By Valerie Volcovici
In a significant shift, the United States, a major player in the plastic industry, will now back a global treaty aimed at reducing the production of new plastic each year. This change in stance comes after previous calls for individual countries to make their own decisions on the matter, according to a source close to US negotiators speaking to Reuters on Wednesday.
This move puts the U.S. at odds with countries like Saudi Arabia and China, who have advocated for the upcoming UN treaty to focus on downstream measures such as recycling and packaging design, rather than addressing production levels. Negotiators are set to finalize the treaty at a summit in Busan, South Korea, scheduled for November.
Analysis: This article highlights a significant policy shift by the United States regarding global efforts to reduce plastic production. By supporting a treaty aimed at tackling this issue, the U.S. is aligning itself with initiatives to address environmental concerns and promote sustainability. This decision could have far-reaching implications for the plastic industry, as well as for efforts to combat plastic pollution on a global scale.