Issues of food security and support for agriculture and fisheries are discussed by WTO members

The third day of negotiations of the WTO trade ministers is devoted to the issues of support to agriculture, ensuring food security around the world.

Today, all world economies are facing many challenges related to the shortage of food resources, including those caused by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, protectionism of international trade.

During a number of sessions, the parties discussed options for the WTO's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed the importance of maintaining transparency in the procedures for applying export restrictions and prohibitions, and simplifying international trade procedures.

WTO members also noted the importance of addressing food shortages. Today, every tenth person on the planet suffers from a lack of food. In this regard, the adoption of the discussed package of measures on agriculture will confirm the commitment to achieving common goals for ensuring food security and supporting agriculture.

In addition, one of the controversial issues discussed during the negotiations on the sidelines of the IC12 is the agreement to limit the subsidies applied by a number of countries to the fishing industry.

"For Kazakhstan, this issue is not sensitive, since we are talking about industrial fishing in the open seas and oceans. However, for a number of large WTO members, fishing is a profitable export item. In order to prevent the depletion of the resources of the world ocean, the need to limit subsidies to this industry is stipulated. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the interests of those states for which fishing is a source of food and a means of livelihood," explained Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Janelle Kushukova.