The WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement: What was agreed and what happens next?
After more than two decades of negotiations, on June 17, 2022, members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded an agreement to tackle the harmful fisheries subsidies that encourage unsustainable fishing in the world’s ocean. The deal, which was completed in overtime at the WTO’s Twelfth Ministerial Conference, establishes new binding multilateral rules on fisheries subsidies. It represents both the first set of global disciplines on governments’ financial support to their fishing sector and the first WTO agreement with an environmental objective at its core.
But what exactly was agreed and what was left out? This webinar shed light on the key rules and subsidy prohibitions that this new treaty establishes and discuss their significance from an ocean conservation perspective. It also explored how agreed rules could be improved through—already planned—future negotiations and explain what the implementation of these new disciplines will require countries to do in practice.
Agenda
15:00–15:05: Opening remarks
- Alice Tipping, Lead, Sustainable Trade, IISD
15:05–15:45: Expert perspectives
- Tristan Irschlinger, Policy Advisor, Fisheries Subsidies, IISD
- Isabel Jarrett, Manager, Ending Harmful Fisheries Subsidies, The Pew Charitable Trusts
- Rashid Sumaila, University Killam Professor, University of British Columbia
- John Pearce, Principal Consultant, MRAG
15:45–16:00: Questions and answers
Upcoming events
Building Bridges: The State of Nature-Based Investments
Join us for a panel at the Building Bridges conference in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss the state-of-play of nature-based investments and the potential opportunities they present.
Through Her Lens: Women leading change in sustainable agriculture and market inclusion
Despite the critical role that women play in agricultural production, they still do not have equal access to global agricultural supply chains on terms that benefit them.
The Pivotal Role of Sustainability for Ukraine’s Reconstruction
This webinar, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the Ukrainian Climate Office, will discuss how to incorporate sustainability into Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction plans and share recommendations for implementation.
A Municipal Perspective on the Value of Natural Infrastructure
This webinar will showcase examples the cost-effectiveness of natural infrastructure from a municipal perspective. Focusing on what municipalities need—what evidence and numbers they rely on, and what tools and planning processes are required to ensure that natural infrastructure is assessed alongside traditional infrastructure for cost-effectiveness.