Supporting the Implementation of New WTO Rules on Fisheries Subsidies

The brief argues that while billions have been spent on fisheries-related technical assistance, there is a lack of evidence for support specifically targeting subsidy assessment and reform. It suggests that to effectively implement future WTO disciplines, existing assistance must be rebalanced and refocused to coherently support food security, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability.

• Between 2009 and 2018, fisheries-related technical assistance totaled at least USD 3.3 billion, yet there is no clear evidence that donors have supported subsidy assessment and reform.
• Developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) often face capacity constraints that may necessitate dedicated technical assistance and capacity building (TACB) to implement new internationally binding WTO disciplines into domestic laws and administrative procedures.
• To ensure the effectiveness of new fisheries subsidies disciplines, providers of technical assistance should refocus their programs to coherently support environmental sustainability, livelihoods, and food security.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2020). Supporting the Implementation of New WTO Rules on Fisheries Subsidies. https://www.iisd.org/publications/wto-fisheries-subsidies-technical-assistance

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Supporting the Implementation of New WTO Rules on Fisheries Subsidies. 2020. https://www.iisd.org/publications/wto-fisheries-subsidies-technical-assistance.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Supporting the Implementation of New WTO Rules on Fisheries Subsidies |date=27 November 2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/wto-fisheries-subsidies-technical-assistance |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2020supporting, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Supporting the Implementation of New WTO Rules on Fisheries Subsidies}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/wto-fisheries-subsidies-technical-assistance}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }