WTO members hold discussions aimed at deepening talks on fisheries subsidies
WTO members have completed discussions on two specific topics regarding fisheries subsidies – subsidy prohibition and fisheries management — in the latest meetings of the Negotiating Group on Rules (NGR) intended to deepen negotiations. While positions were varied at the 6 and 11 April meetings, many members signalled interest in further talks.
The first discussion was on subsidy prohibition, where members debated issues such as whether fisheries subsidies should be prohibited and if so which ones, whether to consider exceptions and what they may be, and what basis to use for determining overcapacity, overfished stocks and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, to the extent that these indicators might figure in defining eventual prohibitions.
In the second discussion, members debated the role, if any, that the assessment of fisheries management might play in subsidies disciplines. Members also discussed the extent to which national, regional and international fisheries management instruments and systems could be relied upon for information on IUU fishing, overfishing and other possible indicators.
While most members expressed support for prohibiting subsidies for IUU fishing with no exceptions and while many supported additional prohibitions, views remained divided on how, in practice, to implement such disciplines. A number of members highlighted the importance of taking into account the needs of developing countries and least developed countries, the reliability of existing assessments and fisheries management systems, and members’ sovereignty.
The two discussions are part of a plan agreed by the NGR in March for a series of topical discussions interspersed with regular informal meetings of the Group. Members putting forward proposals have emphasized the 2020 deadline in Target 14.6 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and their interest in arriving at an agreed outcome at the WTO’s 11th Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December.
Responding to questions from members on topics for future discussions and calls for more advance notice of the timetable for these discussions, the chair, Ambassador Wayne McCook (Jamaica), said he would consult with members submitting proposals. He noted that possible future topics could include subsistence and artisanal fishing, special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries, as well as possible measures to improve transparency regarding fisheries subsidies. A number of delegations urged members not to leave discussions on special and differential treatment to the end. A concern also was raised as to “asymmetry” or how these discussions fit in with work in other negotiating areas.
More information on the fisheries subsidy talks and the role of the NGR is available here.
SDG Target 14.6 calls for prohibiting certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminating subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and refraining from introducing new such subsidies, by 2020. Target 14.6 also recognizes that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations.
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