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3.29. The EU is also one of the initiating members (together with Ecuador, Kenya and New Zealand) launching the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate. The Climate Coalition was officially launched during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos on 19 January 2023. The coalition establishes a high-level political dialogue providing guidance on how trade and trade policies can help respond to the climate crisis, sustainable development and contribute to the just transition.

3.30. Beyond its participation in different plurilateral initiatives, the EU is convinced of the importance of reinforcing multilateral deliberation in the WTO on critical trade and environmental challenges in particular those related to the climate transition. The WTO Committee on Trade and Environment could play a critical role in this regard.

3.41. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) concluded between the EU and the UK was applied provisionally as of 1 January 2021 and entered into force on 1 May 2021. It includes preferential trade commitments in trade (...) Those commitments are underpinned by provisions ensuring a level playing field and sustainable development (LPFS). The TCA goes beyond trade and it also covers energy, fisheries, (...)

3.42. In the 2021 Trade Policy Communication the EU committed to reinforce its engagement with African countries by, inter alia, deepening and widening its existing trade agreements with African regional economic communities and strengthening their sustainability dimension, (...)

3.46. In Southeast Asia, on 30 June 2019 the EU signed the Free Trade Agreement and the Investment Protection Agreement with Viet Nam. The EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement entered into force on 1 August 2020 (...), in a manner mindful of high levels of environmental and labour protection and relevant internationally recognised standards and agreements. The EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement is ratified by Viet Nam and will enter into force once ratified by all EU Member States.

3.50. On 30 June 2022 the EU and New Zealand concluded the negotiations for a modern free trade agreement with several new important and ambitious provisions. This is the first agreement reflecting the outcome of the EU's 2022 Trade and Sustainable Development review, with sanctionable commitments on the Paris Climate Agreement (...). Moreover, this is the EU's first trade agreement with a dedicated chapter on sustainable food systems, with provisions on gender equality and on trade and fossil fuel subsidies reform, also comprising unique commitments on circular economy, deforestation, carbon pricing, and protection of the marine environment.

3.54. Negotiations with Chile to modernise and upgrade the existing bilateral agreement started in 2017 and on 9 December 2022, the EU and Chile concluded negotiations on an "Advanced Framework Agreement". The agreement will help deepen existing cooperation. It aims at boosting trade and investment also to support of the green and digital transitions and to provide new opportunities for businesses. The EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement is a comprehensive agreement that beyond its trade component, covers also political dialogue and cooperation (including with respect to human rights as well as climate change and the environment).

3.63. Throughout the TTC [EU-US Trade and Technology Council] process, the EU and US welcome and facilitate dialogue with business, trade unions, consumer organizations, and environmental and other non-government organizations. The TTC working groups organise many events with stakeholders and publish feedback on the EU's online discussion platform, Futurium. (...)

3.64. The most recent ministerial meeting of the TTC [EU-US Trade and Technology Council] took place on 5 December 2022. In the area of trade, the TTC agreed at this occasion on the need to advance the transition to a low-carbon economy in a manner that is mutually supportive and to embark on a Transatlantic Initiative on Sustainable Trade. (...)

3.66. The aim of the GSA [Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminium] is to address shared challenges in the global steel and aluminium sector, stemming from global non-market excess capacity as well as the carbon intensity of the industries. The GSA is intended to become a multilateral effort and is open to interested countries that share the commitment of the EU and the US to restore market orientation and reduce trade in carbon intensive steel and aluminium products.