Representatives from 175 to 184 countries convened in Geneva in early August 2025 to negotiate the first-ever legally binding global treaty aimed at combating plastic pollution. The talks, now in their sixth and likely final round, focus on regulating the production and disposal of plastic materials to address the escalating environmental and health risks posed by plastic pollution. However, the negotiations have encountered substantial divisions among participating nations. The United States, under the Trump administration, has urged countries to reject any treaty provisions that impose caps on plastic production, advocating instead for revisions that remove references to addressing the full life cycle of plastics. Oil-producing countries have aligned with the U.S. in opposing production limits, while the European Union and island nations press for stringent controls. The current draft treaty contains over 370 unresolved points, reflecting deep disagreements. The urgency of the treaty is underscored by recent studies, including one published in The Lancet, which characterizes plastics as a "grave, growing and under-recognized danger" to planetary and human health. Indigenous communities from North America have also participated in the talks, emphasizing the environmental impact of microplastics on their traditional lands. Despite calls from countries such as Kenya for a decisive agreement, the negotiations have made insufficient progress, with the chair of the talks issuing a candid assessment of stalled advancements. The complexity and geopolitical tensions surrounding the treaty highlight the challenges in forging a unified global response to plastic pollution.