WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS)

On 20th July 2026, India accepted the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS), becoming a Party to the Agreement.

What is the Agreement?

  • Adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva (2022).
  • Entered into force on 15 September 2025 after acceptance by two-thirds of WTO members.
  • First multilateral WTO agreement with an environmental sustainability objective.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits subsidies for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
  • Bans subsidies for fishing overfished stocks.
  • Restricts subsidies supporting unsustainable industrial fishing.
  • Applies to marine wild-capture fisheries and fishing activities at sea.
  • Does not cover aquaculture or inland fisheries.

Significance

  • Sustainable Fisheries: Promotes conservation and sustainable use of ....
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