Avoiding Trade Concerns in the Design of Plastic Pollution Measures

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines trade frictions arising from national plastic pollution measures implemented by World Trade Organization (WTO) members. It aims to provide recommendations for policy-makers to design regulations that reduce plastic pollution while avoiding trade disputes, particularly as UN member states work toward a legally binding international agreement on the full life cycle of plastics.

• UN Environment Assembly Resolution 5/14, adopted in March 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya, mandates the creation of an international, legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution by the end of 2024, covering the entire life cycle of plastics.
• National policies to curb the manufacture, sale, import/export, and use of plastics often create friction between trading partners because there is no global agreement to harmonize the conditions of these prohibitions and requirements.
• The IISD analysis focused on a subset of plastics measures notified to the WTO; out of more than 250 notifications, only 21 were subjected to closer scrutiny.

APA

Aziz,, I. B. I. G. (2024). Avoiding Trade Concerns in the Design of Plastic Pollution Measures. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/trade-concerns-plastic-pollution-measures

Chicago

Aziz,, Ieva Baršauskaitė,Tristan Irschlinger,Vicente Guazzini,Andrew. Avoiding Trade Concerns in the Design of Plastic Pollution Measures. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/trade-concerns-plastic-pollution-measures.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Aziz, |first1=Ieva Baršauskaitė,Tristan Irschlinger,Vicente Guazzini,Andrew |title=Avoiding Trade Concerns in the Design of Plastic Pollution Measures |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=17 July 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/trade-concerns-plastic-pollution-measures |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{aziz2024avoiding, author = {Aziz,, Ieva Baršauskaitė,Tristan Irschlinger,Vicente Guazzini,Andrew}, title = {{Avoiding Trade Concerns in the Design of Plastic Pollution Measures}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/trade-concerns-plastic-pollution-measures}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }