From March 10 to 11, 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) held a meeting of the Structured Discussions on Trade and Environmental Sustainability (TESSD) Working Group, which focused on issues such as the circular economy, environmental goods and services, climate adaptation, and support for decarbonization of energy-intensive industries.
As an industry representative, the China Circular Economy Association was invited to share China's practices and experiences on the topic of waste textile recycling in the Circular Economy Working Group. CACE systematically introduced to WTO members the development achievements and innovative practice cases of China's waste textile recycling industry in recent years, which were widely praised by WTO members.
During the meeting, the United Nations Environment Programme, relevant think tanks and international organizations discussed the opportunities and challenges of textile trade and circular economy transformation, covering issues such as extended producer responsibility, coordination of commodity classification standards, and regional supply chains. The meeting also informed the progress of the circular economy innovation competition for small, medium and micro enterprises jointly launched by the WTO and the International Trade Centre (ITC), which aims to stimulate the innovation vitality of small, medium and micro enterprises in the field of circular economy. The application for relevant projects will close on March 28.