The Commitment on Trade and Sustainable Development in the EVFTA Agreement consists of 17 Articles with the following main contents: Marine resources and aquaculture products, Labor and Transparency.

Biodiversity

The Parties recognize that sovereignty over national resources and the right to determine access to genetic resources belong to the Government of each Party and subject to domestic laws. The Parties shall endeavor to facilitate access to genetic resources for the right purposes; however, access to genetic resources must be subject to prior informed consent of the provider, unless provided by that Party. In addition, the two parties will enhance cooperation and exchange of information on strategies, initiatives, policies, programs, action plans and consumer awareness campaigns to prevent the disappearance of biodiversity and reduce biodiversity pressure.

Climate Change

The Parties commit to implement and cooperate to achieve the goals related to climate change specified in a number of international environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 1992, Kyoto Protocol related to UNFCCC Convention and Paris Agreement. The Parties will cooperate in important areas including: (i) developing, implementing and operating carbon pricing mechanisms, (ii) promoting domestic and international carbon markets through mechanisms such as the Program on emissions trading and Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, (iii) enhancing energy saving, low emissions technology and renewable energy.

Sustainable management of forest resources and trade in forest products

Promote trade in forest products from sustainably managed forests, and exchange information on measures to promote the consumption of timber and timber products.

Sustainable management of marine life resources and aquaculture products

Commit to abide by international conventions on the Law of the Sea and treaties on the conservation of marine resources. In particular, the two parties emphasized actively participating in the fight against illegal fishing, promoting the development of aquaculture in a sustainable way based on economic, social and environmental aspects.

Labor

Commit to continue and maintain efforts to ratify the basic conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and consider adopting other conventions classified by the ILO as appropriate for the present time, taking into account the domestic conditions. In addition, the Parties reaffirm their commitment to the effective implementation of domestic laws and regulations and ratified ILO Conventions.

Transparency

The parties must openly and transparently cover issues including the process of developing and enforcing laws, measures related to environmental protection that may affect trade in investment. Communicate, exchange and share information related to the process of developing and implementing strategies, policies and legal provisions on multilateral agreements on environment, climate change and biodiversity, forestry, fisheries and marine resources. Also ensure appropriate useage of scientific information and evidence, international guidelines and standards in the development and implementation of environmental protection measures.