Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally
Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP)

CONVENING NOTICE

The following convening notice, dated 28 March 2025, is being circulated at the request of the Dialogue Coordinators (Australia, Barbados, China, Ecuador, Fiji and Morocco).

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1._    The DPP will hold its next pre-plenary meeting in hybrid mode (Room D and Zoom) on Tuesday 9 April 2025, from 10 a.m. Geneva time. If required, the meeting will reconvene in the afternoon. All WTO Members and invited DPP stakeholders are welcome to attend the meeting. Please see technical arrangements in Annex I.

2._    According to the revised DPP roadmap, the meeting will be an opportunity to review the progress of the DPP in discussing the eight "Points of Focus" (PFs) towards "further concrete, pragmatic and effective outcomes" by the 14^th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14).

3._    The aide memoires of the last three DPP pre-plenary meetings, in which the eight PFs have been discussed, can be found in the DPP website and through the links below:

a._    DPP Pre-plenary meeting held on 18 September 2024 (_INF/TE/IDP/R/19)

b._    DPP Pre-plenary meeting held on 31 October 2024 (_INF/TE/IDP/R/20)

c._     DPP Pre-plenary meeting held on 13 February 2025 (_INF/TE/IDP/R/21)

4._    Draft agenda

1)_   Introductory remarks by coordinators

a._    Coordinators' summary of DPP discussions on the eight PFs

b._    Interventions and reactions from delegations and stakeholders

2)_   Open discussion on the following guiding questions:

·_    Statistical approaches to increasing knowledge and understanding of trade flows of plastics and plastic products gathered significant interest from delegations. How could the work at the DPP support the effectiveness, accuracy and efficiency (including costs) of approaches such as the one developed by UNEP-UNITAR and presented at the DPP? Would start by focusing on goods associated with a high percentage of embedded plastics be useful? What kind of support, in particular to developing members and least-developed countries, would be required?

·_    Over the years, delegations and stakeholders shared an increasing number of trade-related technical assistance (TA) and capacity building (CB) activities to tackle plastic pollution. Following the experience with "matchmaking" existing funding opportunities with trade-related needs and expertise, could the DPP help those involved on the topic avoid duplication, enhance efficiency, streamline efforts and leverage funds (e.g. under a structured framework)? Would a one-off match-making exercise/event focused on a specific topic (e.g. single-use plastics) be useful to illustrate the potential?

·_    Delegations shared their views, including several trade-related criteria/elements/considerations for good practices in relation to trade-related plastic measures (TrPMs) applied to single-use plastics (SUPs) goods.

o_   How could the DPP reflect at MC14, in a constructive and useful manner, the trade-related criteria/elements/considerations shared so far, including good regulatory practices and experiences from other WTO bodies and initiatives, and build upon them?

o_   Would a regional, type of measure and/or problem-based approach to trade cooperation on TrPMs applied to SUPs help identify concrete outcomes to support their harmonization, alignment or interoperability?

·_    A number of technologies and services were identified in recent DPP meetings. Would a thematic approach (e.g. by activity, product, sector or function) help identify concrete factors, actions and outcomes to facilitate access to such technologies and services?

·_    What particular focus would be useful in mapping existing international standards relevant to environmentally sound, safe and effective non-plastic substitutes, alternatives and technologies in relation to single-use plastics and packaging? Would identifying existing standards applicable to them be helpful to inform our work towards a potential MC14 outcome?

3)_   Any other business or interventions by delegations and stakeholders

4)_   Concluding remarks by coordinators

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Annex I – Technical Arrangements

Please note that the pre-plenary meeting will be held in hybrid mode (Room D and via Zoom).

1  REMOTE PARTICIPATION

1.1  For Zoom meetings:

Delegates and invited stakeholders wishing to participate virtually to the pre-plenary meeting via the Zoom platform, including capital-based officials, must register using this link:

Register to the Zoom Meeting:

https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/uub9tT7jTGGTorYwl0u-gg

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:

Meeting ID: 883 3662 8506

Passcode: 445507

1.2  Before the meeting:

We are available 1/2 hour before the meeting to test your connection with you.

On behalf of the interpreters please follow these recommendations:

Ø_  Use a wired internet connection (or very stable WiFi).

Ø_  Use a computer/laptop, not a phone or tablet.

Ø_  When participating remotely, at first choice, use an external USB tabletop microphone or a lapel microphone or second choice a USB Headset.

Ø_  Avoid using your computer's built-in microphone or cell-phone earbuds.

Ø_  Always turn on your camera before speaking.

Ø_  Turn off all notifications.

This will ensure that everyone can hear and understand your message fully.

1.3  During the meeting:

·_        If technical difficulties result in delegates 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 ends. Should the technical problem persist, delegates may contact the meeting coordinators (dpp@wto.org) during the course of the meeting, to either send their statement for it to be read out during the meeting, or to request that other attendees are to be informed about their interest to intervene under the item discussed and the subsequent circulation of their written statement.

2  ATTENDANCE IN THE MEETING ROOM

Invited stakeholders with no WTO accreditation who want to attend the meeting in person are requested to send a message to dpp@wto.org.

The use of face masks is still recommended in common areas and meeting rooms, in safeguarding health for all.

3  STATEMENTS

To facilitate interpretation, delegations are strongly encouraged to send their written statements to the Secretariat (dpp@wto.org) before the meeting starts. Statements will also be gratefully received during the meeting (dpp@wto.org).

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