text: principle79 and taking into account the call of the European Parliament80. In parallel, the 
  EU will continue to fund research on the impact of deep-sea mining activities and on 
  environmentally-friendly 
  technologies. The EU should also advocate for more 
  transparency in international bodies such as the International Seabed Authority. 
  
  *4.2.2. Trade policy*
  
  **Trade policy will actively support and be part of the ecological transition**. In this 
  spirit, the Commission will ensure full implementation and enforcement of the 
  biodiversity provisions in all trade agreements, including through the EU Chief Trade 
  Enforcement Officer. The Commission will better assess the impact of trade agreements 
  on biodiversity, with follow-up action to strengthen the biodiversity provisions of 
  existing and new agreements if relevant. The Commission will also present in 2021 a 
  legislative proposal and other measures to avoid or minimise the placing of products 
  associated with deforestation or forest degradation on the EU market81, and to promote 
  forest-friendly imports and value chains. The Commission will take a number of steps to 
  **crack down on illegal wildlife trade**. This trade contributes to the depletion or 
  extinction of entire species, is the world’s fourth most lucrative black market and is 
  thought to be one of the causes behind the emergence of zoonotic diseases. It is a human, 
  economic and environmental duty to dismantle it. 