U.S. Policy Shift Aligns with High Ambition Coalition on Global Plastics Treaty

Attention sustainability leads: Last week, Reuters reported that the U.S. aligned with the High Ambition Coalition, joining Canada, the EU, and South Korea in supporting global caps on plastic production and phasing out harmful chemicals. This significant policy shift signals U.S. support for creating a global list of chemicals of concern on which to develop obligations to avoid a “patchwork” of different national requirements and setting criteria for phasing out “avoidable plastic products.” As the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) prepares for its final session in Busan on November 25th, the outcome remains uncertain. However, this development is a major setback for the chemicals and plastics industry and could significantly influence negotiations, particularly against resistance from major producers like China and Saudi Arabia. RCC supports a strong international treaty to avoid a patchwork of national regulations and will keep members updated on developments.