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Dialogue
Plastics pollution and environmentally sustainable plastics trade *
A group of WTO members launched in November 2020 an initiative to explore how the WTO could contribute to efforts to reduce plastics pollution and promote the transition to more environmentally sustainable trade in plastics. The Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP) is open to all WTO members and seeks to complement discussions in the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) and other fora.
On this page:
See also:
The Dialogue at MC13
MC13 Outcomes
- MC13 Statement WT/MIN(24)/14
News
Participation
As of February 2025, WTO members are participating in the dialogue.
Meetings
9 April: Pre-plenary meeting
- DPP Coordinators – 'Coordinators Summary of Discussions on the 8 Points of Focus' INF/TE/IDP/RD/193
8 April: African Region Workshop
- WTO Secretariat - Presentation on 'Overview of received contributions: DPP African Region Workshop' INF/TE/IDP/RD/192
13 February: Pre-Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/23/Rev.2
- Aide Memoire INF/TE/IDP/R/21
- Updated DPP Conceptual Roadmap Towards MC14
- Anhui Hongye Group - What does a standard mean to a producer? - ISO 16830:2025 Specification of bamboo drinking straws INF/TE/IDP/RD/181
- Ecoware - Certifying non plastic substitutes and alternatives in single use goods and packaging INF/TE/IDP/RD/182
- ISO - Combatting Plastic pollution with international standards INF/TE/IDP/RD/183
- Kenya - Presentation on 'Implementation of the ban on single use plastic bags' INF/TE/IDP/RD/184
- QUNO - Written statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/185
- Scientist Coalition - Written statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/186
- UNCTAD - Written statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/187
- Greenhope - Certifying non plastic substitutes and alternatives in single use goods and packaging INF/TE/IDP/RD/188
- WTO Secretariat - Presentation on 'Refresher on DDP technical work regarding differences in how TrPMs are targeting single-use (SUPS) and goods' INF/TE/IDP/RD/189
- WTO Secretariat - Presentation on 'WTO Secretariat participation at INC-5' INF/TE/IDP/RD/190
- Japan - Written statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/191
31 October: Pre-Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/22/Rev.1
- Aide Memoire INF/TE/IDP/R/20
- UNITAR presentation on Statistical guideline on 'Measuring flows of plastic throughout the life cycle' INF/TE/IDP/RD/175
- WTO Secretariat presentation on 'Refresher on DPP technical work regarding efficiency of TRPMS' INF/TE/IDP/RD/176
- Council on Economic Policies and Örebro University presentation on 'The role of Services in cleaning up marine debris' INF/TE/IDP/RD/177
- TESS presentation on 'Pathways for trade policy cooperation to facilitate access for environmentally sound and safe plastic waste management technologies' INF/TE/IDP/RD/178
- IISD presentation on 'Avoiding trade concerns in the design of plastic pollution measures evidence and recommendations for policy-makers' INF/TE/IDP/RD/179
- UNCTAD presentation on 'Services for prevention and mitigation of plastic pollution : a forthcoming UNCTAD study' INF/TE/IDP/RD/180
18 September: Pre-Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/21
- Aide Memoire INF/TE/IDP/R/19
- WTO Secretariat presentation on 'Aid for trade global review and needs assessment survey' INF/TE/IDP/RD/173
- WTO Secretariat presentation on 'Refresher on main results from the DPP TRPMS survey results' INF/TE/IDP/RD/174
- DPP Conceptual Roadmap Towards MC14
- DPP Points of Focus
13 June: Pre-Plenary meeting
- Revised CN and Agenda INF/TE/IDP/CN/19/Rev.1
- Aide Memoire INF/TE/IDP/R/18
