D2.4. Policy brief: Evidence-based policy recommendations for increasing the contribution of multilateral trade rules to the global sustainability by assessing potential options through which trade agreements could contribute to making progress

D2.4. will examine the relationship between WTO and other multilateral agreements (Biodiversity Convention, ILO labour standards, Paris agreement on climate). In particular, a thorough examination of all environment-relevant WTO rules that concern agriculture will be performed in cooperation with interested stakeholders. The analysis will consider the compatibility of several policy instruments (at the national, border at international level) subsidies, social measures, trade instruments, investment policies among others in particular with WTO-environment related agreements such as AA, GATT, SPS, SCM,TRIPS and others identified as relevant. The methodology applied will be a meta-analysis. The output of the analysis will be twofold. First, a Trade-SDGs Matrix – a matrix table that explicitly links particular agreements with SDGs. Second, a full analysis of the discourse and context, explaining the details of the links between them, i.e. in what way the agreements address the SDGs, e.g. conceptually, practically, by indicators, or only by general expressions, etc. Based on the analyses the best practice on how to effectively include SDG priorities in the trade agreements will be gathered and proposed in the form practical for policy makers.