G/TBT/W/756  
 
28 May 2021 
(21-4455) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 
PROPOSAL FOR COOPERATION  ON MEASURES TO ADDRESS   
PLASTIC PACKAGING POLLUTION  
NINTH TRIENNIAL REVIEW  
Submission from the United States  
The following submission, dated  28 May 2021, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of 
the United States . 
 
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1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  More than 8 million tons of plastic is entering the ocean every year. As countries around the 
world grapple with ocean plastic pollution , they are seeking way s to make substantial progress on 
reducing plastic waste and ocean pollution.  While plastics are societal assets, as demonstrated by 
the importance of personal protecti ve equipment during the COVID -19 pandemic, the durability and 
non-biodegradable properties that make plastics valuable for human health and food safety can lead 
to plastic waste accumulation in the environment when it is not managed in an environmentally 
sound manner.  We know that p lastic pollution affects environmental and food security, economic 
stability, resource management, and that more research is needed to determine its potential impact 
on human  health.  An increasing number of governments have or ar e developing measures aimed at 
reducing plastic waste in the environment . Such measures  include banning single -use plastics , 
mandating certain levels of recycled content in plastic  packaging , and extended producer 
responsibility requirements . Others are employing voluntary approaches  that focus on  promoting 
innovation in domestic use, recycling, and production . Both approaches risk overlooking the positive 
role that trade can play in addressin g the  issue. At this early stage, we notice a  trend in which 
requirements may be adopted without a risk assessment, life-cycle assessment, adequate  recycled 
content supply to meet domestic production /use targets, cost-benefit analysis , evaluation of the 
cost, suitability , and environmental impact  of alternative  products/ packaging materials , or sufficient  
time for supply chain  adjustment  and changes in manufacturing processes . Further,  in some 
instances,  the application of such measures to  imports  and to plastic products manufactured for 
export , as well as the verification processes  to confirm compliance, are not clear. Moreover, b anning 
certain products  or materials  prior to identifying suitable alternatives while not allowing sufficient 
time for supply chain s and manufacturing processes to adjust could have devast ating impacts on 
fragile economies that are still recovering from, or remain in crisis , due to the pandemic . Such 
actions  may also have a disproportionate impact on small and medium -sized enterprises . More 
information sharing is needed to exchange best practices in addressing plastic waste, including 
frameworks to evaluate the risks and alternatives and the variety of means to promote responsible 
use and recycling domestically and across borders.  Flexibility  is necessary and  different policy 
approaches to address  plastic packaging waste that may become m arine litter or pollution  need to 
take into consideration unique national circumstances.  
2  PROPOSAL  
2.1.  The United States proposes a thematic session that would explore the current landscape of 
Member and stakeholder views  and actions with regard to plastic packaging with a view to 
(1) understand domestic authorities  efforts  to regulate plastic as a  consumer use  product or as G/TBT/W/756  
 
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  non-hazardous plastic waste and scrap,  and to  (2) promote the application of regulatory approaches 
in accordance with core TBT principles and good regulatory practice to minimize waste  leakage and 
pollution , while encouraging trade and innovation. Topics and a reas of focus could include:  
a. Exploration of regulatory flexibility /alternatives that leverage effective  approaches used 
by vendors globally;  
b. Presentations by WTO Members that are currently developing standards and regulation s 
to manage  plastic waste and pollution (including those that may involve certification or 
labelling) and to promote innovation , with a focus on identification of best practices for 
facilitation of trade;  
c. Challenges, limitations, and potential trade implications of l everaging existing conformity 
assessment frameworks;  
d. Presentations by interested stakeholders, including Members, industry, international 
organizations, or non -government organizations , that are currently developing or have 
developed approaches to manage p lastic waste and promote reuse, recycling and 
innovation,  including those that may involve certification or labeling, voluntary initiatives, 
suitability , cost of viable alternatives , and supply chain and manufacturing considerations  
with a focus on identification of best practices for facilitation of trade . 
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