China and India are at the center of discussions to finalize an agreement to curb harmful subsidies to fisheries under the World Trade Organization (OMC).
This is one of the few agreements that WTO membership can reach at its 12th Ministerial Conference, which will take place from November 30 to December 3, 2021 in Geneva, Switzerland, and it is important because a third of the populations of Global fish were considered overfished, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Currently the last pending lines are being adjusted to present the final text of the agreement on fisheries to the Ministers of Commerce, in a negotiation mandated by the United Nations that has been going on for more than 20 years.
“There are some points of friction in the negotiation, they are wondering where the balance should be due to the effect of subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing and what kind of special and differential treatment should be given to least developed countries now. developing countries, ”he said Anabel Gonzalez, Deputy Director General of the WTO, at a round table with journalists on Wednesday.
China and India lead the world fish production. According to FAO projections, China would go from a production of 62.2 million tons in 2018 to 73.7 million in 2030, while India would climb from 12.4 to 15.6 million, respectively.
González reported that the negotiations are pending “how the participation of China in these disciplines or the participation of India is addressed.”
As a point of comparison, Latin American fish production would have a 4.9% drop in the same period, to 16.7 million tons in 2030.
“The vast majority of Latin American countries support the negotiations in this field and they would welcome its conclusion ”, said González, after stating that these nations see their opportunities limited by distorting subsidies from third economies.
During 2016-2018, the 39 countries that reported data on government support for the OECD together they provided an average annual support of $ 9.4 billion to the fisheries sector.
This represented a gross transfer equivalent to approximately 10% of the average value of landings during that period, compared to 13.8% in 2012-2014.
The decrease was due to a significant reduction in direct support to individuals and businesses, which totaled $ 4.6 billion per year, on average in 2016-18, compared to $ 8.6 billion in 2012-14.
An important factor in this trend was the reduction in fuel aid for fishing in China, which averaged about $ 2 billion between 2016 and 2018.
In the same period, on average, subsidies in the sector related to support for management, control and surveillance in the United States was 700 million dollars and income support in Brazil amounted to 600 million and in Canada they exceeded 200 millions.
At the same time, infrastructure subsidies in Japan were more than 600 million and in China they exceeded 300 million, while in Japan the subsidies to research and development reached about 200 million, according to data from the OECD.
roberto.morales@eleconomista.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx