   
  
INF/TE/IDP/CN/6/Rev.1  
 
20 May 2022 
(22-3917) Page: 1/10 
 Original: English  
 
INFORMAL DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS  POLLUTION  
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS  TRADE  (IDP)  
CONVENING NOTICE  
Revision  
 
The following  revised  convening notice, dated 20 May 2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
IDP Coordinators  (Australia, Barbados, China, Ecuador, Fiji and Morocco) . 
 
 
_______________  
 
 
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) . 
o Briefing by  the WCO on recent HS2027  discussions on  an amendment to plastics  
waste s definition in support of the Basel Convention Plastics  Amendment  
b. IDP enhanced cooperation with international processes ( e.g., UNEA, BRS,  the 2022 UN 
Ocean Conference ). 
o Briefing by Portugal on the 2022 UN  Ocean Conference  
o Briefing by  the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) Secretariat  
on plastics -related elements of the upcoming COPs in June  
c. Aid for Trade review and needs assessment survey and proposed event at the Eighth 
Global Review 2022 . 
o Update by the WTO Secretariat on plastics -related elements  and work on the Aid 
for Trade Global Review   
d. Survey of Trade -related Plastics  Measures  (TrPMs) . 
o Briefing by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) on trade -
related elements of their work on plastics  INF/TE/IDP/CN/6/Rev.1  
 
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  e. Proposed Workshop on Sustainable and Effective Plastics  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/Rev.1  
 
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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.zoom.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 delegat ions 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 circulate 
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/Rev.1  
 
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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 plastics  pollution and environmentally sustainable plastics  trade?  For example, 
would a taxonomy of types of trade policies or recommendations for providing infor mation 
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 plastics  pollution?   
 
• How can we encourage consideration of plastics  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 ca n 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 offi cials?  
 
• How can the IDP best contribute its trade expertise to the work of these processes in regard 
to plastics  pollution [to what?], i.e. input in areas such as design of standards and labelling 
for plastics , identifying options and best practices for t he effective use of trade policies to 
support plastics  pollution reduction efforts; identifying where trade can support plastics  
pollution reduction (e.g. in environmentally sustainable non -plastics  substitutes or 
environmentally sound waste management and  clean up technologies); 
proposing/identifying specific areas where improved trade -related data is needed for trade -
related cooperation on plastics  pollution, including through improved HS classifications; 
facilitating interaction between trade and environ ment officials working on plastics  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 plastics  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 polic y challenges and opportunities relevant to the shift to a circular 
economy for plastics  that reduces plastics  pollution across the life cycle and serves 
sustainable development goals?  
 
• How can trade -related cooperation help support effort to reduce unnece ssary or harmful 
plastics  and plastics  products, including single -use plastics  and plastics  packaging?  
 
• How can trade and trade policies promote a circular economy that supports international 
efforts to tackle plastics  pollution and sustainable development goals?  
 
_______________   INF/TE/IDP/CN/6/Rev.1  
 
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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 PLASTICS  POLLUTION  
_______________  
 
 
1. Formally launched during the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) 2020 "Trade 
and Environment W eek", 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 trade dimension as a solu tion.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  pollution and transition t o 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 s ustainability objectives.  
3. Following substantive discussions – which included the invaluable contribution from relevant 
stakeholders, notably the WCO Secretariat 2, a Ministerial Statement on Plastics  Pollution and 
Environmentally Sustainable 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 work towards concrete, pr agmatic, 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 o f 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 environmentally sustainable trade poli cies 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 Ministerial Statement "emphasi zes 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 Harmonized Commodity Descripti on 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 plastics  products traded 
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: Crosscut ting issues; 
Promoting Trade to Tackle Plastics  Pollution; and Circularity and Reduction to Tackle Plastics  
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 : 
 
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/Rev.1  
 
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  • 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, 
as appropriate, in the relevant WCO  meetings  to which it is invited , in particular on  the topic 
of plastics  customs classification and implementation challenges and to share relevant 
insights from IDP work. In this context, th e 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 opportunitie s 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 s uch 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 ada ptations 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 ensur e 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 plastics  packaging) , and waste, parings , and scrap of plastics , 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 di scussions 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 stakeholders to identify relevant value 
chain actors and Tra de-related Plastics  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 stakeholders to identify goods and 
services  customs offic ials 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 colla boration 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 approaches.  
 
_______________  
 
[INF/TE/IDP/W/7 ] 
 
DRAFT QUES TIONS FOR A PROPOSED SURVEY ON TRADE -RELATED MEASURES ON PLASTICS  
POLLUTION  
_______________  
 
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/Rev.1  
 
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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 pro curement)    
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 plastics    
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  
plastics  feedstock    
primary plastics    
plastics -based inputs and intermediate forms    
finished goods and manufacturing    
packaging materials    
plastics  use   
waste and scrap  (including its trans -boundary movement)    
recycling    
other (please elaborate)    
Question 5.  
Which products/services are covered?   
 INF/TE/IDP/CN/6/Rev.1  
 
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  Question 6.  
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 plastics  waste mismanagement, va riation in 
trade in targeted goods/services…)?  
  
