World Trade Organization Talks on Additional Fisheries Subsidy Rules

World governments adopted the historic Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in 2022 at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference. This landmark deal prohibits fisheries subsidies where they pose the greatest threat to sustainability. Building on that foundation, WTO members are now working to strengthen the agreement through additional disciplines aimed at tackling subsidies that encourage overfishing and overcapacity more broadly. 

The aim of these proposed rules is to ensure that government financial support to the fishing industry does not drive unsustainable levels of fishing. If adopted, these disciplines could play a vital role in safeguarding marine ecosystems and supporting the livelihoods, food security, and development prospects of communities that rely on healthy fish stocks. Despite falling short of finalizing these new rules in 2024, members made significant progress and came closer than ever to consensus on this vital sustainable development priority. 

As discussions continue, this update offers an overview of the rules under negotiation, as reflected in the latest draft text circulated by Ambassador Gunnarsson of Iceland, chair of the WTO's Rules Negotiating Group, in November 2024. The update first reviews recent developments in the negotiations and the current state of play, then provides a concise explanation of the new disciplines being proposed. It also includes contextual insights to help readers understand the rationale behind specific provisions. For each main element of the proposed disciplines, summary boxes are included to highlight key features. The update concludes by drawing attention to several important sustainable development considerations related to the draft text.