INF/TE/IDP/CN/6  
 
13 May 2022 
(22-3766) Page: 1/7 
 Original: English  
 
INFORMAL DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE 
PLASTICS TRADE  (IDP)  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated 13 May 2022, is being circulated at the request of the IDP 
Coordinators  (Australia, Barbados, China, Ecuador, Fiji and Morocco) . 
 
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1. IDP will hold its next plenary meeting in hybrid  mode  (Room W and Zoom)  on  
Tuesday , 24 May 2022, from 10 a.m.  Geneva time.  All WTO Members are invited to attend and 
are encouraged to participate in the meeting . Please see technical arrangements in Annex I. 
2. Agenda . 
1) Opening remarks by coordinators  
 
2) Briefing on discussions and  progress in the pre -plenary meeting of  11 May  2022   
- Delegations and stakeholders will be provided with a further  opportunity to share  their 
perspectives with respect to the guiding questions originally shared for the plenary 
meeting  on 30 March (see Annex II) . 
 
3) Briefing on  the proposed  next steps to implement the Ministerial Statement  and 
related discussions  (see Annex III)  
 
a. Communication  to the  World Customs Organi zation (WCO) . 
b. IDP enhanced cooperation with international processes ( e.g., UNEA, BRS,  the UN  Oceans 
Forum) . 
c. Aid for Trade review and needs assessment survey and proposed event at the Eighth 
Global Review 2022 . 
d. Survey of Trade -related Plastics Measures  (TrPMs) . 
e. Proposed Workshop on Sustainable and Effective Plastic Substitutes and Alternatives . 
4) Briefing on MC12  
 
5) Concluding remarks by coordinators and next meeting dates  
 
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 INF/TE/IDP/CN/6  
 
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  Annex I - Technical Arrangements  
 
Please note that this meeting will be held in  hybrid mode  (room W and via Zoom).  
 
 
1  REMOTE PARTICIPATION  
Delegates wishing to participate virtually via the Zoom platform, including capital -based officials, 
must register through this link:  
https://worldtradeorganization.zoo m.us/meeting/register/tZctdeCrrjsrEtJifOdAbzYaeU6G_acD6jyr  
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the 
meeting.  
 
If prompted for the following information when accessing the meeting, please enter:  
 
Webinar ID: 830 2930 0186  
Webinar Passcode: 240522  
 
Before the meeting:  
 
• We are available 1/2 hour before the meeting to test your connection with you.  
 
During the meeting:  
 
• If technical difficulties result in delegations being unable to intervene virtually under a given 
agenda item, the opportunity to take the floor will be given at an appropriate juncture before 
the meeting closes. Should the technical problem persist, delegations may contact the 
meeting coordinators ( idp@wto.org ) during the course of the meeting, either to send their 
statement for it to be read out during the meeting, or to request that the attendees be 
informed of their interest in the item under consideration and their intention to ci rculate 
their written statement after the meeting.  
 
2  ATTENDANCE IN THE MEETING ROOM  
For the health protection of all, please  respect the sanitary measures in place; Masks remain 
recommended  in common areas and meeting rooms . 
 
3  STATEMENTS  
To facilitate interpretation, delegations are strongly encouraged to send their written statements to 
the Secretariat ( idp@wto.org ) before the meeting starts. Statements will also be gratefully received 
during the meeting ( idp@wto.org ). 
 
_______________   INF/TE/IDP/CN/6  
 
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  Annex II – Guiding questions (originally shared for the Plenary Meeting  
on 30 March  2022 ) 
Guiding Questions  
 
What are the key priorities for implementation of the IDP Ministerial Statement?  How can the IDP 
implement these priorities?  What tools can the IDP utilise and what actions can the IDP take to 
implement the Ministerial Statement?  
 
Additional G uiding Questions  
 
• How can the IDP encourage enhanced transparency regarding trade  policies relevant to 
reducing plastic pollution and environmentally sustainable plastics trade?   For example, 
would a taxonomy of types of trade policies or recommendations for providing information 
on trade policies be helpful?  Would it be useful to have a survey or other compilation of 
existing national experience, practices and challenges in regard to the use of trade policies 
to tackle plastic pollution?    
 
• How can we encourage consideration of plastic pollution and environmentally sustainable 
plastics trade in Aid for Trade programmes with environmentally sustainable objectives? 
What are specific Aid for Trade priorities for developing countries, and how can donors and 
Aid for Trade providers better support these?   
 
• Which international processes and efforts can the IDP most effectively engage with and 
support (for example, UNEA, BRS, WCO), including facilitating interaction between trade and 
environment officials?  
 
• How can the IDP best contribute its trade expertise to the work of these processes in regard 
to plastic pollution [to what?], i.e. input in areas such as design of standards and labelling 
for plastics, identifying options and best practices for the effective use of trade policies to 
support plastic pollutio n reduction efforts; identifying where trade can support plastic 
pollution reduction (e.g. in environmentally sustainable non -plastic substitutes or 
environmentally sound waste management and clean up technologies); 
proposing/identifying specific areas whe re improved trade -related data is needed for trade -
related cooperation on plastic pollution, including through improved HS classifications; 
facilitating interaction between trade and environment officials working on plastic pollution?  
 
