trade-in-inc-5.2_tess_v2_final-a463d3277af46c9a.pdf

This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines trade-related considerations within the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process to develop a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution. It highlights the intrinsic link between transforming global supply chains and ending plastic pollution, while discussing the risks of trade discrimination, implementation costs for developing nations, and the treaty's relationship with existing multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and WTO law.

• Global plastics trade is extensive, with 2023 data showing a trade value of $1.1 trillion and over 78% of produced plastics being traded internationally.
• The INC is considering several provisions with direct trade implications, including restrictions on the production and trade of certain plastic products and chemicals, controls on plastic waste trade, product design requirements, and mandatory reporting on trade flows across the plastics life cycle.
• There is a significant proliferation of disjointed national regulations; the Global Plastic Laws database indicates 808 new laws have been enacted since 2008. Additionally, over 85 WTO members have notified more than 220 trade-related measures to address plastic pollution.
• To prevent 'disguised protectionism' and 'arbitrary or unjustified discrimination,' the INC is exploring different placement options for non-discrimination text, such as in the preamble, as a substantive provision using 'shall,' within a 'principles' article using 'should,' or in a stand-alone article on international agreements.
• Implementation of trade-related treaty obligations may impose high fiscal and socio-economic costs, particularly for governments lacking conformity assessment infrastructure and for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries who lack affordable access to necessary technologies or financing.
• While some INC members argue that trade-related obligations might conflict with WTO rules, the document asserts that no trade measure taken under an MEA has ever been found contrary to WTO rules, and the WTO Trade and Environment Database lists nearly 2,000 measures taken for MEA implementation.

APA

Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (n.d.). trade-in-inc-5.2_tess_v2_final-a463d3277af46c9a.pdf. https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Trade-in-INC-5.2_TESS_V2_FINAL.pdf?dm=1754477756

Chicago

Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs. trade-in-inc-5.2_tess_v2_final-a463d3277af46c9a.pdf. n.d. https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Trade-in-INC-5.2_TESS_V2_FINAL.pdf?dm=1754477756.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs |title=trade-in-inc-5.2_tess_v2_final-a463d3277af46c9a.pdf |url=https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Trade-in-INC-5.2_TESS_V2_FINAL.pdf?dm=1754477756 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{forumontradeenvironmentthesdgsndtradeininc52tessv2finala463d3277af46c9apdf, author = {{Forum on Trade, Environment, \& the SDGs}}, title = {{trade-in-inc-5.2\_tess\_v2\_final-a463d3277af46c9a.pdf}}, institution = {Forum on Trade, Environment, \& the SDGs}, url = {https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/Trade-in-INC-5.2_TESS_V2_FINAL.pdf?dm=1754477756}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }