This paper assesses the trajectory of WTO disciplines on domestic support in the aftermath of the stalled Doha Round, with special attention to the so-called “green box.” Combining legal-text analysis, economic modelling, and a review of recent negotiating proposals (2008–2024), we trace how the original Doha mandate to “review and clarify” green-box criteria has morphed into a broader debate on environmental conditionality, public stockholding for food security, and the interface between trade rules and climate policies.

Key findings:

We find that:

(i) despite the Round’s suspension, de facto convergence is emerging on tighter notification, enhanced transparency, and the insertion of climate-related safeguards;

(ii) the green box is increasingly used by both developed and large emerging economies, raising new questions about its non- or minimal-trade-distorting nature; and

(iii) plurilateral initiatives—ranging from the Environmental Goods Agreement to the EU–Mercosur Green Trade Protocol—risk creating a patchwork of standards that could erode multilateral disciplines.

Conclusion:

The paper concludes that the next negotiating cycle is unlikely to reopen the single undertaking, but will instead rely on issue-specific “Doha-plus” packages that embed green-box reforms within broader environmental and food-security bargains.