EU Statements – UN General Assembly 2nd Committee: International Trade and Development

1. Presentation of the Amendment

Mr/Madame Chair,

I present this amendment on behalf of the EU and its MS. 

The EU’s support to this resolution is based on the strongly held conviction that trade is an engine for inclusive growth and poverty eradication and that it contributes to the promotion of sustainable development, structural transformation and industrialization, particularly in developing countries. 

We acknowledge the concerns of developing countries regarding carbon border adjustment mechanisms. The EU has designed and will launch next year a non-discriminatory and WTO compliant Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as part of its steadfast commitment to combatting the existential threat of climate change. 

More broadly, environmental measures adopted by the EU are explicitly crafted to be legitimate, non-discriminatory and fully compatible with WTO rules.

We continue to engage bilaterally and multilaterally with our partners on this issue to dispel and address concerns where necessary, and we remain firmly committed to a collaborative approach to implementation, in full partnership with third countries and in particular developing countries. 

However, this resolution includes unbalanced language that we cannot accept. Three of these paragraphs, PP21, OP 38 and 39 target the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism openly and in an unfair manner. 

Last year, the four paragraphs that are subject to this amendment were subject to an amendment and vote.  We have engaged constructively and expressed openness to engage on this issue, unfortunately to no avail. 

Thus we have, yet again, proposed an amendment to delete these paragraphs. 

Thank you. 

2. Explanation of vote 

Mr/Madame Chair 

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

I would like to warmly thank the facilitators, Ms Camila Ortiz from Chile and Ms Julieta Tavakalyan from Armenia for a very efficient and professionally led process.  We also thank the Secretariat and all delegations involved in the negotiation process for their sincere and constructive engagement. The EU has engaged, as always, proactively with the aim of a consensus resolution that prioritizes the challenges of developing countries.

Madame/Mr Chair, multilateral rules and disciplines are the best guarantee against protectionism. Promoting a universal, rules-based, open, transparent, predictable, inclusive, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system, under the World Trade Organization, is the best way to achieve meaningful trade liberalization and global sustainable development. 

As we approach the 14^th Ministerial Conference in Cameroon in March 2026, we particularly welcome language in support of the multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core. 

We regret that language on strengthening the level playing field, never questioned in the room, was watered down when returned to the G77 and China. 

On the other hand we welcome new language welcoming plurilateral agreements, that complement and reinforce the multilateral system. 

We also welcome highlighting the potential of services trade, and work undertaken by the LDC group in Geneva to better operationalize their special and differential treatment.    

Finally, we  also regret that there was no agreement to include encouragement  for WTO members to comply with their obligation to notify changes in their trade policies. Such enhanced transparency can be, as noted in the Secretary General’s report,  a vital tool to support predictability of the system, in particular for businesses in developing countries. 

As noted previously certain references in the text appear to question EU environmental measures more broadly, while these measures have been carefully designed to be legitimate, non-discriminatory and fully compatible with WTO rules.

Next year we  look forward to more balanced discussions on the nexus between trade and the environment and the many mechanisms through which they can promote each other.    

Indeed, Mr/Madame Chair, we would like to reiterate that while the EU and its Member States have voted and dissociate from four paragraphs (PP21, OP35, 38 and 39), we retain the strong conviction that international trade can and does contribute in  a multitude of ways to sustainable development. 

The EU and its MS abstained today but look forward to constructive discussions to return this resolution to consensus next year.    

Thank you.