On 18 September 2024, the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced that participating members in the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP) had met to advance discussions on two key areas — capacity building for developing members and the potential creation of domestic inventories of trade-related plastic measures. The two topics are among the eight focus points outlined earlier this year. The DPP discussions at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) aim to achieve meaningful outcomes in curbing plastics pollution.
Both points discussed at the meeting are critical in tackling the challenges of plastic pollution while ensuring trade remains a solution to this global issue.
Capacity Building
Delegations examined ways to enhance the capacity of developing members to integrate trade as part of the solution to plastics pollution. Following a presentation by the WTO Secretariat, participants reviewed the latest data and outcomes from the WTO's Aid for Trade Global Review and Needs Assessment Survey. The presentation aimed to illustrate ongoing efforts by the DPP to align existing funding opportunities with the specific trade-related needs of developing members. Since MC13, around seven funding projects have been facilitated through the work of the Dialogue.
Delegations shared insights into existing or planned trade-related capacity-building programmes, both from the perspective of donors and recipient partners. Several members emphasised the importance of leveraging collaboration with other international organisations, such as the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD). They noted that these institutions played a crucial role in supporting the development of tailored programmes that could help developing members incorporate sustainable trade practices into their domestic strategies to combat plastic pollution.
Participating members also explored how efforts to match funding opportunities with trade-related needs could be refined ahead of MC14. Discussions centred around identifying new initiatives or areas of cooperation that could be launched at the next MC to further support developing members in their efforts to combat plastics pollution through trade.
The guiding questions focused on several key areas of interest. One central question was how existing capacity-building programmes could be better utilised under the DPP. Additionally, consideration was given to the steps that could be taken at MC14 to enhance the ability of developing members to address plastic pollution through trade-related measures.
These questions highlight the need for strategic action and resource optimisation to tackle plastic pollution on a global scale, particularly through trade mechanisms.
Trade-related Plastic Measures
Participants examined the potential for developing domestic inventories of trade-related plastic measures (TrPMs). The WTO Secretariat provided an overview of the results from the Dialogue's TrPM survey, highlighting gaps in available information on trade-related policies and regulations aimed at addressing plastics pollution.
An open discussion followed, where the possibility of creating a global, publicly available online inventory of TrPMs was raised. This platform, which could include structured information such as Harmonized System (HS) codes, could enhance transparency and promote international cooperation on trade-related policies that address plastic pollution.
Delegations discussed whether such an initiative, potentially hosted by the WTO in collaboration with other institutions, would be useful and how to avoid duplication with other initiatives and maximise resources.
The utility of establishing domestic coordination mechanisms, such as focal points or interministerial committees, to streamline the management of TrPMs, was debated. These mechanisms could help ensure a coordinated approach to addressing plastics pollution through trade policies at the domestic level.
Several key questions were discussed. One important topic was whether a global online TrPMs inventory would help increase transparency and facilitate cooperation among members. Another point of discussion centred on whether establishing domestic coordination mechanisms could improve the implementation of trade-related measures aimed at tackling plastics pollution. These questions underscore the importance of both transparency and coordination in addressing the global challenge of plastic pollution through trade policies.
As delegations continue to work toward MC14, the progress made by the DPP reflects the commitment of participants to address plastic pollution through innovative, trade-related solutions. The DPP will reconvene in the coming months to address the remaining focus areas and to continue refining its approach to integrating trade into global efforts to combat plastics pollution.
Participating delegations agreed that the outcomes of these discussions would be pivotal in shaping the agenda for MC14 and ensuring that trade contributes meaningfully to addressing one of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.
