Fish Progresses in Global Trade Talks

The members of the World Trade Organization are making progress in their negotiations regarding the reduction of subsidies in the fishing sector. But sources said that disagreements remain between the United States and Japan concerning ports. Peter Allgeier, who is the US ambassador to the WTO, presented last Tuesday the proposals of the US regarding the total ban on fishing subsidies. The US official made the presentation during the two-day meeting recently held by the Rules Negotiating Group under the global trade organization. According to Mr. Allgeier, immediate action was needed considering that 75% of the world's major fish stocks were exploited above the allowed levels. Fishing subsidies form only a part of the broad global trade talks under the WTO.

At present, Japan is the biggest provider of subsidies in the fishing industry. According to reports, Japan gives an estimated $5.3 billion worth of assistance to its fishing sector per year. The information was released by the Oceana, which is an environmental group based in Washington. Although Japan's representative to the global trade talks considered the US proposal as timely, he still sought for the exemption of subsidies to fishing port infrastructures from the deal.

Sources said that the members of the WTO were making progress in the global trade talks. But they also said that the areas where much progress was being made were of lesser importance compared with the farm and manufacturing issues. The Doha Development Round, which was launched in 2001, has already missed several deadlines due to the failure of the members to reach a consensus regarding certain issues. Two of the major issues blocking the progress of the negotiations are the reduction of agricultural subsidies and tariffs on industrial products.

The US proposal on fishing subsidies was first disclosed in March. The scheme calls for periodic reviews regarding the implementation of the global trade deal. The proposal also allows the WTO to seek the assistance of fishing experts in cases of conflicts between members. Mr. Allgeier said that disagreements still remained with Japan. But he also said that the US took into account the concerns of Japan during the preparation of the proposal. He told reporters that the US government has tried to listen well to the concerns of Japan. Meanwhile, South Korea, which fishing subsidies amount to around $651 million, opposed the plan to implement a broad subsidies ban. The European Union, which is the second-biggest provider of fishing subsidies, also expressed its opposition against the US proposal. The WTO aims to complete the global trade talks before the end of this year.