles is a big step towards meeting its climate goals.

Small island nations like Mauritius face the biggest risks from warming temperatures and rising seas. The country is developing circular economy policies to address the climate crisis.

However, electric vehicles come with a challenge: what to do with the lithium-ion batteries once they wear out?

Recycling requires a large supply of dead batteries. With small supplies, recycling businesses can’t turn a profit.

But Mauritius sees an opportunity in this problem. By importing dead batteries from nearby countries, a recycling plant could reach the economies of scale needed to succeed, subject to national environmental regulations.

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Preparing for EUDR in the Philippines

17 January 2025 

ITC and the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines (DTI) held practical workshops around the country on how to comply with the upcoming EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR).  

Workshops on cacao were held in Manila and Davao City, with a session on rubber in Zamboanga City. The sessions brought together business leaders and policymakers to deepen their understanding of the upcoming regulation set to take effect later this year. 

Almost 180 participants attended, including high-level, regional DTI officials and the Head of Trade for the EU Delegation to the Philippines, Philipp Dupuis.  

ITC trade and environment policy advisor Michaela Summerer led the workshops, which focused on producers' obligations and requirements, supply chain scenarios and how to prepare for them, and data collection.  

Discussions unpacked the practical challenges to complying with the regulation. Participants brought up issues such as producing documentation for EU operators, providing accurate geolocation information, and deployment of a traceability system.

After the workshop in Davao, the ITC team visited three farms: Sumayo Farm, Puentespina Farm of Malagos Chocolate, and Gran Verde Farm. They were joined by Dante Muyco, chairperson of the Davao Regional Cacao Industry Council. They saw how the industry implements sustainability mechanisms, as well as the adoption of innovative practices such as regenerative farming, traceability, and circular economy.  

The EUDR will be applied from 30 December 2025. This is the last year for businesses to adjust to the new requirements. There is still work to be done to disseminate practical information on the regulation. The workshops held mark an important step toward this. 

ITC and Dominican Republic agree on building sargassum value chains

17 December 2024

ITC and Dominican representatives discuss technical cooperation.

In December 2024, ITC received a delegation of the Dominican Republic at its headquarters, led by Manuel Diaz Franjul, Director of Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Together with ITC Director Escipion Joaquin Oliveira Gomez, the team discussed the challenges the country is facing due to the sargassum seaweed "invasion".

Under the EU-funded "Climate Competitiveness" project, ITC will strengthen the emerging value chain for sargassum in the Dominican Republic. Small businesses and researchers are already active in promising areas where further investment is needed, including collection of sargassum; production of goods from sargassum (construction material, fertilizers or compost); feasibility of sargassum as a source of combustible organic matter for energy generation.

In 2025, ITC looks forward to deepening engagement on sargassum value chains with the Dominican Republic and its small businesses as well as with other affected Caribbean states.

Report on renewable energy and trade released

30 October 2024

Ambassadors’ panel at the WTO Trade and Environment Week.

Addressing the climate crisis requires decarbonization of the global economy with around 75% of the world's emissions coming from the energy supply. Under the Climate Competitiveness project, ITC has prepared a report that looks at the role of trade policy in supporting the energy transition in developing countries. The main findings are that low tariffs have reduced the cost of renewable energy 🌞🍃 deployment by enabling access to affordable imports. 

The analysis offers policy options for developing countries, including stronger regulatory frameworks, investment in export market knowledge, regional market expansion and capacity building in customs and standards. Trade agreements can also attract foreign investment and ease market entry of experts. The report may be accessed here.

ITC looks forward to further engage with developing countries on Aid for Trade, for example through WTO fora such as the Trade and Environment week (October 2024) to support the energy transition and job creation.

ITC and Philippines Department of Trade and Industry launch cooperation on trade and climate change

1 August 2024

Participants at a workshop on trade and climate change in Manila.

ITC and the Philippines' Department for Trade and Industry's Bureau of International Trade Relations convened a workshop in July in Manila to discuss the nexus between trade and climate change. In a project funded by the European Union, the two organizations will work together to provide evidence on how trade can support both climate mitigation and adapt to policy objectives. It will also provide capacity building to small businesses on environment related issues. 

ITC and Government of Mauritius convene stakeholder meeting on trade and climate change

April 2024, Balaclava, Mauritius - ITC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened a workshop on trade and climate change.

1 May 2024

In April 2024, ITC and the Government of Mauritius held a workshop in Port Louis to launch the Climate Competitiveness project. The main partner is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade.

During the launch, ITC presented a paper to stakeholders in government and the private sector on trade and climate change policies to strengthen climate resilience. The workshop also identified ways to support small businesses in the green economy. The project will continue to develop policy recommendations and support to SMEs during 2024-2025.