Philippines Accepts Fisheries Deal, WTO Members Negotiate 2nd Fisheries Agreement

The Philippines accepted the World Trade Organization's agreement on fisheries subsidies, the WTO announced this week. Seventy members have accepted the deal, which is 40 shy of the two-thirds mark needed for full adoption.

The WTO said ministers during the 13th Ministerial Conference held talks on a second fisheries subsidies deal, which will cover topics including "services domestic regulation and advanced work on plastics pollution, fossil fuel subsidy reform, and environmental sustainability." Iceland's Martin Eyjolfsson, who is leading the talks, said he will hold bilateral discussions on Feb. 28 and will "share drafts for a Ministerial Decision" and a "protocol for the adoption" of the "additional provisions on fisheries subsidies."