- UNITAR presentation on 'The ongoing Plastic Trade related work within Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) Programme' INF/TE/IDP/RD/161
- UNCTAD presentation on 'Trade in Substitutes' INF/TE/IDP/RD/162
- Ellen Mac Arthur presentation on 'Pushing the boundaries of EPR policy for textiles' INF/TE/IDP/RD/163/Rev.1
- IUCN presentation on 'Biodiversity considerations in efforts to address plastic pollution ' INF/TE/IDP/RD/164
- WEF presentation on 'Global plastic action partnership (GPAP) and consumers beyond waste (CBW)' INF/TE/IDP/RD/165
- Association of Plastic Recyclers' presentation on 'Plastic recycled content policies : USA and global' INF/TE/IDP/RD/166
- University of Portsmouth/Revolution Plastics Institute presentation on 'Working globally to end plastic pollution' INF/TE/IDP/RD/167
- ISO presentation on 'Combatting Plastic Pollution with International Standards' INF/TE/IDP/RD/168
- INC presentation on 'Developing an Internationally Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, including in the Marine Environment' INF/TE/IDP/RD/169
- Hong Kong, China presentation on 'Efforts to promote non-plastic tableware' INF/TE/IDP/RD/170
12 April: Pre-Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/18/Rev.2
- Aide Memoire INF/TE/IDP/R/17
- European Environment Agency (EEA) presentation on EU exports of used textiles and plastics waste INF/TE/IDP/RD/150
- Noriware presentation on seaweed packaging INF/TE/IDP/RD/151/Rev.1
- WTO presentation on the analysis on the definitions of single-use plastic products INF/TE/IDP/RD/152
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) presentation on the elimination of plastics pollution by 2040 INF/TE/IDP/RD/153
- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/154
- UNCTAD presentation on trade in plastics, plastic alternatives and non-plastic substitutes: new insights INF/TE/IDP/RD/155
- Update on FAO's work INF/TE/IDP/RD/156
- TESS — Options for trade-related cooperation on problematic and avoidable plastics INF/TE/IDP/RD/157
- BRS — Briefing on the Basel Convention Technical Guidelines INF/TE/IDP/RD/158
- UNEP — Update on the INC process INF/TE/IDP/RD/159
- Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) presentation on subsidies to primary plastic production : the need for greater transparency INF/TE/IDP/RD/160
26 January: Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/17
- Informal Summary INF/TE/IDP/R/16
- Third Draft - MC13 Statement INF/TE/IDP/W/10/Rev.2
- Compilations attached to the MC13 Statement – revision INF/TE/IDP/RD/146/Rev.1
- Statement by TESS INF/TE/IDP/RD/148*
- Statement by UNCTAD INF/TE/IDP/RD/149*
23 November: Pre-Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/16/Rev.1
- Aide Memoire INF/TE/IDP/R/15
- WTO Secretariat Presentation on the WTO Dialogue at INC-3 INF/TE/IDP/RD/139*
- WTO Secretariat Presentation on Survey Reports Selected Results INF/TE/IDP/RD/138*
- UNEP-INC Secretariat Presentation on INC-3 Outcomes INF/TE/IDP/RD/140*
- Statement by CIEL INF/TE/IDP/RD/141*
- Statement by IUCN INF/TE/IDP/RD/143*
- Statement by OECD INF/TE/IDP/RD/144*
- Statement by Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty INF/TE/IDP/RD/142*
- Statement by QUNO INF/TE/IDP/RD/145*
- Compilations potentially attached to the MC13 Statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/146*
- Statement by TESS INF/TE/IDP/RD/147*
21 September: Pre-Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/15
- Aide Memoire INF/TE/IDP/R/14
25 May: Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/14
- Presentation by INBAR INF/TE/IDP/RD/134
- Presentation by FAO INF/TE/IDP/RD/135
- Presentation by WTO Secretariat INF/TE/IDP/RD/136
- Presentation by IPEN INF/TE/IDP/RD/137
- Informal Summary by the Coordinators INF/TE/IDP/R/13
27 April: Workshop on Reduction and Circularity to tackle plastic pollution in cooperation with UNEP
- Agenda
