USTR / USMCA Workshop on Marine Litter

A US-Mexico-Canada Agreement workshop focused on ongoing efforts to mitigate marine litter and ghost nets in Mexico concluded yesterday in Mexico City according to a readout from the US Trade Representative’s Office.

USTR officials participating in the meeting stressed the importance of collaboration and partnership under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, particularly in the area of preventing and reducing marine litter, a key commitment in the USMCA environment chapter.

During the workshop, representatives from 16 non-governmental organizations and government officials from the United States and Mexico shared information on ongoing efforts to prevent and reduce marine litter in order to preserve human health and marine and coastal ecosystems, prevent the loss of biodiversity, and mitigate the cost and impacts of marine litter.

Workshop participants also emphasized the importance of local community engagement and outreach, and shared strategies to engage communities in mitigation efforts, including the need for education in schools, support to local fishers and coordination of local volunteers, USTR said.

Participants pledged to continue to enhance efforts to combat marine litter and ghost nets. USTR will continue to monitor efforts to prevent and reduce marine litter to ensure effective implementation of the USMCA environment commitments.