WT/MIN(15)/W/40  
17 December 2015  
(15-6707)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English  
 
 DRAFT DECISION ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND FOOD SECURITY ASPECTS 
ON FISHERIES SUBSIDIES DISCIPLINES 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE ACP AND PERU 
The following communication, dated 17 December 2015,  is being circulated at the request of the 
ACP and Peru.  
_______________ 
 
The Ministerial Conference,  
Recalling  the mandate contained in the 2001 Doha Declaration, where Ministers agreed to clarify 
and improve WTO rules that apply to fisheries subsidies,  
Acknowledging  the critical importance of the fisheries sector, including small and artisanal 
fisheries, to poverty reduction, livelihood and food  security in developing countries including LDCs 
and SVEs[
1], 
 
Reaffirming  that the rules negotiations on fisheries subsidies constitute a central element of the 
development component of the Doha Round and should proceed as set out in Annex D, paragraph 9 of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, 
 
Also reaffirming our commitment under the 2030 Development Agenda to prohibit, by 2020, 
certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate 
subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing 
new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiation. 
 
Decides as follows:  
 
1. Further negotiations aimed at strengthening disciplines on subsidies in the fisheries sector, 
including through the prohibition of certain forms of subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and over-fishing and to promote the reco very of overfished stocks, shall form a part of the post-Nairobi 
work programme.  
2. To this end, Members shall aim to complete negotiations in [2] years for disciplines related 
to: 
a) subsidies the benefits of which are conferred on any fishing vessel or operator 
engaged in illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing; 
 
b) subsidies the benefits of which are conferred on any fishing vessel or fishing activity 
negatively affecting fish stocks that are in an overfished condition. 
 
                                               
1 Without creating a sub-category of WTO Members. WT/MIN(15)/W/40 
 
- 2 - 
 
  3. The negotiations for disciplines referred to in paragraph 2 shall: 
a) be subject to agreed definitions and terminology; 
 
b) [placeholder for transparency provisions, which shall take into account the special 
needs of developing countries in particular LDCs and SVEs.] 
 4. Beyond the disciplines listed under paragraph 2, further negotiations shall continue aimed at 
strengthening disciplines on fisheries subsidies, including through the prohibition of certain forms 
of fisheries subsidies that contribute  to overcapacity and overfishing. 
5. Appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing countries 
including LDCs and SVEs shall be an integral part of these negotiations, taking into account the 
importance of this sector, to development priorities, poverty reduction, livelihood, particularly of 
small-scale fishers, and food security concerns in accordance with Annex D, paragraph 9 of the 
Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration. 
[6. In the meantime, Members should aim to refrain from providing capacity enhancing 
subsidies to their fishing fleets that affect the sustainability of fish stocks and undermine the 
development, livelihood and food security prospe cts of developing countries including LDCs and 
SVEs.] 
 
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