Deploying Climate-Related Technologies in the Transport Sector: Exploring Trade Links

This paper focuses on liberalizing environmental goods (EGs) in the transport sector. The reduction or removal of trade restrictions affecting transport-related EGs supports the deployment of climate-related technologies and allows for easier and less costly access to equipment needed to make transport more sustainable. A review of a range of technology options for reducing energy use and emissions in transport reveals that negotiations on EGs may, in theory, be relevant for the implementation of only some of these technology options: certain alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), certain components used in AFVs (such as batteries used in electric cars) and alternative fuels (such as biofuels). With regard to non-technology options, some WTO members have proposed that specific types of equipment used in public transport and bicycles could be included in the negotiations (with a view to facilitating shifts to more sustainable modes of travel).