Plastic Agreement Final Date... Difficulties Over 'Production Restrictions'

The end of the final meeting of the International Plastic Convention in Korea is scheduled for today (1st), but we have not reached a conclusion on whether to put a 'production restriction' clause in the agreement.

More than 100 countries, mainly Pacific coastal countries such as the European Union and Panama, are in a position to put the first plastic polymer reduction into the agreement, but have faced strong opposition from oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia.

Korea, which is one of the top five plastic polymer producers along with the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and India, has not reportedly signed a polymer reduction proposal.

While the chairman has come up with several mediation proposals, some predict that the agreement could only be at a declarative level.

Environmental groups are urging the Korean government to make every effort to ensure that a legally binding plastic agreement can be reached.