- Factual Summary of discussions on Reduction and Circularity INF/TE/IDP/RD/125
- Presentation by WTO Secretariat INF/TE/IDP/RD/126
- Presentation by UNEP INF/TE/IDP/RD/128
- Presentation by UNCTAD INF/TE/IDP/RD/127
- WEF INF/TE/IDP/RD/129
- OECD INF/TE/IDP/RD/130
- PEW INF/TE/IDP/RD/131
- IISD INF/TE/IDP/RD/132
- QUNO INF/TE/IDP/RD/133
Replies to the workshop questionnaire:
13 March: Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/12
- Statement by QUNO INF/TE/IDP/RD/121
- Statement by CIEL INF/TE/IDP/RD/122
- Statement by IISD INF/TE/IDP/RD/123
- Statement by TESS INF/TE/IDP/RD/124
- Informal Summary by the Coordinators INF/TE/IDP/R/12
16 February: Pre-plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/11
- Revised Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/11/Rev.1
- Presentation by the Intergovernmental Negotiating committee (INC) Secretariat (UNEP) INF/TE/IDP/RD/104
- Presentation by CIEL INF/TE/IDP/RD/105
- Presentation by WTO Secretariat INF/TE/IDP/RD/106
- Presentation by OECD INF/TE/IDP/RD/107
- Presentation by WTO Secretariat INF/TE/IDP/RD/108
- Presentation by UNODC INF/TE/IDP/RD/114
- Presentation by WCO INF/TE/IDP/RD/109
- Presentation by Minderoo Foundation INF/TE/IDP/RD/110
- Presentation by QUNO INF/TE/IDP/RD/111
- Presentation by UNCTAD INF/TE/IDP/RD/112
- Presentation by TESS INF/TE/IDP/RD/116
- Presentation by World Bank INF/TE/IDP/RD/118
- Presentation by PEW INF/TE/IDP/RD/117
- Presentation by BRS INF/TE/IDP/RD/119
- Aide Memoire INF/TE/IDP/R/11
7 December: Plenary meeting
- Revised Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/10/Rev.1
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/10
- Statement by CIEL INF/TE/IDP/RD/98
- Statement by IISD INF/TE/IDP/RD/93
- Statement by PEW INF/TE/IDP/RD/94
- Statement by TESS INF/TE/IDP/RD/100
- Informal Summary by the Coordinators INF/TE/IDP/R/10
6 December: Workshop on Sustainable and Effective Substitutes and Alternatives For Plastics in cooperation with UNCTAD
- Agenda INF/TE/IDP/RD/87
- Statement by ALADI INF/TE/IDP/RD/78
- Presentation by CIEL INF/TE/IDP/RD/80
- Submission by INBAR INF/TE/IDP/RD/81
- Submission by INBAR INF/TE/IDP/RD/82
- Submission by UNCTAD INF/TE/IDP/RD/83
- Submission by FORTUNA COOLS INF/TE/IDP/RD/84
- Submission by BRS INF/TE/IDP/RD/85
- Factual Summary of discussions on Promotion INF/TE/IDP/RD/88/Rev.1
- Presentation by UNCTAD INF/TE/IDP/RD/90
- Submission by UNEP INF/TE/IDP/RD/91
- Presentation by QUNO INF/TE/IDP/RD/95
- Presentation by PEW INF/TE/IDP/RD/96
- Presentation by ALADI INF/TE/IDP/RD/97
- Presentation by WCO INF/TE/IDP/RD/98
- Presentation by NOTPLA INF/TE/IDP/RD/99
- Presentation by TESS INF/TE/IDP/RD/101
- Presentation by TESS INF/TE/IDP/RD/102
- Presentation by ISO INF/TE/IDP/RD/103
17 November: Pre-Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/9
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/9/REV.1
- Aide Memoire INF/TE/IDP/R/9
- Presentation by WTO SECRETARIAT ?TrPMs Targeting Waste and Scrap INF/TE/IDP/RD/71
- Presentation by WTO SECRETARIAT ?TrPMs Targeting Sup INF/TE/IDP/RD/70
- Presentation by WTO SECRETARIAT ?TrPMs Targeting Packaging INF/TE/IDP/RD/69
- Presentation by University of Portsmouth INF/TE/IDP/RD/68
- Presentation by Duke University INF/TE/IDP/RD/67
- Presentation by PEW INF/TE/IDP/RD/76
- Presentation by BRS INF/TE/IDP/RD/75
- Presentation by PLASTICS RECYCLERS EUROPE INF/TE/IDP/RD/74
- Presentation by INBAR INF/TE/IDP/RD/73
- Presentation by OECD INF/TE/IDP/RD/72
- Statement by TESS INF/TE/IDP/RD/77
- Statement by CIEL INF/TE/IDP/RD/79
11 October: Plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/8/REV.1
- Informal summary INF/TE/IDP/R/8
- Presentation by WTO Secretariat INF/TE/IDP/RD/64
- TESS Statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/65
19-20 September: Pre-plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/7/Rev.1
