**Executive Summary**
The Department of Commerce inaugurated a two-day National Chintan Shivir on June 22, 2026, in New Delhi to address "Environment-Related Non-Tariff Measures: WTO Rules and Their Implications for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)." The workshop aims to formulate strategic responses to global climate-related trade policies to safeguard India’s market access and export competitiveness. The event concludes on June 23, 2026, following deliberations on evolving global regulatory frameworks.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Workshop Objectives and Scope**
* Enhance understanding of the increasing global adoption of environmental and climate-related trade measures.
* Assess the potential impact of these measures on Indian exports and trade competitiveness.
* Formulate strategic responses utilizing the WTO framework and India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
* Promote sustainable trade practices while safeguarding international market access.
* **Key Thematic Areas**
* WTO rules governing Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).
* Sustainability-related non-tariff measures (NTMs).
* Trade measures specifically related to carbon and deforestation.
* Multilateral and bilateral strategies for addressing emerging trade concerns.
* **Strategic Preparedness**
* Emphasis on strengthening India’s preparedness to navigate evolving global regulatory landscapes.
* Integration of industry and stakeholder perspectives into trade negotiation strategies.
* Collaboration between the Department of Commerce, the Centre for WTO Studies (CWS), and the Centre for Research in International Trade (CRIT).
**Impact Analysis**
**Government Officials and Trade Negotiators**
* **Impact:** They must navigate complex emerging challenges posed by environmental NTMs in multilateral and bilateral negotiations.
* **Action Required:** Deliberate on strategic responses and use the workshop's insights to strengthen India’s position in WTO and FTA negotiations.
**Indian Industry Representatives and Exporters**
* **Impact:** These stakeholders face potential barriers to market access due to new global sustainability and climate-linked trade regulations.
* **Action Required:** Provide industry perspectives to help government bodies formulate effective trade strategies and adapt to evolving global regulatory frameworks.
**Trade Experts and WTO Practitioners**
* **Impact:** They are tasked with analyzing the technical implications of TBT and environmental rules on international trade law.
* **Action Required:** Contribute technical expertise to help bridge the gap between global environmental mandates and India's export requirements.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Commerce: The primary government department responsible for India's trade policy and organizing the national workshop on environment-related trade barriers.
WTO Rules on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT): The international regulatory framework being analyzed for its implications on India's export competitiveness and sustainable trade practices.
Environment-Related Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs): Emerging global trade regulations, such as carbon- and deforestation-related measures, which are the central focus of the policy deliberations.
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs): Bilateral and multilateral trade pacts used by India as strategic frameworks to address global environmental trade challenges and safeguard market access.
Centre for WTO Studies (CWS): The specialized technical body collaborating with the government to assess climate-related trade measures and formulate strategic responses.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Two-Day National Chintan Shivir on Environment-
Related Trade Measures and FTAs Begins in New
Delhi
Stakeholders Deliberate on Emerging Environment-Related
Trade Measures and Their Impact on India's Export
Competitiveness
Posted On: 22 JUN 2026 6:00PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Commerce, Government of India, in collaboraation with the Centre for WTO Studies
(CWS) and the Centre for Research in International Trade (CRIT), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
(IIFT), inaugurated a two-day National Workshop/Chintan Shivir on “Environment-Related Non-Tariff
Measures: WTO Rules and Their Implications for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)” at Nalanda Hall, IIFT
Bhawan, New Delhi.
The workshop brings together senior government officials, trade experts, WTO practitioners, industry
representatives, and stakeholders associated with multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations to deliberate
on the emerging challenges posed by environment-related non-tariff measures (NTMs) and their
implications for India's trade and export competitiveness.
The workshop aims to enhance understanding of the increasing number of environmental and climate-
related trade measures being adopted globally, assess their potential impact on Indian exports, and
formulate strategic responses through the WTO framework and India's Free Trade Agreements. The
deliberations are expected to contribute to India's efforts to safeguard market access, strengthen export
competitiveness, and promote sustainable trade practices.
The deliberations will cover key themes such as WTO rules governing Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT),
sustainability-related non-tariff measures, carbon- and deforestation-related trade measures, stakeholder
and industry perspectives, and strategies for addressing emerging trade concerns through multilateral and
bilateral mechanisms. The workshop will conclude on 23 June 2026 with a valedictory session.
The inaugural session commenced with opening remarks by Head, Centre for WTO Studies (CWS), Dr.
Pritam Banerjee. Deputy Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ms. Richa Prakash Choudhary, welcomed
the participants and outlined the objectives of the workshop. Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce,
Shri Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh, delivered the Special Address, underscoring the importance of strengthening
India's preparedness to address sustainability-linked trade measures and evolving global regulatory
frameworks. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Professor and Head of Administration, CRIT-
IIFT, Dr. Murali Kallummal.The workshop features distinguished experts, including Head, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Section,
Trade and Environment Division, WTO, Geneva, Shri Erik Wijkström; Former Chair, WTO TBT
Committee, Shri Anwar Shaik; Former Chief Executive Officer, National Accreditation Board for
Certification Bodies (NABCB) and Member, UNFCCC CDM Accreditation Panel, Shri Anil Jauhri; Co-
Founder and Advocate, Sarvada Legal, Shri Atul Sharma; trade policy expert, Shri Pranav Kumar; as well
as senior officials from the Department of Commerce and the Centre for WTO Studies.
***
Abhijith Narayanan/ Garima Singh/ Ishita Biswas
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