• What are priorities,  best practices and national/regional actions that can be pursued for 
promoting and facilitating trade in goods and services to tackle plastic pollution, including 
standards, labelling, as well as access to and use of technologies such as waste management 
and effective substitutes and alternatives? What action are being taken - or could be taken 
– nationally and regionally, and where would international cooperation support the 
effectiveness of these actions?  
 
• How can the promotion and facilitation of trade in goods and services, including the use and 
access to technologies, support the work of other international processes, including improved 
HS classifications?  
 
• What are the key trade policy challenges and opportunities relevant to the shift to a circular 
economy for plastics that reduces plastic pollution across the life cycle and serves sustainable 
development goals?  
 
• How can trade -related cooperation help support effort to reduce unnecessary or harmful 
plastics and plastic products, including single -use plastics and plastic packaging?  
 
• How can trade and trade policies promote a circular economy that supports international 
efforts to tackle plastics pollution and sustainable development goals?  
 
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  Annex I II – Suggested next steps  
 
[INF/TE/IDP/W/6 ] 
 
DRAFT COMMUNICATION TO THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO) ON THE WORK OF 
THE IDP IN SUPPORT OF EFFORTS TO ADDRESS PLASTIC S POLLUTION  
_______________  
 
 
1. Formally launched during the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) 2020 "Trade 
and Environment Week", the IDP was born out of the recognition of the need for coordinated action 
to address the rising environmental, health, and economic costs of plastics pollution — amplified by 
the COVID -19 pandemic —and the importance of the t rade dimension as a solution. 1 
2. Our dialogue, which is open to all WTO Members, aims to identify opportunities for enhanced 
trade cooperation within the rules and mechanisms of the WTO to support domestic, regional, and 
global efforts to reduce plastics po llution and transition to a more circular and environmentally 
sustainable global plastics economy while avoiding duplication of work. The dialogue is intended to 
complement discussions in the CTE and be part of broader WTO deliberations to advance shared 
trade and environmental sustainability objectives.  
3. Following substantive discussions – which included the invaluable contribution from relevant 
stakeholders, notably the WCO Secretariat 2, a Ministerial Statement on Plastic s Pollution and 
Environmentally Su stainable Plastics Trade was adopted dated 10 December 2021 
(WT/MIN(21)/8/Rev.2). Currently supported by 70 co -sponsors, representing roughly 75% of 
plastics trade, the Ministerial Statement expresses our shared understandings on the topic and 
charts our w ork towards concrete, pragmatic, and effective outcomes by the 13th WTO Ministerial 
Conference.  
4. The Ministerial Statement reaffirms our commitment to strengthening the trade dimension of 
efforts to tackle plastics pollution through the contribution of the IDP. It lists a series of actions to 
be adopted, including sharing experience on data collection regarding trade flows and supply chains, 
strengthening cooperation with other international regulatory instruments and processes and 
identifying environmentall y sustainable trade policies and mechanisms. The statement stresses the 
need for strengthening technical assistance for vulnerable economies, including least -developing 
countries and small island developing states.  
5. In particular, paragraph 2 of the Minist erial Statement "emphasizes the importance of 
continuing to engage and support actions in other international processes, including … Identifying 
actions needed to improve gathering of data on trade flows and supply chains, including by utilizing 
the Harmon ized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS Convention) of the World Customs 
Organization or other trade instruments or standards, such as UN/CEFACT, and the flow of 
information about the chemical and material characteristics of plastic products trade d 
internationally."  
6. To implement the Ministerial Statement, a plan was adopted for 2022 (INF/TE/IDP/W/5), 
outlining the work to be carried out in four open plenary meetings in 2022 and additional 
intersessional work organized in three Workstreams covering,  respectively: Crosscutting issues; 
Promoting Trade to Tackle Plastic s Pollution; and Circularity and Reduction to Tackle Plastic s 
Pollution.  
7. As a result of our discussions so far, and with a view to continue to build on our positive and 
constructive relationship with the WCO, we have reached the following intermediary shared 
understandings : 
• The WTO Secretariat , within the framework of its regular work and the rules and mechanisms 
of the WTO , should  continue to  closely cooperate with the  WCO Secretariat and participate, 
 
1 See the IDP initial communication WT/CTE/W/250/Rev.2.  
2 See the 2021 IDP Factual Report INF/TE/IDP/W/3 . INF/TE/IDP/CN/6  
 
