Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
Thirty-seven democracies in Europe, North America, South America, and the Pacific Rim comprise the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). These countries represent about 80 percent of world gross domestic product (GDP). The OECD provides a policy forum for these countries covering a broad spectrum of areas, including those relevant to trade and the environment.
USTR and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) co-chair the U.S. delegation to the OECD Joint Working Party on Trade and Environment (JWPTE), which meets twice a year.
The Joint Working Party on Trade and Environment provides a forum for discussing the effects of environmental policies on trade and the effects of trade policies on the environment, as well as for promoting mutually supportive trade and environmental policies.
Recent work has focused on the role of regional trade agreements in promoting environmental awareness and the inclusion of environmental objectives in negotiations, along with resource efficient economies and sustainable materials management.
For more information on OECD work on environment click here.
