Meeting of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Committee on Trade and Sustainable Development

March 20, 2025 (4:00 am to 1:00 pm EDT) / 09:00 am to 6:00 pm CET)

Location: In-person Brussels and videoconference

Agenda

Thursday, March 20^th – morning session

1. Opening remarks and procedural items

2. Global development on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) after recent tension on sustainable development policies: outlook for cooperation with third partners

3. Dedicated session on trade and environment and trade and climate action

• Priorities for cooperation and overview of activities, including under the Trade, Climate and Paris Recommendation:
• Update on respective developments on trade and environment and trade and climate, including:
  • Carbon pricing and border carbon adjustments, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM); and
  • Circular economy (including plastics and sustainable products, chemicals management and best practices on labelling).
  • Industrial Decarbonization

Thursday, March 20th – afternoon session

4. Dedicated session on trade and labour

• Recent EU decent work initiatives
• Latest International Labour Organization (ILO) ratifications by EU Member States
• Occupational safety & health (OSH), update and exchange of views
• Update on approaches to tackling forced labour and child labour, notably in global supply chains.
• Exchange of information on cooperation in third countries - with focus on Asia and Andean countries

5. Trade and sustainable development – corporate social responsibility (CSR) / responsible business conduct (RBC) and trade and gender

• Update on CSR/RBC developments (including due diligence)
• Update on Trade and Gender equality

6. Trade and Indigenous Peoples

• Discussion between the Parties on available tools and platforms

7. Meeting review with Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) representatives

• Debrief by the Parties from the Trade and Sustainable Development Committee discussions
• Exchange of views between the DAGs chairs and the Parties

8. Wrap-up and closing remarks