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/7
- Presentation by OECD INF/TE/IDP/RD/48
- Presentation by Pew Charitable Trusts INF/TE/IDP/RD/50
- Presentation by Nestlé INF/TE/IDP/RD/54
- Presentation by WBCSD INF/TE/IDP/RD/55
- Presentation by World Bank INF/TE/IDP/RD/56
- Presentation by AptarGroup INF/TE/IDP/RD/53
- Presentation by BRS INF/TE/IDP/RD/49
- Presentation by Consumer Goods Forum INF/TE/IDP/RD/51
- Presentation by Portugal INF/TE/IDP/RD/59
- Presentation by Yves Rocher Foundation INF/TE/IDP/RD/61
- Presentation by the Intergovernmental Negotiating committee (INC) Secretariat (UNEP) INF/TE/IDP/RD/57
- Presentation by MarViva Foundation INF/TE/IDP/RD/52
- Presentation by WTO Secretariat INF/TE/IDP/RD/60
- CIEL Statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/66
24 May: Plenary meeting
- Informal summary by the Coordinators INF/TE/IDP/R/6
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/6/Rev.1
- Draft Communication to WCO INF/TE/IDP/W/6
- Survey on Trade-related measures on Plastics Pollution INF/TE/IDP/W/7
- Draft AfT Global Review and needs assessment survey INF/TE/IDP/W/8
- Ambassador LI (China) remarks INF/TE/IDP/RD/42
- World Customs Organization (WCO) statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/43
- BRS Conventions on COPs 2022 INF/TE/IDP/RD/44
- WTO Secretariat - AfT Questionnaire INF/TE/IDP/RD/45
- International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) INF/TE/IDP/RD/46
- Tess Statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/63/Rev.1
11 May: IDP pre-plenary meeting
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/5/Rev.1
- Aide Memoire by the Facilitators INF/TE/IDP/RD/41
- UNCTAD INF/TE/IDP/RD/36
- China INF/TE/IDP/RD/37
- China (Draft communication to WCO) INF/TE/IDP/RD/38
- CIEL INF/TE/IDP/RD/39
- UNEP INF/TE/IDP/RD/40
- Tess Statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/62
30 March: IDP Regular meeting
- Informal summary by the Coordinators INF/TE/IDP/R/5
- Convening Notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/4
- INF/TE/IDP/CN/4/Rev.1
- CIEL INF/TE/IDP/RD/30
- TESS INF/TE/IDP/RD/31
- UNCTAD INF/TE/IDP/RD/32
- UNEP INF/TE/IDP/RD/33
- Philippines INF/TE/IDP/RD/34
- European Union INF/TE/IDP/RD/35
18 March: IDP workstreams meeting
- Agenda INF/TE/IDP/RD/26
- Aide Memoire by the Facilitators INF/TE/IDP/RD/29
- UNEP Presentation INF/TE/IDP/RD/16
- UNCTAD Presentation INF/TE/IDP/RD/25
- OECD Presentation ?Global Plastics Outlook INF/TE/IDP/RD/17
- OECD Presentation ?Ghost Gear Study INF/TE/IDP/RD/18
- BRS Conventions Presentation INF/TE/IDP/RD/19
- WCO Statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/20
- TESS Presentation - Understanding trade flows across lifecycle of plastics INF/TE/IDP/RD/21
- TESS Presentation - A4T in the IDP INF/TE/IDP/RD/22
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation Presentation INF/TE/IDP/RD/23
- CIEL Statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/24
- Comments by IISD INF/TE/IDP/RD/27
22 October
- Convening notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/3
- Informal summary by the Coordinators INF/TE/IDP/R/4
21 June
- Convening notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/2/Rev.1
- Presentation by Dr Trisia Farrelly, Massey University — Plastic Pollution: Is there a Role for the WTO? Pacific Islands Trade‑Related Experiences and Capacity Needs INF/TE/IDP/RD/3
- Presentation by WEF Global Plastic Action Partnership — Trade and the Circular Economy: A Deep Dive into Plastics Action in Ghana INF/TE/IDP/RD/4
- Presentation by DG Environment, European Commission — European Union Experience with the Transition to a Circular Plastics Sector INF/TE/IDP/RD/5
- Presentation by Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norway — The Role of Regional Instruments in Strengthening Cooperation in Marine Plastic Pollution INF/TE/IDP/RD/6
