On 18 August 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General (DG) received Nepal’s instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies from Nepal’s WTO Ambassador. Just three more acceptances are needed for the agreement to enter into force.
The DG said: “Only through collective action can we restore the health of our oceans – and curbing harmful fisheries subsidies is an important step to this end. I am deeply grateful to Nepal for its leadership as a landlocked, least-developed country. With Nepal’s ratification, we are even closer to crossing the finish line in bringing the landmark agreement on fisheries subsidies into force. Only three more acceptances to go!”
Ambassador Subedi said: “Nepal is very pleased to deposit its instrument of acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies today, reaffirming our commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system. As a landlocked country, we nonetheless share with other WTO members a responsibility to ensure the sustainable use of marine resources. We believe that healthy marine ecosystems are vital for food security, environmental sustainability and the livelihoods of millions of people around the world.”
Formal acceptances from two-thirds of WTO members are required for the agreement to enter into force – representing 111 members. The list of the 108 WTO members who have deposited their instruments of acceptance with the WTO is available on their website.
At the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 2022, ministers adopted the agreement by consensus, setting new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.
Ministers also recognised the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs) by establishing a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to help governments that have formally accepted the agreement to implement the new obligations.
In early June 2022, the Fish Fund launched a call for proposals, inviting developing economies and LDCs that have ratified the agreement to submit requests for project grants aimed at helping them implement the agreement. Applications are due by 09 October 2025. The WTO Fish Fund portal is accessible on the WTO website.
WTO members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiating on remaining fisheries subsidies issues with the aim of finding consensus on additional provisions to strengthen the disciplines on fisheries subsidies further.
Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment is available here.
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/rulesneg_e/fish_e/agreement_fisheries_subsidies_e.htm