WTO GLOBAL REVIEW OF AID FOR TRADE

COMMUNICATION ON FISHERIES SUBSIDIES

The following communication, dated 26 June 2024, is being circulated at the request of the delegations of Argentina; Australia; Barbados; Belize; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; Ecuador; Fiji; Hong Kong, China; Malaysia; Mauritius; New Zealand; Nigeria; Norway; Panama; Peru; Philippines; Saint Lucia; Samoa; Seychelles; Singapore; South Africa; Suriname; Switzerland; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States; and Vanuatu.

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COMMUNICATION ON FISHERIES SUBSIDIES

We, the above-named WTO Members, welcome the occasion of the WTO's Global Review of Aid for Trade, taking place between 26-28 June 2024.

We take this opportunity to affirm our support for the entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies as soon as possible this year. We also affirm our support for conclusion of the negotiations on additional provisions relating to overcapacity and overfishing in July ahead of the European summer break, building on the significant progress made by Members at the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi.

We note the critical contribution of this agreement for advancing the WTO's sustainable development objectives, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal target 14.6. In particular, we note the importance of a comprehensive agreement for protecting ocean health, the livelihoods of fisherfolk, and the communities they support.

We acknowledge the leadership of many WTO Members in seeking to reach a comprehensive agreement. We encourage all Members to engage constructively in order to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion without delay.

We also welcome the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism and look forward to it being operational upon the entry into force of the Agreement.

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