Insights on WTO Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations

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