WTO关于“塑料污染与环境可持续塑料贸易”对话的进展及中国的衔接建议

Progress of WTO Dialogues on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastic Trade and Suggestions for China

当前塑料国际贸易引起的环境问题突出国际法规制的不足。2020年11月WTO发起的“塑料污染与环境可持续塑料贸易非正式对话”意味着国际社会希望通过发挥国际贸易的作用解决塑料污染问题,并实现可持续的塑料贸易。该对话涵盖跨领域问题、解决塑料污染的贸易措施、促进塑料的循环和减量这三项议程,目前聚焦塑料替代品和替代物、塑料生命周期分析的技术标准两大议题。该对话与联合国制定塑料污染条约的国际倡议、世界海关组织修订《商品名称及编码协调制度》的行动密切互动,明晰了塑料替代品和塑料替代物相关的系列问题以及针对发展中国家的贸易援助计划等核心任务。作为全球最大的塑料生产国和消费国之一,中国主动推进“塑料污染对话”,中国需要从塑料制品的源头减量、销售使用、废弃物规范回收和处置等环节,推动国内塑料污染防治相关法律法规和政策的完善。

At present,the environmental problems caused by the international trade of plastics highlight the inadequacy of the regulation of international law.In November 2020,WTO initiated“Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade”(IDP),with an aim to slove plastic pollution and sustainable plastic trade by means of international trade for the first time.So far,the Dialogue has lanuched three agendas,including cross-cutting issues,trade measures to address plastic pollution,and promotion of recycling and reduction of plastics.It now focuses on plastic alternatives and substitutes,and technical standards for life-cycle analysis of plastics.The Dialogue,is in close interaction with the initiative of United Nations for a treaty on plastic pollution and the World Customs Organization's action to revise the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System,clarifying the functional positioning of plastic substitutes and the list of plastic substitutes,the coordination of trade laws and policies of member states on plastic substitutes and substitutes,the unification of international trade technical standards for life cycle analysis of plastics,trade assistance programs for developing countries and other core tasks.As one of the world's largest producers and consumers of plastic,China has been promoting the IDP,demonstrating the responsibility of a major trading power in the World.In order to have a better dialogue on the IDP,China needs to improve relevant domestic laws,regulations and policies from perspectives of prevention and control of the plastic pollution from the source of plastic products,sales and use,and regulation of waste recycling and disposal.