Validation Workshop to Support the Implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in Fiji

Background

Overfishing remains a major global challenge, driven in part by harmful fisheries subsidies that increase fleet overcapacity and threaten marine ecosystems, food security, and the livelihoods of coastal communities. To address these impacts, the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies entered into force in September 2025, aiming to curb subsidies that contribute to overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. 

Recognizing the importance of supporting Pacific Island countries in preparing for ratification and implementation of the agreement, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) successfully mobilized funding from the Canadian Trade and Investment Facility (CTIF) to strengthen regional understanding of the disciplines. Under the first phase of this initiative in 2023, a regional report was produced to assist Pacific Island WTO members in assessing the implications of ratifying and implementing the agreement. 

Building on this work, a second phase—led by IISD and supported by PIFS—is providing targeted assistance to Fiji and Papua New Guinea. This phase uses IISD’s self-assessment tool to evaluate government readiness, identify institutional and policy gaps, and determine where technical assistance and capacity enhancement are needed for effective implementation of the agreement.

About the Event

This validation workshop in Suva, Fiji, is a key activity under the project’s second phase. It aimed to present and discuss the results of the self-assessment, validate findings with government officials, and identify any adjustments needed before finalization. The workshop also provided officials with an opportunity to discuss follow-up actions and plan next steps toward domestic implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. 

Specifically, the workshop:

• provided an overview of the agreement’s key disciplines;
• introduced IISD’s self-assessment tool;
• reviewed and validated findings on inventory, subsidy types, transparency requirements, key takeaways, and more; and
• shared updates on ongoing negotiations of additional rules and outlined next steps.