Insights on WTO Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations

Conference Proceeding Title: World Trade Organization Public Forum: “Session 8: Untangling Fisheries Subsidies and Sustainable Development." Date: 02 October, 2018, Room B, World Trade Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. Background The Pacific Network on Globalization had organized a special session during the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum, on 02 October, 2018 the theme titled “Untangling fisheries subsidies and sustainable development” in the broader context of the WTO 2018 Public Forum on Trade 2030. The discussions on the topic of fisheries subsidies and sustainable development has been timely as members of the WTO, both developed and developing countries are negotiating disciplines in relation to fisheries subsidies in line with SDG 14.6 goals. There are a number of contentious issues in relation to developing the disciplines on fisheries subsidies.   Members are yet to find an agreed solution on balancing disciplines on fisheries subsidies for food secur

In 2018, the members of the World Trade Organization have been intensifying negotiations on fisheries subsidies. There are several proposals under discussions including the consolidated text from 2017. Impact of WTO Fisheries Subsidies and I-EPA Global Sourcing Provision The Pacific region in particular countries that are benefiting from the global sourcing provisions of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Pacific will be affected by the fisheries subsidies outcomes. Furthermore, countries that may consider future accession to the Interim Economic Partnership agreement to benefit from the Global Sourcing provisions of the I-EPA in relation to fisheries also has to exercise vigilance too. The global sourcing provision is simply a rules of origin provision whereby a country could source fish from anywhere, as long as the fish is processed onshore, it is deemed to be originating product of the Pacific country that is exporting it and therefore

This summation emanates from the series of previous discussions and papers that had been posted and referenced on this blog over the past few months. The WTO in May, 2018 is convening the negotiating group on Rules in relation to fisheries subsidies negotiations. This article aims to provide further views on some of the issues under discussions with possible suggestions. (i) On the issue of operating and capital costs and its relation to fisheries subsidies, in order to determine the types and kinds of costs that relate to operating and capital cost may be difficult. There are several issues behind these.The nature of the firms in developed and developing countries in relation to operating and capital costs. For firms, depending on the size and also the profitability factor, the operating and capital costs adds to the marginal cost of firms. This is similar to addressing negative externalities. This would be easier if members were able to obtain firm level data on the marginal cos

In 2017, at the World Trade Organization, members have had several exchanges on the issue of E-Commerce and disciplines in this regard. In 1998, members had agreed to a Work Programme on E-Commerce that included various areas that could be explored  including interalia having a Development Component as a separate sub-heading. With 4th industrial revolution and the rapid rise of technology it is without doubt that the importance of E-Commerce in the retail sector in relation to trade is significant. However, in relation to the development on rules on E-Commerce, there needs to be further discussions held in relation to its definition and scope and also whether disciplines on E-Commerce would contribute to global welfare gains or rather impede policy space for development by developing countries. The E-Commerce in relation to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) can to an extent be discussed under mode 1 commitments of countries under cross-border supply. However, for dev