At this meeting, the experts will examine actual and potential trade and development effects (both positive and negative) of environmental requirements on developing countries, paying special attention to the conditions and needs of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Presentations by country experts are expected to provide country-specific experiences and views. Subsequently, the experts will seek to identify policies and measures to strengthen capacities of developing countries, in particular SMEs, to better respond to environmental requirements and benefit from opportunities in their export and domestic markets. They will also examine means for developed countries to mitigate possible negative effects of their environmental requirements on developing country trading partners. In addition, they will look into relevant issues in the WTO post-Doha work programme.

The Meeting will also draw lessons regarding the role of environmental policies in enhancing international competitiveness and suggest avenues of work in preparation of UNCTAD XI. Member States of UNCTAD are requested to nominate experts at an early date and not later than 4 September 2002. Experts, who will participate in the Meeting in their personal capacities, are expected to have proven expertise in the subject, and may be selected from Governments, the academic world, the public and private sectors, and NGOs. Experts could include, for example, representatives of companies that have been affected by environmental requirements in external markets, certification and compliance assessment organizations, national standard-setting bodies, and export promotion bodies (including at sectoral level).