US Opposes Plastic Production Caps at UN Treaty Talks

At the United Nations talks in Geneva, the United States under President Donald Trump's administration has urged countries to reject a global treaty aimed at capping virgin plastic production and regulating hazardous chemical additives, placing it at odds with over 100 countries including the European Union and small island states advocating for stronger measures. The U.S. is opposed to upstream interventions targeting plastic production, citing concerns over increased costs for plastic products, and is instead pushing for a treaty focused on downstream issues such as waste disposal, recycling, and product design. This stance aligns with the interests of petrochemical-producing countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia, who also oppose binding treaty provisions and favor voluntary or national measures, thereby threatening the treaty's ambition to tackle the full lifecycle of plastic pollution. The negotiations, intended to be the final round, have seen significant divisions and delays, with oil states even challenging scientific consensus on the health harms posed by plastics. Climate advocates warn that without caps on plastic production, plastic pollution will continue to worsen, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations and exacerbating environmental damage. Overall, these disputes have dimmed hopes for an ambitious global treaty to effectively curb plastic pollution.