Sustainable development is part of the agenda of the WTO and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Using trade to promote sustainable development is written into both agreements. Article 183 of the EPA commits the CARIFORUM and the EU to inter alia promote the development of international trade in a manner that ensures sustainable and sound management of the environment having due regard for their level of development. Alongside job creation and enhanced living standards, sustainability is seen by CARIFORUM and the EU as another means by which trade can help improve people's lives.

CARIFORUM States’ participation in WTO discussions provides them with an opportunity to contribute to solutions to the effects of climate change and can assist them in meeting their commitments of Article 183 as climate change is one of the challenges to sustainable development.

There are three new environmental initiatives that members have been taking forward at the WTO.  These initiatives are sponsored by a coalition of more than 80 WTO members representing over 85 percent of global trade, including the EU and its Member States. They are:

• The Structured Discussions on Trade and Environmental Sustainability, bring 71 WTO members together to look at issues including climate change, environmental goods and services, circular economy, sustainable supply chains, greening aid for trade, and the environmental impacts of farm subsidies. Participants have defined a road map for work in 2022, and set up exchanges with business, civil society, and academic experts with an eye to solutions for emerging challenges.
• The Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP) seeks to foster coordinated action to address the environmental, health and economic costs of plastics pollution. Its 67 participants which includes Barbados and Jamaica discuss transparency, trade trends, and best practices, while exploring the scope for collective approaches and how best to complement other international processes and meet the technical assistance needs of developing countries.
• Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform, which is a forum where 45 WTO members are working on examining options to rationalize and phase out subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption — and how to minimize its negative social impacts on the poor and developing countries.

Alongside domestic initiatives that CARIFORUM States are pursuing to promote sustainable development, it is important for States to continue to engage in the WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies negotiations and the aforementioned initiatives.