HONG KONG, July 8 -- Hong Kong will negotiate with 12 World Trade Organization members on the Environmental Goods Agreement, which seeks to eliminate tariffs on a range of eco- friendly goods, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said Tuesday.

Hong Kong's export trade will benefit from the elimination or reduction of tariffs when the agreement is implemented, according to a statement posted on the government's official website.

The elimination of tariffs will also lower the cost of green goods, promoting their wider adoption and improving the environment.

The negotiations will also attempt to address non-tariff issues relevant to trade liberalization in environmental goods, the statement said.

Other WTO members joining the negotiations include Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Costa Rica, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States.