2023-07-03 08:22:54
After Nigeria very recently, China, the largest fish producer, has just officially accepted the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on fisheries subsidies. A membership that should encourage countries lagging behind to hasten their steps.
Sylvestre TCHOMAKOU
For sustainable management of ocean resources, the giants of global fishing are gradually joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. After Iceland, Switzerland, Canada, USA, Seychelles and Nigeria, the People’s Republic of China, on June 27, 2023, deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement; affirming, as the world’s largest producer of sea fish, its support for this historic agreement in favor of the sustainability of the oceans. Receiving this instrument from China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, in Tianjin, China, ahead of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of New Champions organized by the World Economic Forum, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala expressed his satisfaction with the choice of China. “I am very happy to receive China’s formal acceptance of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement,” she said, before adding: “The support of China, the world leader in marine catches, implementation of this agreement is essential as part of multilateral efforts to preserve oceans, food security and livelihoods. By reducing harmful fishing subsidies around the world, we can together lead the way in passing on abundance and opportunity to future generations.” Carrying the message of the People’s Republic of China, Minister Wang recalled that the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is the second multilateral agreement concluded by the WTO since its creation in 1995 and the first WTO agreement achieve the Sustainable Development Goal on the environment, stating: “This is an important agreement to strengthen the confidence of all Members in multilateralism”. He goes on to say: “China has completed the process of approving the Agreement and will work with all Members to bring this instrument into force before the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference. At the same time, it will approach the second phase of the negotiations in a positive and constructive manner, hoping for a rapid conclusion”. Suffice to say that with this new ally on the Agreement, the WTO could more quickly mobilize two-thirds (2/3) of the members for the operationalization of the Agreement. This would be a real step forward in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. As a reminder, adopted by consensus at the twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), which took place in Geneva from 12 to 17 June 2022, the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement establishes new binding multilateral rules aimed at reduce harmful subsidies, a key factor in the general depletion of fish stocks around the world. In addition, it recognizes the needs of developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) and establishes a fund for the organization of technical assistance and capacity-building activities to help these countries meet obligations.
Legend : Minister Wang Wentao and DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
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juillet 3, 2023
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