September 19, 2025

WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies enters into force

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) celebrated the entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies at a special General Council meeting on September 15.

At the meeting, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received the instruments of acceptance of the Agreement from Brazil, Kenya, and Viet Nam and Tonga, bringing the total number of acceptances over the threshold of two-thirds of WTO members needed for the Agreement to enter into force.

The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies aims to ensure sustainable global fisheries by establishing new multilateral trade rules on harmful fisheries subsidies, such as those related to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

To oversee implementation of the Agreement, a Committee on Fisheries Subsidies will be established to maintain regular dialogue on members' fishing practices and subsidies and to increase transparency on governments' practices.

The list of WTO members which have deposited their instruments of acceptance of the Agreement with the WTO can be found here.