INF/TE/IDP/W/5  
 
21 February 2022  
(22-1681) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTALLY  
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS TRADE (IDP)  
IDP PLAN 2022  
The following communication, dated 21 February 2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Australia, Barbados, China, Ecuador, Fiji and Morocco  (IDP Coordinators).  
 
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1. This plan is intended to outline the implementation o f the Ministerial Statement on Plastic 
Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (WT/MIN(21)/8/Rev.2). As per the 
Ministerial Statement the IDP  will aim for concrete, pragmatic and effective outcomes on the actions 
and understanding set out in the Ministerial Statement at the latest by MC13. The IDP coordinators 
will continue to lead the work of the IDP.  
2. The IDP will host four open plenary meetings in 2022 and additional intersessional work as 
set out in this plan. IDP co -sponsors met on 27 January to discuss this plan.   
3. The IDP plenaries are tentatively scheduled for the following dates:  
• 30 March  
• 25 May  
• 6 October  
• 7 December  
 
4. Plenary meetings of the IDP will be open to all interested WTO Members and IDP stakeholders. 
The IDP will regularly review its progress towards the implementation of the Ministerial Statement. 
To advance further technical discussions and make progress towa rds concrete, pragmatic and 
effective outcomes, the IDP will establish workstreams on the agreed topics from the Ministerial 
Statement. Workstreams will advance work intersessionally through informal discussions or 
workshops. Workstreams will be held in an  open, inclusive and transparent manner, and in 
coordination with the co -convenors. Efforts of the workstream will be supported by evidence -based 
information and data, and any outcomes will be developed in consultation with Members, and 
relevant stakeholde rs, as appropriate, including those outlined in paragraph 5 below.  Scheduling of 
workstreams will be managed to support the participation of co -sponsors, noting the resource 
capacities of delegations, in particular developing and least developed Members.  
5. Noting the value and importance of proactive engagement by a broad diversity of Members 
and relevant stakeholders - including inter alia  international organizations and institutions, trade and 
environmental authorities and domestic bodies, the private sect or, academia, and civil society –, 
relevant stakeholders  will be invited to contribute to IDP meetings. The inputs of stakeholders are 
intended to enhance discussions through technical expertise and experience.  
  INF/TE/IDP/W/5  
 
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  Workstream Plan  
• Workstream – Crosscutting i ssue s  
6. Topics include capacity building and technical assistance; fostering international cooperation 
on transparency and data; cooperation and collaboration with other international organizations and 
processes, and  collective approaches.1 
• Workstream – Promoting Trade to Tackle Plastic Pollution  
7. Topics include environmentally sustainable waste management technologies; environmentally 
sustainable and effective substitutes and alternatives; reused and recycled plastics, including by 
incentiviz ing increased reuse and recycling of plastics (considering evidence of their long -term 
impacts); and technologies for environmentally sustainable and effective substitutes and alternatives 
of interest to developing members and least developed members inclu ding SIDS which are especially 
vulnerable to marine litter and plastic pollution, and opportunities for their MSMEs.  
• Workstream – Circularity and Reduction to Tackle Plastic Pollution  
8. Topics include how trade -related cooperation could help to support effor ts to  reduce 
unnecessary or harmful plastics and plastic products, including single -use plastics and plastic 
packaging associated with international trade; and sharing experiences of  effective approaches to 
move towards more circular resource efficient and  environmentally sustainable plastics trade.  
 
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1 paragraphs 1 and 2, WT/MIN(21)/8/Rev.2.