TN/RL/W/266  
 
3 November 2015  
(15-5809)  Page: 1/2  
Negotiating Group on Rules  Original: English  
 
 FISHERIES SUBSIDIES 
MINISTERIAL DECISION OF XX DECEMBER 2015 
Proposal by Australia  
The following communication, dated 2 November 2015,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Australia.  
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  Ministers, 
 
Acknowledging the importance of concerted international action to address fisheries 
subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, as affirmed in the United Nations 
Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.  
 
Recognizing the importance of the fisheries sector to development priorities, poverty 
reduction, and livelihood and food security concerns.  
  Having regard  to the 2001 Doha Declaration, where we agreed to clarify and improve WTO 
rules that apply to fisheries subsidies as well as the subsequent agreement at the 5
th WTO 
Ministerial Conference to strengthen disciplines on subsidies in the fisheries sector, including 
through increased transparency of fisheries subsidy programs.  
 
 Recognizing that the WTO has a constructive role to play in achieving greater transparency 
in, and understanding of, the trade policies and practices of Members, including the provision of subsidies; noting the role of the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures as a forum 
for Members to review, and thereby assess, the trade impacts of subsidy programs. 
 We accordingly:   
 Agree to enhance transparency and improve monitoring in relation to the notification of any 
subsidy within the meaning of Article 1.1 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures which is specific within the meaning of Article 2 of the Agreement and that a Member 
provides to the fisheries sector or fishing-related activities. 
  Commit , to providing, in addition to the information already required under Article 25 of the 
Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and, to the extent possible, information 
relating to fisheries subsidy programs as contained in the Annex of this document.   Direct the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures to review this additional 
information as part of the Committee’s regular work on reviewing Members’ subsidy notifications in 
accordance with its current procedures.  
 Note that the sharing of information on existing fisheries subsidy programs does not 
prejudge their legal status, effects or nature under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 or the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and is intended to 
complement existing WTO reporting requirements. 
  Agree that the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures may review and, if 
necessary, adjust, the scope of this additional information, based on Members’ experience.   
 TN/RL/W/266 
 
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  ANNEX 
FORMAT FOR FISHERIES SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 25 OF THE AGREEMENT ON 
SUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING MEASURES AND UNDER ARTICLE XVI OF GATT 1994 
a. Program name; 
b. Legal authority for the Program; 
c. Level of assistance provided, including the purpose of the assistance; 
d. Fishery/ies affected by the Program (be they domestic or international fisheries); 
e. Whether the fishery/ies are export fisheries;  
f. The status of the fish stocks in the fishery/ies for which the subsidy is provided (e.g., 
overexploited, depleted, fully exploited, recovering, underexploited); and 
g. Any conservation and management measures in place in the relevant fishery/ies. 
 
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