The recent Plastics Dialogue has focused on cooperation, standards, and harmonization of trade measures in the plastics sector. Discussions revolved around enhancing transparency in plastics trade flows, identifying best practices, improving access to relevant technologies and services, building capacity for developing members, and exploring the potential creation of domestic inventories of trade-related plastic measures.
Ecuador, China, and Morocco — three co-coordinators of the dialogue — acknowledged the progress made by participating members since 2022. With 82 members involved, representing over 88% of global plastics trade, support for the Dialogue's efforts to address plastics pollution is growing. The co-coordinators emphasized the urgency and necessity of achieving concrete outcomes through shared responsibility.
Participants received an update from the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on ongoing UN-led multilateral negotiations on plastics pollution. Despite a lack of agreement on a proposed text at a session in Busan, Republic of Korea, significant progress was noted. The INC Secretariat called for continued support and input from participants.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) presented on identifying gaps in international standards for non-plastic substitutes and alternatives to single-use plastics. Entrepreneurs from India, Indonesia, and China shared challenges related to certifying these substitutes.
On harmonizing trade-related plastics measures (TrPMs), the WTO Secretariat reviewed past technical discussions and a survey conducted last year regarding single-use plastics. Kenya and New Zealand shared their national experiences with implementing restrictions on such goods.
Delegates welcomed insights from both public and private sectors. Discussions included working with ISO to identify standard gaps for non-plastic substitutes, addressing cross-border standard fragmentation, transparency importance, and sharing best practices. While some delegates pushed for collective action against single-use plastics by promoting alternatives, others stressed assessing environmental impacts of substitute materials. Waste management aspects were also discussed.
Potential outcomes for single-use plastic goods at MC14 were suggested by participants. Some proposed guidelines to harmonize standards without creating additional trade barriers while others emphasized defining single-use plastic goods as a crucial step toward international guidance.
Australia thanked participants for their insights during this dialogue session. Looking ahead, Australia plans further engagement with other regions to explore how trade can support innovation alongside environmental goals.
An upcoming review session scheduled for April or May aims to consolidate discussions across eight key focus areas with an objective to foster "focused, collaborative, and inclusive dialogue" fulfilling MC13 mandates.