Last month, 178 nation states voted to prohibit all exports of hazardous wastes, including electronic wastes and obsolete ships containing asbestos and other toxics, which are sent for breaking-up in countries such as India and Bangladesh. China, the European Union, and many developing states strongly supported the move. Even traditional opponents, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and India changed their stance. The United States refused to do so.
It now remains for just 17 countries to ratify the “Ban Amendment” to the UN’s Basel Convention on Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, for it to enter into law.
See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11275&l=1.