Coalition convened a High-level Roundtable alongside UNCTAD16

On 24 October 2025, the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate held a high-level roundtable on the sidelines of the 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XVI).

Opened by Co-leads – Ambassador José Valencia, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the WTO, UNCTAD and WIPO, and Ambassador João Aguiar Machado, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the WTO – the roundtable featured a keynote address by the Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development, Rebeca Grynspan, and guest remarks by the Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization, Jean-Marie Paugam.

The roundtable on the theme “Priorities for International Cooperation on Trade and Climate-Resilient Sustainable Development” brought together a diverse group of Coalition Ambassadors from various regions and levels of development.

Members reflected on their priorities concerning trade, climate, and sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on the trade-related needs of developing economies. Discussions also addressed climate-resilient development and explored opportunities for collaboration in areas such as energy transition, technologies, and investments.

The Coalition of Trade Ministers for Climate is an initiative co-led by Ecuador, the European Union, Kenya, and New Zealand. It includes over 60 Ministers of countries from different regions, varying levels of development, climate vulnerabilities, and trade circumstances.