The co-coordinators of the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP), representing Australia, China, and Ecuador along with Barbados, Fiji, and Morocco, have introduced a draft ministerial statement ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). The draft builds upon previous DPP ministerial statements and outlines collective action for future work after MC14. It also identifies possible directions based on substantive discussions captured in five technical documents.
These documents cover various aspects related to plastics pollution: an analytical summary regarding statistical approaches to estimate trade flows of embedded plastics, packaging, and single-use products; a synopsis on considerations for adopting trade-related plastics measures; an analytical summary of different regulatory approaches to single-use plastic products; a synopsis of services and technologies for waste management and clean-up activities; and a synopsis addressing non-plastic substitutes, alternatives, and related services for single-use plastic products.
The co-coordinators updated members about revisions made to these technical outcomes since the October pre-plenary meeting. The updates reflect feedback from both members and stakeholders while preserving the documents' factual content without prescribing specific actions.
Members responded positively to the draft ministerial statement and revised technical documents. They offered suggestions for further improvement and expressed interest in continued engagement.
The co-coordinators acknowledged members' active participation. "They invited members to submit written comments by 28 November 2025, expressing their readiness for further consultations. They also indicated that a follow-up meeting may be held in December to continue discussions focused on the draft ministerial statement."
The Dialogue on Plastics Pollution was launched in November 2020 by several World Trade Organization (WTO) members. Currently, it includes 83 co-sponsors who together represent almost 90 percent of global trade in plastics.