On 19 May 2025, the Global Governance Programme at the Robert Schuman Centre hosted a workshop to explore recent data, methods, and findings on the intersection of trade, non-tariff measures (NTMs), and environmental protection. During the event, Part-time Professor Fabio Santeramo presented the Global Environmental Non-Tariff Measures Database (END), a new open-access repository developed by him and collaborators at the European University Institute.
“I believe that it doesn't take too long to say that there is a huge debate on trade and environment and on trade policy for the environment,” said Fabio Santeramo in his opening remarks. “But the research on non-tariff measures and their role for the protection of the environment is still not so much under the spotlight. We are delighted to discuss this new agenda with scholars who have worked on this extensively on non-tariff measures, and today we want to focus on those related to the environment.”
Santeramo emphasised the purpose of the initiative: “We have collected information to develop an open-access repository of environmental technical measures that covers more than 100 economies spanning from 2008 to 2023. This new tool will help exploiting regulatory differences and assessing the effects of environmental-related trade measures”.
Drawing on over 6,000 notifications from WTO sources such as the ePing SPS & TBT Platform and WTO’s Environmental Database (EDB), the END compiles information on labelling requirements, product standards, and process-based rules for environmental protection. The database is structured to support both academic research and policy analysis, offering insights into how trade-related regulations can align with legitimate environmental objectives.
The workshop also featured new research using advanced methods such as gravity models and difference-in-differences analysis to assess the impact of NTMs on trade and environmental outcomes. Presentations included empirical studies from Drexel University and the World Bank, followed by a roundtable debate with experts from the Paris School of Economics, University of Göttingen, and the Asian Development Bank, who highlighted the importance of transparency, comparability, and continued data-driven research in shaping trade policies that support legitimate environmental goals.
“We may call the global Environment Non-tariff measures Database ‘END’, but no way it's going to be the end of our research. It’s the starting point,” Santeramo concluded. “We want to promote this agenda and foster collaboration among institutions, researchers, and international organisations.”
The END is available to all users via a dedicated website and aims to support both academic research and policy analysis. Users can explore country-specific data or request full access to the underlying dataset.
Fabio Santeramo is also leading a new Executive Course on the Vision for Agriculture and Food: Ensuring a sustainable and competitive future for EU agriculture at the Florence School of Regulation.