The market competitiveness of environmental wares and services

Demand-increase wise, the market of environmental wares and services belongs among the most robust. Its development hinges, however, on the degree of its openness - the degree of liberalisation. That means the need for the reducing of barriers limiting market access, especially in developing countries, where tariff and non-tariff barriers to environmental wares trade are relatively high and amount to a level exceeding 20% ad valorem. In highly developed countries, the market exhibits a low level of protective tariffs (about 3% ad valorem). The efforts to liberalise the market are being undertaken both in the World Trade Organisation forum, especially by the WTO Trade and Environment Committee, taking into special consideration the resolutions of the 4th and 5th International Ministerial Conference in Doha and Cancún. In its documents, the European Commission accentuates the fact that environmental protection contributes to the overall increase in the competitiveness of EU economy and companies, and that environmental technologies should be applied in all sectors of the economy. Within the analysed market, Poland occupies a relatively insignificant, but increasing position. As a EU member state it should be interested in a rapid opening of the environmental services market within the Doha Round framework.