India submits proposal on fisheries subsidies

India has introduced a new proposal at the WTO to protect its rights to provide subsidies to small and artisanal fishers in the country. In this proposal, India has suggested that developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) must be exempted from prohibitions on some fisheries subsidies if the fishing is done within the waters under their own jurisdiction. According to a Geneva-based official, “India also said that as a low subsidiser, it would also like to have room to increase its support programmes for fishing in the future.” It has also asked for transition periods for developing countries and LDCs before some subsidy measures are introduced.