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  as appropriate, in the relevant WCO  meetings  to which it is invited , in particular on  the topic 
of plastic s customs classification and implementation challenges and to share relevant 
insights from IDP work. In this context, the enhanced cooperation with the WCO Secretariat 
could include, inter alia : 
o Further cooperation  on data analytics on green customs and specific challenges 
related to plastics identification and implementation of related policy measures.  
o Explore opportunit ies for enhanced cooperation on relevant technical assistance 
activities.  
o Explore opportunities for joint work to further develop technical knowledge and 
identification of gaps and opportunities to address plastics pollution.  
o Report back on developments of  such cooperation relevant for our continued work.  
• Co-sponsors welcome the efforts by the WCO to improve the customs identification of 
plastics flows, including during the current HS2027 revision process, and encourage the WCO 
and WTO Members to consider a daptations to customs nomenclature to help identify trade 
in different types of plastics that are relevant to support efforts to address plastics pollution . 
• Co-sponsors  stand ready to offer their support, as appropriate and requested, to WCO efforts 
to ens ure the better identification and greater transparency of plastics  flows, across their 
life cycle, including flows of plastics embedded in internationally traded goods or associated 
with them (such as plastic packaging) , and waste, parings , and scrap of pl astics , as well as 
the implementation of customs -relevant policies aimed to address plastics pollution. Such 
support could include, inter alia : 
o The organization of joint symposia  or workshops with WCO  and other relevant 
stakeholders  that could support discussions and overcom e challenges related to the 
customs classification and identification of plastics flows (including the HS codes 
revision process).  
o Collaborate with the WCO and other relevant stakeh olders to identify relevant value 
chain actors and Trade -related Plastic Measures (TrPM s) that must be implemented 
by or affect the work of customs officials, as well as related challenges and 
opportunities . 
o Collaborate with the WCO and other relevant stak eholders to identify goods and 
services  customs officials would require to accurately, efficiently and effectively  
identify plastics . This could include, for instance,  specialized composition labels , 
existing technologies and machinery or testing materials . 
• Co-sponsors p ledge to continue to develop our collaboration with a view to  identifying 
customs implementation facilitation measures  aimed at ensuring more efficient and effective 
implementation of relevant TrPMs  and, as appropriate, adopting common appro aches.  
 
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[INF/TE/IDP/W/7 ] 
 
DRAFT QUESTIONS FOR A PROPOSED SURVEY ON TRADE -RELATED MEASURES ON PLASTICS 
POLLUTION  
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The draft questions below would be transposed to an online format for completion.  
 
Question 1.  
What is the title of the measure/policy?   
  
  
Please provide a description of the measure/policy.   INF/TE/IDP/CN/6  
 
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Question 2.  
Type of measure(s) covered by the policy (check those that apply) . 
Options  Response  
Sustainability Requirement (e.g. Product/production specifications, 
voluntary/mandatory, characteristics/performance, labelling, quotas, bans)    
Pricing and Market Mechanisms (e.g. Environmental taxes)    
Support and financial programmes (e.g. Research and development, fiscal, price 
and investment measures, government procurement)    
Other (please elaborate)    
Question 3.  
What is the objective of the policy measure? (please elaborate) . 
 
Please select from the list below, the objective(s) that is applicable to the 
policy/measure (check those that apply) .  
Options  Response  
recycling    
reuse and remanufacturing    
eco-designing    
single-use plastic s   
waste management (including its trans -boundary movement) and leakage 
avoidance     
promotion of alternatives and substitutes    
chemical, toxic, and hazardous substances management    
promotion of waste management and other technologies    
other (please elaborate)    
Question 4.  
At which stage in value chain life cycle is the policy measure for? (check those that 
apply) . 
Options  Response  
plastic feedstock    
primary plastics    
plastic -based inputs and intermediate forms    
finished goods and manufacturing    
packaging materials    
plastic use    
waste and scrap  (including its trans-boundary movement)    
recycling    
other (please elaborate)    
Question 5.  
Which products/services are covered?   
 
Question 6.  INF/TE/IDP/CN/6  
 
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  Please mention the relevant HS /ICS Codes (if applicable) . 
 
Question 7.  
When was/is the policy intended to enter into force?  
 
Question 8. (optional)  
What challenges or needs were faced, or are expected to be faced, for the successful 
implementation of the policy?   
  
Please select from the list below, the challenges or needs that apply to the 
policy/measure (check those that apply) . 
Options  Response  
access to technology    
technical assistance on policy development    
technical assistance on policy implementation (e.g. market surveillance)    
certification, testing and metrology    
customs challenges    
financial and investment assistance    
domestic private sector engagement    
domestic civil society engagement    
cooperation from exporting countries    
cooperation from value chain actors (incl. exporters)    
regional cooperation    
Other (please elaborate)    
Question 9.  
Are there mechanisms in place to assess the measure's efficacy and/or efficiency and 
targeted results? If so, are there any results already identified (e.g. variation in 
targeted plastics and/or wastes volumes, variation in plastic waste mismanagement, 
variation in trade in targeted goods/services…)?  
  
Question 10.  
Please provide a link to the legal text(s) and/or other information on the policy . 
  
 
 
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[The draft questions for a proposed Aid for Trade Global Review and Needs Assessment Survey  will 
be issued and shared with delegations in due time] . 
 
 
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