New Developments in Plastic Treaty Negotiations: Focus on Global Ban and Financial Support for Low-Income Countries

Chinasuzhijie learned that during the global plastics treaty negotiations held in Geneva, member states engaged in consultations within the framework of the so-called "contact groups." During the second phase of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), these contact groups discussed the various provisions of the proposed legally binding agreement. INC-5.2 is scheduled to hold a meeting on August 14, and UNEP hopes that during this period, all stakeholders can bridge differences and reach a consensus on a global treaty to address plastic waste.

Disagreements over the global ban on harmful plastic products

In the first contact group, intense debates were held around Article 3, which involves plastic products and chemicals of concern. Switzerland and Mexico submitted a Conference Room Paper (CRP) calling for a global ban on the trade of harmful plastic products and chemicals of concern. According to the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), the paper "received widespread support, with 77 countries having signed in agreement." However, other countries attempted to weaken Article 3, arguing that the provision could threaten national economic development. Additionally, GAIA noted that these countries claimed chemical issues are already covered by other environmental conventions and that related matters should be addressed in subsequent meetings after the convention is signed.

Other contact group meetings focused on Articles 8 and 11, involving energy recovery through incineration. From GAIA’s perspective, this essentially transforms one type of plastic pollution into another; Article 11 requires high-income countries and plastic-producing countries to provide mandatory financial support to low-income countries that may find it difficult to meet the agreement’s requirements.

The United States' position has undergone a 180-degree turnaround.

The market generally believes that since the last meeting held in Busan, South Korea in November-December 2024, the United States has undergone a significant shift in its position. Prior to the Busan meeting, the Biden administration announced in August 2024 that it would support reducing the production of new plastics. However, according to Reuters, this stance is no longer being mentioned.

According to exclusive information from the media, the United States has sent letters to at least a few countries, urging them to oppose a global treaty that includes targets for limiting plastic production and chemical additives in plastics. This puts the United States at odds with more than 100 countries, including the European Union, that support some form of production cap.

The core objective of the Disarmament Convention

According to the proposed resolution it has seen, Reuters also reported that the United States is attempting to modify the goals of the draft convention. Specifically, it aims to remove the reference to an "agreed approach covering the full lifecycle of plastics" from the expression "reducing plastic pollution." GAIA wrote that this expression stems from the consensus reached when negotiations for the plastic convention began, which stated that this legally binding instrument should cover the entire lifecycle of plastics, from extraction to disposal, as plastics cause pollution at every stage of their existence.

The United States is aligned with the industry position.

The production cap has undoubtedly faced opposition from the plastics industry and major global plastic-producing countries. At the beginning of the INC-5.2 meeting, Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association of the United States, stated in a written statement that the advancement of a global agreement "must focus on expanding modern recycling systems, accelerating the development of new technologies, and supporting private sector solutions. Our industry is ready to take a leading role and is committed to being part of practical and viable solutions."