WTO Rules and Key Elements for Consideration in the Context of a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution

This policy brief, produced by CIEL and IUCN, examines the compatibility of a proposed international treaty to end plastic pollution with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. It highlights how the international trade of plastic feedstocks, polymers, and waste accelerates the plastic crisis and serves as a mechanism for spreading micro- and nanoplastic pollution.

• The international trade and liberalization of plastic feedstocks, polymers, additives, plastic pellets, plastic products, and waste contribute to increased production and consumption, thereby accelerating the plastic crisis. Furthermore, trade functions as a 'conveyor belt' for the global spread of plastic pollution, specifically including nanoplastic and microplastic pollution.
• WTO members participating in the Dialogue on Plastic Pollution have acknowledged the necessity of addressing trade-related aspects of the crisis, and the Dialogue has established the reduction of plastics trade as a primary work stream.
• The brief analyzes whether the developing plastics treaty is consistent or compatible with WTO rules and offers recommendations for framing the treaty's terms to manage the links between international trade and plastic pollution prior to INC-2.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2023). WTO Rules and Key Elements for Consideration in the Context of a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. https://www.ciel.org/reports/wto-rules-and-key-elements-for-consideration-in-the-context-of-a-treaty-to-end-plastic-pollution/

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. WTO Rules and Key Elements for Consideration in the Context of a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. 2023. https://www.ciel.org/reports/wto-rules-and-key-elements-for-consideration-in-the-context-of-a-treaty-to-end-plastic-pollution/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=WTO Rules and Key Elements for Consideration in the Context of a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution |date=1 May 2023 |url=https://www.ciel.org/reports/wto-rules-and-key-elements-for-consideration-in-the-context-of-a-treaty-to-end-plastic-pollution/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2023wto, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{WTO Rules and Key Elements for Consideration in the Context of a Treaty to End Plastic Pollution}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.ciel.org/reports/wto-rules-and-key-elements-for-consideration-in-the-context-of-a-treaty-to-end-plastic-pollution/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }