The General Council of the World Trade Organization Officially Announced the Entry into Force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

The General Council of the World Trade Organization Officially Announced the Entry into Force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

Geneva, September 15, 2025 – At the Special meeting of the WTO General Council, it was officially announced that the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies has entered into force. The final instruments of acceptance, ensuring the required threshold for entry into force, were deposited by Brazil, Kenya, Tonga and Viet Nam.

The Agreement was adopted on 17 June 2022 at the 12th  WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), held under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan. This is only the second new WTO agreement since the Organization was established, and the first since the Trade Facilitation Agreement, adopted in Bali in 2013 and entered into force in 2017.

The Agreement prohibits subsidies contributing to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, subsidies for the exploitation of overfished stocks, and subsidies for fishing in unregulated areas of the high seas. In doing so, it will help cut down on the USD 22 billion in harmful subsidies provided annually, thereby protecting marine ecosystems. Estimates show that IUU fishing accounts for up to 20% of global catch.

According to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies “is not only about preserving deteriorating fish stocks, but also about protecting the livelihoods and food security of millions of people. It is a response to challenges relating to global public goods, and a demonstration that the multilateral trading system is capable of delivering real results.”

Kazakhstan ratified the Agreement on 19 June 2024, when President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the Law “On Ratification of the Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization.”

Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative to the WTO, Kairat Torebayev, emphasized: “As the world’s largest landlocked country, strengthening the multilateral trading system is of special importance to Kazakhstan. We are proud that at MC12, chaired by our country, this historic decision was adopted. Today’s step confirms that the WTO can reach agreements of global significance. We will continue to support members’ efforts to conclude further negotiations and implement the commitments already achieved.”

UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan conveyed a message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who congratulated the WTO on this important outcome and underlined that the entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies represents a vital contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, fully meeting SDG target 14.6 aimed at protecting the world’s oceans.

Prime Ministers of Barbados, Chile, Iceland and Malaysia also delivered video messages, congratulating WTO members and highlighting the importance of this historic agreement for safeguarding oceans and strengthening a fair international trading system.

Although the Agreement was ratified by two-thirds of members, it enters into force today for all WTO members. In case of a breach of its provisions by any member, disputes may be brought to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body.

In addition, 17 countries have contributed a total of USD 18 million to the dedicated WTO Fisheries Fund, which will provide technical assistance and support to developing and least-developed countries in implementing the Agreement.