Countries participating in the resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) in Geneva, Switzerland, were unable to agree on a final text for a new international agreement aimed at addressing plastic pollution. The session took place from August 5 to August 14, 2025.
Plastics are widely used across various sectors, including food packaging, medical devices, information technology, aerospace, and automobile manufacturing. The U.S. delegation advocated for approaches that would reduce plastic pollution while maintaining support for American industries dependent on plastics.
A statement from the U.S. side emphasized the need for flexibility in how countries address plastic pollution: "The United States supports an agreement that allows countries to use tailored and cost-effective solutions that will work best in their country. We did not support prescriptive top-down regulatory approaches that will stifle innovation and drive consumer inflation across the U.S. economy and all over the world."
The negotiations reflect ongoing challenges among nations seeking common ground on environmental policy while balancing economic considerations.