New Delhi: India is set to challenge any attempts to restrict its subsidies for impoverished fishermen at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and will advocate for a moratorium on fishing subsidies from developed countries, including the United States and the European Union. This stance was confirmed by three government officials ahead of the WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13), scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from February 26 to 29.
According to senior government officials, India plans to assert its demand for the extension of subsidies to approximately nine million poor fishermen operating within 200 nautical miles of its coastline during the upcoming WTO conference. Additionally, India intends to collaborate with like-minded members to propose a 25-year moratorium on subsidies for fishing industries in international waters, particularly targeting advanced nations.
While the officials declined to disclose their identities in accordance with government policy on international forum discussions, Einar Gunnarsson, chair of the WTO’s fisheries subsidies negotiations committee, emphasized the collective effort to reach an agreement aimed at curbing subsidies contributing to over-capacity and over-fishing.
In 2022, WTO members initially agreed to reduce subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as for the fishing of over-fished stocks. However, India has yet to ratify this agreement, which requires the approval of two-thirds of the WTO’s 164 members to become operational. It is anticipated that India will ratify the agreement later this year following general elections, as indicated by one of the officials familiar with the matter.
The Ministry of Commerce, spearheading India’s negotiations at the WTO, refrained from providing comments on the issue. According to a 2019 study published in Marine Policy, global fishing subsidies amount to $35.4 billion, with China, the EU, the United States, South Korea, and Japan being among the top subsidizers.
Indian officials emphasized the need for developing nations, such as India, to receive differential treatment for their fishing industry, which predominantly comprises impoverished fishermen. They argue that such treatment is crucial to ensure the sector’s sustainable growth and the livelihoods of millions of individuals dependent on it.
Source: Reuters