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In shift, United States backs international target to reduce plastic production, source states

The United States, among the world's greatest plastic makers, will support a worldwide treaty calling for a decrease in just how much new plastic is produced each year in a significant policy shift, a source close to U.S. mediators informed Reuters on Wednesday.

The change far from its earlier calls to leave such decisions up to each country puts the U.S. in direct opposition to nations like Saudi Arabia and China.

Those countries have argued that the hoped-for United Nations treaty, which mediators are scheduled to conclude at a. November top in Busan, South Korea, should disregard concerns. of production and focus on downstream measures, such as. encouraging recycling and changing product packaging style.

The Busan talks will happen after the U.S. presidential. election on Nov. 5, in which Vice President Kamala Harris is up. against former president Donald Trump.

Trump has actually formerly avoided worldwide environmental. contracts and pulled the U.S. out of the UN

Paris climate arrangement

.

HIGH AMBITION COUNTRIES

The policy shift also puts the U.S. in more detailed alignment with. a group of so-called high aspiration nations that includes EU. member states, South Korea, Canada, Rwanda and Peru and has. called for an international plastics treaty to cap and phase down the. production of plastic.

The group has actually likewise targeted a list of chemicals of. environmental concern used in plastic production that ought to be. eliminated.

The U.S. now likewise supports working to produce a possible. global list of chemicals that ought to be phased out to prevent a. patchwork of different national requirements, along with set. global requirements to determine what must be on a list of. avoidable plastic items to phase out, the source said.

The argument over whether a UN treaty ought to seek to limit. the amount of plastic being made drove the last round of. settlements in Ottawa in April to overtime, with significant plastic. and petrochemical manufacturers like Saudi Arabia and China obstructing. further negotiations around production caps, arguing that. countries should focus on less contentious topics, such as. plastic waste management.

The EU and other celebrations have actually raised concerns that continuous. divisions in between nations over the scope of the treaty will. make it tough to close settlements in Busan.

They have actually introduced an effort called the Bridge to Busan to. keep plastic production targets alive in the treaty text at. the Busan talks. The source did not state whether the U.S. would. assistance that effort.

The White House is rundown stakeholders on Wednesday on its. shift in position that raises aspiration, the source stated.

The changes come ahead of a meeting in Bangkok parallel to. the continuous treaty settlements later this month and after the. U.S. last month set out brand-new policies to deal with plastic. contamination.

(source: Reuters)