World trade has an important role in combating climate change

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World Trade Organisation (WTO) director general Roberto Azevedo, in this op-ed piece for The Guardian, argues the case of trade being an enabler in the fight against climate change. The organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, which is seeking to simplify customs procedures, may well have the effect of reducing emissions, although until it is actually implemented we won’t know that. He also argues for the reduction of import duties on environmental goods such as wind turbines, which is a fair point, although his faith that the IMO and ICAO would tackle transport emissions is probably not shared by all.