The United States deposited its instrument of acceptance for the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 11 April, making it the fourth World Trade Organisation (WTO) member, and the first among the large fishing nations, to do so.

The formal acceptance by the United States marks a pivotal moment for the approaching entry into force of the landmark agreement for ocean sustainability, said Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as she received the instrument from U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai in Washington, D.C.

Recent Oceana-supported research, published in Marine Policy, found that harmful fisheries subsidies from wealthy nations like the United States are disproportionately impacting poorer nations like Guinea-Bissau, Somalia, and Namibia that depend on fish for food security and livelihoods. The paper reveals that 20-37% of all harmful fisheries subsidies support distant-water fishing in other countries’ waters or on the high seas.

Global agreement on fisheries subsidies

The negotiations on fisheries subsidies began more than twenty years ago, in 2001, and reached an important milestone in Geneva on 17 June 2022. It was the first time WTO members have ever concluded a deal “with environmental sustainability at its heart”.

The agreement includes a strong prohibition of subsidies contributing to illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing with unprecedented transparency provisions.  Secondly, it includes an absolute prohibition of subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas. And thirdly, the provision on overfished stocks will bring sustainability rules for subsidies regarding most vulnerable stocks in the first phase of the agreement.

Long way to go until full acceptance

Acceptances from two-thirds of WTO members are needed for the Agreement to come into effect. The US is the fourth country to formally accept the agreement, following on from Switzerland, Singapore and the Seychelles.

WWF reacted to the agreement of the US by saying “Ambassador Tai and the US’ quick action to sign this important Agreement provides the leadership needed to reduce harmful fishing subsidies and advance healthier marine ecosystems and stronger coastal communities. It is urgent for WTO members to expedite the domestic acceptance process so the world can be one step closer to achieving ocean sustainability.”

WTO member states are continuing to negotiate on issues that were left open when the agreement was reached with the aim of adding additional clauses at the next WTO ministerial conference, to be held in February 2024 in the United Arab Emirates.

Further information:

• Here you can find a ‘Factbox’ from Reuters on ‘What has the WTO ministerial conference achieved?’ and a handy guide from IISD.

• The list of members that have submitted their acceptance of the Agreement is available here.

• The full text of the Agreement can be accessed here.