UNEP-ICTSD-WWF workshop on Development and Sustainability in the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations: Issues and Alternatives

Held on 11 May 2006 at the International Environment House 1 in Geneva

UNEP, ICTSD and WWF jointly hosted a workshop on Development and Sustainability in the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations at 11 May 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The workshop, assembling around 80 participants from governments, NGOs and IGOs, provided an informal discussion on developing country concerns in the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations. After identifying the key objectives for developing countries and their location in the WTO rules negotiations, the discussions turned to how these objectives could be embodied in the Special and Differential Treatment framework as well as in the access agreement negotiations currently underway in the Rules negotiations.

The drive for the dialogue on the technicalities of the negotiations stems from the realisation of the urgent timeline for the conclusion of the Doha Round by end of the year 2006. At the workshop, participants agreed on the need for striking a balance between economic, social and environmental interests of all the WTO members and discussed the technicalities and legal implications for how such balance could be achieved.

To further the positive development achieved at the workshop, New Zealand
submitted the Chair's Summary to the Rules Committee (TN/RL/W/206)"

If you have any questions regarding this meeting or other related issues, please contact Anja von Moltke (tel: 41-22-917 8137, e-mail: anja.moltke@unep.ch)

For more information on UNEP ETB's work on fisheries subsidies, please visit http://www.unep.ch/etb/areas/fisherySub.php

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