WTO's Fishing Subsidy Agreement Faces Potential Delay Due to U.S., India, and Indonesia
The World Trade Organization's Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (FSA), which came into force on September 15, 2025, aims to curb harmful fishing subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfished stocks, and unregulated fishing on the high seas. The agreement is crucial for Pacific Island countries, offering fairer competition and protection of marine resources. However, the second phase of the agreement, known as Fish 2, is at risk of being stalled by India, Indonesia, and the United States. These countries have expressed concerns that stronger subsidy disciplines could infringe upon national sovereignty and disadvantage developing fishing industries. The FSA includes a sunset clause, which could lead to the termination of the agreement if Fish 2 negotiations are not concluded by September 15, 2029.