The United States is still playing coy on where it stands on key issues just days before the final round of negotiations on a United Nations agreement to drastically slash plastic pollution.
The Biden administration over the past few months has played hot and cold with some of the most contentious provisions, resulting in a muddled message multiple sources close to the matter blame on friction between agencies and the White House’s political agenda.
“You can feel the tension in that,” said Erin Simon, vice president at World Wildlife Fund and co-lead of a business coalition advocating for the plastics treaty.
Officials offered few specifics during invite-only briefings closed to the press in August when they signaled support for multiple left-leaning measures, including a target for limiting plastic production and listing chemicals of concern subject to obligations.
