Momentum for creating new disciplines on fisheries subsidies grew again since 2015, with the adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Target 6 of SDG 14 calls on UN Members “to prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, recognizing appropriate and effective special and differential treatment (SDT) for developing countries and LDCs within the WTO context by 2020”.
Subsidies are a key policy and development tool to achieve public objectives by government. At the same time and depending on how they are designed, they can have positive or negative effects on markets, people and the environment. Main issues under negotiations today relate to definitions, the scope of the disciplines, subsidies to fishing, subsidies for IUU fishing, overfished stocks, subsidies that contribute to overfishing, possible approaches to prohibit or to reduce subsidies, SDT treatment, technical assistance and capacity building, notification, transparency and surveillance. Subject to how a final WTO fish subsidies agreement looks like, certain harmful fish subsidies will disciplined while other may be allowed for sustainability purposes.
As an additional activity under the UNCTAD-DOALOS Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies (OETS) project and in order to support the preparation of the OETS reports and Action Plans by beneficiary countries, H.E. Ambassador Zapata, former Chair of the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules (Mexico), has kindly agreed participate at an online briefing to share his experience on recent developments on fish subsidies negotiations and implications for developing countries such as Barbados, Belize and Costa Rica.
The briefing took place on 9 September from 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm Geneva time. It was carried out through a Skype call for those willing to participate from capitals, and with relevant Geneva delegates and UNCTAD and DOALOS staff.
Trade and Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch
Evidence-based and policy coherent Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies