Fishery subsidy disparity highlighted by India at WTO

India has called out the vast inequality in global fisheries subsidies, proposing a shift to a per capita-based approach at the WTO. While developed nations provide subsidies worth US$ 76,000 per fisher annually, India offers just US$ 35. With this bold stance, India aims to protect its small-scale fishers and farmers, emphasizing the need for equitable and transparent trade negotiations.

India has taken a firm stand at the World Trade Organization (WTO), spotlighting the stark disparity in fisheries subsidies. Developed nations provide subsidies amounting to US$ 76,000 per fisher annually, while India’s support stands at a modest US$ 35. To address this imbalance, India proposed a per capita-based system for regulating harmful subsidies instead of focusing solely on aggregate amounts.

Officials stressed that this move is essential to safeguard the livelihoods of small-scale and artisanal fishers, whose survival depends on these subsidies. India made it clear that any negotiation must prioritize food security and protect vulnerable communities.

India’s proposal to discipline subsidies that fuel overfishing and overcapacity will be a key agenda item in the WTO General Council meeting next week. The country argued that per capita subsidy distribution offers a fairer and more accurate way to tackle sustainability challenges, unlike aggregate measures, which fail to account for subsidies tied to basic livelihoods.

India introduced the concept of a “subsidy debt,” urging developed nations to be held accountable for overexploiting global fisheries and advocating per capita subsidization for fairness. It also called for stricter rules on distant-water fishing aligned with the CBDR-RC principle.

In agriculture talks, India opposed the facilitator-led process, demanding transparency and member-driven decisions. It rejected efforts to bundle sustainability with critical issues like public stockholding (PSH), calling food security a non-negotiable red line. Officials highlighted subsidy inequities, noting U.S. farmers receive US$ 20 billion and EU farmers US$ 6 billion, while Indian farmers get just US$ 416 per capita.

Further, India plans to build a coalition to counter production-linked subsidies from developed countries, which distort global trade. Officials emphasized that WTO decisions must remain member-led, with India committed to protecting its farmers and fishers in upcoming negotiations.