TESSD Negotiation: An Ugly Duckling or A White Swan?

The imperative for effective climate governance has recently driven numerous countries to consider incorporating sustainability criteria within the framework of global trade governance. A noteworthy effort in this direction is the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) within the World Trade Organization (WTO). Regrettably, there has been a scarcity of studies thoroughly examining the intricacies of the TESSD negotiations. This article fills this literature gap by empirically analysing the ongoing TESSD negotiations. Moreover, the TESSD’s plurilateral nature adds an extra layer of significance to its examination. While some scholars have theorized about the benefits of embracing plurilateralism in reforming WTO rules, none have yet subjected this hypothesis to empirical scrutiny. This article examines whether the plurilateral approach used in TESSD negotiations delivers these benefits. It reveals whether the TESSD negotiations can be likened to the ugly duckling’s transformation into a graceful white swan, essentially deviating from the multilateral approach. Overall, this article’s primary contribution lies in its critical examination of the TESSD negotiations and a thoughtful reflection on using the plurilateral negotiation approach in the context of environmental sustainability.