Reforming Plastic Waste Trade through WTO Law and Administrative Governance

Abstract

Plastic waste trade has emerged as a pressing global concern at the intersection of trade liberalization and environmental protection. Despite increasing regulatory attention, the existing World Trade Organization (WTO) framework remains insufficiently equipped to address the environmental consequences of cross-border plastic waste flows. This study examines how WTO law and administrative governance mechanisms can be reformed to promote sustainable trade practices. Using a qualitative legal-analytical approach, the research reviews WTO agreements—particularly General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), and General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) alongside key environmental instruments such as the Basel Convention, to evaluate their coherence and limitations in governing plastic waste. The study further explores administrative pathways that national governments can employ to align domestic regulatory systems with WTO-consistent environmental objectives. Findings reveal that a fragmented regulatory landscape and weak administrative enforcement undermine effective plastic waste control. The paper concludes that integrating trade law reforms with administrative governance offers a viable route to balancing global trade commitments and environmental sustainability.