- Presentation by ISO — Circular Plastics Standardisation INF/TE/IDP/RD/7
- Statement by Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) INF/TE/IDP/RD/8
- Statement by Ellen MacArthur Foundation INF/TE/IDP/RD/9
- Presentation by UNEP — Overview of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution Processes under the UN Environment Assembly INF/TE/IDP/RD/10
- Presentation by BRS Conventions Secretariat — Trade, Plastic Waste and the Basel Convention INF/TE/IDP/RD/11
- Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Dr LI Chenggang (China) INF/TE/IDP/RD/12
- Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Mr Didier Chambovey (Switzerland) INF/TE/IDP/RD/13
- Joint Submission by UNEP and BRS Secretariat ?Strengthening Policy Coherence, Assessing Capacity and Technical Assistance Needs and Collective Approaches INF/TE/IDP/RD/14
- Statement by Carolyn Deere Birkbeck, Director of the Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS) INF/TE/IDP/RD/15
- Informal summary by the Coordinators INF/TE/IDP/R/2
29 March
- Convening notice INF/TE/IDP/CN/1
- Presentation by UNCTAD and Graduate Institute, Geneva — Global Trade in Plastics: Insights from the First Life-Cycle Database and Next Challenges INF/TE/IDP/RD/1
- Presentation by WTO Secretariat — Overview of Environmental Database (EDB) Data on Plastic-Related Measures INF/TE/IDP/RD/2
- Informal summary by the Coordinators INF/TE/IDP/R/1
Documents issued by the Dialogue
- Informal Report on the Definition of Single-Use Plastic Products in Trade-Related Plastics Measures (TrPMS) Found in the DPP Survey INF/TE/IDP/W/14
- Third Draft — MC13 Statement INF/TE/IDP/W/10/Rev.2
- Compilations attached to the MC13 Statement — revision INF/TE/IDP/RD/146/Rev.1
- MC13 Statement WT/MIN(24)/14
- Workplan INF/TE/IDP/W/13
- DPP Conceptual Roadmap Towards MC14
- DPP Points of Focus
- Compilations potentially attached to the MC13 Statement INF/TE/IDP/RD/146*
- Factual Report of the Aid for Trade (AfT) global review and needs assessment survey INF/TE/IDP/W/12
- Factual Report of the Trade-Related Plastics Measures (TrPMs) Survey INF/TE/IDP/W/11
- Factual Summary of discussions on Promotion INF/TE/IDP/RD/88/Rev.1
- IDP plan 2022 INF/TE/IDP/W/5
- Factual Summary of discussions on Reduction and Circularity INF/TE/IDP/RD/125
- Evolving document with suggestions for contributions, including for MC13 outcomes, shared in DPP meetings INF/TE/IDP/RD/120/Rev.1
- First Draft ?Possible MC13 Statement INF/TE/IDP/W/10
- Second Draft – Possible MC13 Statement INF/TE/IDP/W/10/Rev.1
- Factual Summary of discussions on Promotion INF/TE/IDP/RD/88/Rev.1
- IDP plan 2022 INF/TE/IDP/W/5
- Communication to WCO INF/TE/IDP/W/6/Rev.1
- Survey on Trade-related measures on Plastics Pollution INF/TE/IDP/W/7/Rev.1
- AfT Global Review and needs assessment survey INF/TE/IDP/W/8/Rev.1
- Ministerial Statement by the Coordinators at MC12 WT/MIN(22)/12
10 December
- Ministerial Statement on Plastic pollution and environmentally sustainable plastics trade (WT/MIN(21)/8/Rev.2)
15 October
- Draft IDP MC12 Statement (INF/TE/IDP/W/4)
4 October
- Factual report (INF/TE/IDP/W/3)
- Factual report (INF/TE/IDP/W/3/Corr.1)
24 March
- Australia, Barbados, Canada, China, Ecuador, Fiji, The Gambia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Morocco, New Zealand, Switzerland, Thailand and United Kingdom
(INF/TE/IDP/W/1)
(INF/TE/IDP/W/2)
Objective of the talks
In their joint communication to the CTE after their inaugural meeting in November 2020 during the WTO Trade and Environment Week, the participants noted that the rising environmental, health and economic cost of plastics pollution — amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic — is of increasing concern to all countries, large and small, developed and developing.
