WTO Negotiations on Fisheries Subsidies: Implications for Latin America

The overarching objective of the regional workshop is to support World Trade Organization (WTO) members from the region as they seek to fulfill the commitment made in December 2017 to successfully negotiate new fisheries subsidies disciplines by December 2019.

Specifically, the workshop will assemble policy-makers from across the region and experts for an in-depth discussion of WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations. In particular, the workshop is designed to help Latin American countries answer the following three fundamental questions:

• What is the reality of global, and specifically Latin American, fisheries and relevant subsidy policies?
• How could WTO rules on fisheries subsidies have an impact on subsidy policies and fisheries in Latin America, and what are the potential implications for local reform efforts?
• How can an agreement best be designed to reflect the interests of Latin American countries and help support local reform efforts?

The workshop will address these questions by providing delegations with the input of experts and presenting new pieces of research, including a draft case study on shrimp fisheries off the Pacific coast of Latin America. The event will also provide government officials with an opportunity to discuss key questions in WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies in a regional and non-negotiating setting.