Question 10.  
Please provide a link to the legal text(s) and/or other information on the policy . 
  
 
 
_______________  
 
 
  INF/TE/IDP/CN/6/Rev.1  
 
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[INF/TE/IDP/W/ 8] 
 
DRAFT AID FOR TRADE GLOBAL REVIEW AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY  
_______________  
 
In our Ministerial Statement f rom December 20 21 (WT/MIN(21)/8/Rev.2 ) Ministers reached the 
shared understanding  to intensify our work on areas of common interest with a view to identifying 
actions that participating Membe rs could take collectively to support global efforts to reduce plastic s 
pollution. Amongst others:  
 
Addressing trade -related capacity building and technical assistance needs of developing 
Members, least developed Members and vulnerable SIDS, to support their efforts  in several 
areas; a nd  
 
Considering plastic s pollution and environmentally sustainable plastics trade in Aid for Trade 
with environmentally sustainable objectives.  
 
Consistent with this shared understanding that the IDP should consider tackling plastics  pollution in 
Aid for Trade, as laid out in the Ministerial Statement, please provide your v iews on the following 
questions:  
 
1. [to all participants ] How can plastics  pollution in Aid for Trade programmes  be better 
reflected in the next Aid for Trade Global Review  cycle? 
 
• What relevant information can be gathered, for example through questions specific 
to plastics  and plastics  pollution to be included in the questionnaire sent to 
participants?  For example, should participants be invited to simply indicate 
programmes related to addressing plastics  pollution? Should there be some prior 
categorisation to help better identify the nature of existing programmes (e.g., by 
objective, type of policy, ty pe of plastics , alternatives and substitutes and services, 
including access to technologies targeted etc) and the links to trade (e.g. is trade 
considered in the programme, what trade measures might accompany or support 
the implementation of the policy/ pr ogramme, etc.)?  
 
• What could IDP co -sponsors and other Members do themselves in their 
engagement in the process?  
 
• Should relevant stakeholders , including organisations engaged in global, regional 
and domestic programmes related to addressing plastics  pollution, also be 
involved? If yes, which  and how ? For example, through specific Workshops that 
can be directly embedded into the AfT Work Programme ? If so, on what topics?  
 
2. [to recipient  partners ] What trade -related actions are envisioned in relation to obje ctives 
identified in the IDP Ministerial Statement  (see below)?  What specific needs do you require 
to efficiently implement trade -related policies and actions to address plastics  pollution , 
namely to:  
 
o move towards more circular plastics  economies ; 
 
o improve the environmentally sound management, recovery and recycling of 
plastics ; 
 
o facilitate access to key technologies ; 
 
o expand trade in environmentally sustainable and effective substitutes and 
alternatives ; 
 
o encourage collaboration with the relevant st akeholders through, inter alia, the 
exchange of knowledge and experience relating to the development of and access INF/TE/IDP/CN/6/Rev.1  
 
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  to environmentally sustainable and effective (including cost and functionally 
effective) substitutes and alternatives to single -use plastics ; 
 
o develop and strengthen local capacities to produce environmentally sustainable and 
effective substitutes and alternatives to single -use plastics ; 
 
o design and implement trade policies to address plastics  pollution : 
 
o Other . 
   
[participants would be able to provide a score from (low priority) 1 to 5 (high priority)  
among the following multiple answers to facilitate the analysis of results (the same used 
in the trade measures survey): 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 engageme nt; 
cooperation from exporting members ; cooperation from value chain actors (incl. 
exporters); regional cooperation; Other (please elaborate) ] 
 
3. [to recipient  partners ] What assistance do you already receive in your efforts to address 
plastics  pollution? Do es any of this assistance directly address trade -related actions to 
address plastics  pollution? What is your experience with regional AfT programs to address 
plastics  pollution?  How do they compare to non -regional programs?  
4. [to donor members and South -South partners ] What assistance do you already provide  to 
address plastics  pollution? Does any of this assistance directly address trade -related actions 
to address plastics  pollution?  What information is needed to help guide the development of 
your AfT strateg y to include a goal of actions to implement trade -related actions to address 
plastics  pollution ? What is your experience with regional AfT programs to address plastics  
pollution?  How do they compare to non -regional programs?  
 
5. [to regional and international donor institutions and organisations working on plastics ] What 
assistance do you provide to address plastics  pollution? Does any of this assistance directly 
address trade -related actions to address plastics  pollution?  
 
 
 
 
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