NEGOTIATING GROUP ON RULES - FISHERIES SUBSIDIES

Report by the Chair, H.E. Mr Santiago Wills to
the negotiating group on rules

26 September 2022

INTRODUCTION

1.      Good afternoon colleagues, it is great to see all of you again. First and foremost, I hope that you and your families had a good and healthy summer break.

2.      I know that we all needed a break after the very intense experience of MC12 when the WTO, based on the work of this Negotiating Group, met the mandate in SDG Target 14.6 by adopting the new multilateral Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. I want to express my thanks to all delegations for your support to me as Chair throughout this arduous process. I know that many of you are continuing your hard work on fisheries subsidies, by assisting your authorities to take the necessary steps to deposit your acceptances of the Agreement as soon as possible so that it enters into force quickly and starts delivering its benefits for the sustainability of the ocean and the blue economy, and that you will soon embark on the second wave of the negotiations mandated in the Agreement.