International Relations / Environment & Trade
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies has officially come into force after crossing the required two-thirds acceptance threshold, with the latest ratifications by Brazil, Kenya, Viet Nam, and Tonga. This marks the first WTO agreement with a primary focus on environmental sustainability, making it a landmark step in linking trade rules with global ecological concerns.
The agreement prohibits subsidies that fuel overfishing, overcapacity, and illegal fishing practices, aiming to prevent the overexploitation of marine resources. It also seeks to safeguard food security and the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide who depend on fisheries for nutrition and income.
By disciplining harmful subsidies, the pact promotes fairer trade in the fisheries sector, ensuring that competition is not distorted in favour of heavily subsidised operators. Its enforcement reflects growing international consensus on aligning trade frameworks with sustainability goals and the urgent need to conserve marine ecosystems.
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