They highlighted that, given the growing need for coordinated global action, the group would seek to identify opportunities for enhanced trade cooperation within the rules and mechanisms of the WTO to contribute to domestic, regional and global efforts to reduce plastics pollution and to support efforts in other fora. The dialogue is intended to be part of broader WTO discussions to advance environmental sustainability objectives.
Ministerial Statements
A Ministerial Statement issued in December 2021 sets out a roadmap and identifies some key areas on which the Dialogue will focus. These include: how to improve transparency of plastic trade flows, supply chains and trade policies; strengthening regulatory cooperation with other international bodies; identifying environmentally sustainable trade policies and mechanisms; and strengthening trade-related technical assistance for vulnerable economies, including least-developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Three workstreams were created by the IDP 2022 Plan adopted in February 2022 to move technical work forward: cross-cutting issues (e.g. transparency, technical assistance); promoting trade to tackle plastic pollution; and reduction to tackle plastic pollution and circular economy for plastics. The initiative's inclusive approach involves relevant stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, international organizations and academia who support discussions through technical expertise, experience and transparency.
In February 2024, for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) the Dialogue coordinators prepared a Ministerial Statement (WT/MIN(24)/14) containing a series of principles and actions to ensure trade is part of the solution to the growing plastic pollution challenge, including to increase transparency of trade flows of plastics (e.g. of single-use plastics, plastic films and hard-to-recycle plastics), to reduce plastics and plastic products that are harmful to the environment or human health, or unnecessary single-use plastics and plastics packaging, associated with international trade that are not essential for medical or sanitary purposes, and to promote potential non-plastic substitutes, re-use/re-fill systems and technologies needed for the safe and sustainable management of plastic wastes. Related to each agreed action, a factual compilation document (INF/TE/IDP/RD/146/Rev.1) is attached to the Statement, consisting of trade-related practices already being adopted to tackle plastics pollution.
State of play
Cooperation with other international processes
The Dialogue co-sponsors have made mutual supportiveness with other international, regional and domestic efforts to address plastic pollution a core objective of their work. As expressed in the MC13 Ministerial Statement, this is particularly relevant to the ongoing efforts at the United Nations to conclude a new international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by the end of 2024 being conducted by an Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC). The Statement welcomes the timely conclusion of the agreement and includes among its shared principles ensuring the DPP work "is informed by and supports the ongoing INC negotiations as well as the implementation of relevant multilateral environmental agreements, and takes into account relevant technical and scientific developments." It also indicates that in its work towards "further concrete, pragmatic, and effective outcomes on these actions and understandings at the latest by MC14", the group "will reflect the results of the INC negotiations".
The INC Secretariat is a stakeholder of the DPP and constantly brief the group on relevant developments in the negotiations. Similarly, the WTO Secretariat observes INC negotiations, providing updates on relevant developments at the WTO. In the context of the WTO and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) bilateral cooperation, both secretariats cooperate closely and have and ongoing staff exchange agreement.
Following efforts by the Dialogue and other stakeholders, the World Customs Organization (WCO) has started discussing how to better identify plastics embedded in traded goods, single-use plastics, and other plastic goods in the context of the ongoing 2027 review of the Harmonized System (HS).
Next Steps
The MC13 Ministerial Statement calls for further "concrete, pragmatic and effective outcomes" by MC14. Dialogue co-sponsors will devise an updated workplan focused on building on and implementing the MC13 Ministerial Statement actions.
* The documents on this page relate to an initiative among a group of WTO members and are not part of a multilaterally agreed WTO process. Back to text
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Key Dialogue's documents
- MC13 Statement WT/MIN(24)/14
- Factual Report of the Trade-Related Plastics Measures (TrPMs) Survey INF/TE/IDP/W/11
- Factual Report of the Aid for Trade (AfT) global review and needs assessment survey INF/TE/IDP/W/12
- Workplan INF/TE/IDP/W/13
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