The Trump administration has sent letters to at least a handful of countries urging them to reject a proposed global treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution. The move puts the US directly in opposition to over 100 countries that have supported measures such as limits on plastic production and chemical additives.
The letter, dated July 25, outlines the US’s “red lines” for negotiations, which include refusing to agree to a treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastic pollution from production to disposal. The US delegation, led by career State Department officials, also proposed revising the draft objective of the treaty to eliminate language addressing the full life cycle of plastics.
The move has dimmed hopes for an ambitious global treaty that could tackle the issue. Significant divisions remain between oil-producing countries and parties advocating for limits on plastic production and management of hazardous chemicals.
The US stance aligns with the positions of the global petrochemicals industry and powerful oil and petrochemical producer countries. Over 100 countries have backed a cap on global plastic production, which is set to triple by 2060 without intervention, choking oceans and accelerating climate change.
Critics, including Greenpeace USA’s Oceans Campaign Director John Hocevar, say the US delegation’s tactics are “old school bullying” aimed at convincing governments to adopt policies that benefit the US. Diplomats from countries supporting an ambitious treaty view the move as a test of multilateralism in the face of global challenges.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/trump-administration-memo-urges-countries-reject-plastic-production-caps-un-2025-08-06