WTO fish subsidy negotiations may not reach deal until at least 2026, analysts warn

The World Trade Organization building in Geneva, Switzerland
The World Trade Organization building in Geneva, Switzerland | Photo courtesy of Bernsten/Shutterstock
6 Min

World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations on ending subsidies that lead to overcapacity and overfishing around the globe – the text of which is referred to as Fish 2 – may not recommence in earnest until 2026, according to experts analyzing the discussions in Geneva, Switzerland.

“The next important decision point looks like it will be in Cameroon in 2026,” Oceana Senior Analyst Daniel Skerritt said. “I don’t foresee any substantive movement until then. The aim will be for us to try to keep as much of the current text intact as possible.”

Talks on Fish 2 began in early 2023 and aimed to strengthen a deal WTO negotiators reached in October 2022 that partially limited harmful fishery subsidies.

Negotiators were most recently optimistic that they could reach a deal by the end of 2024 but ran into heavy opposition from Indian delegates, specifically regarding how subsidies are calculated within the draft text. This opposition led to the draft being withdrawn from consideration at December’s WTO general council meeting.

Skerrit explained to SeafoodSource that the stalemate has led some delegates to suggest starting negotiations from scratch, though he said he believes this “would be a huge setback.”

"[India’s approach is] misguided and appears to be a new attempt to avoid reaching an international compromise,” said Daniel Voces, the CEO of Europeche, a trade body which represents E.U.-based fishing companies. “Exerting pressure on transparent and sustainable public aid systems of developed fishing nations, while seeking maximal exemptions and derogations for Indian fleets, is not a constructive path forward. [India’s approach] fails to address the root causes of overcapacity or overfishing where they exist and undermines efforts to establish a fair global playing field. It is vital for all nations to aim for a minimum common denominator of subsidy scrutiny that is universally applicable...


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