Democratic Republic of the Congo formally joins WTO fisheries deal, trade facilitation pact

DRC – The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has officially submitted its instrument of acceptance for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received the formal documentation on Friday from the DRC’s Minister for International Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya, at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva.

This brings the total number of WTO members that have ratified the Agreement to 104, just seven short of the 111 required for it to come into effect.

The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted during the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022, introduces binding global rules to curb subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

It also prohibits government support for fishing activities targeting overfished stocks and for fishing in unregulated high seas where no conservation measures are in place.

In his remarks during the submission, Minister Kahongya said that DRC’s ratification signals its commitment to responsible use of marine resources and participation in fair international trade.

He added that DRC aims to benefit from the implementation of the Agreement by increasing its role in global trade and promoting sustainable environmental practices.

Director-General Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged the ratification, noting that it brings the global community closer to enacting a deal aimed at protecting ocean ecosystems from unsustainable exploitation.

In addition to the fisheries subsidy pact, the DRC also deposited its instrument of acceptance for the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), concluded in 2013.

The TFA is designed to simplify and expedite customs procedures, with the goal of making cross-border trade more efficient and less costly.

According to the WTO, full implementation of the TFA could reduce trade costs globally by an average of 14.3% and boost trade flows, particularly among developing countries.

To support implementation of the fisheries subsidies deal, a dedicated fund was created to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to developing countries and least-developed members.

The fund, referred to as the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism, began accepting proposals on 6 June from eligible countries that have ratified the Agreement.

Projects submitted through this platform aim to help governments meet their new responsibilities under the Agreement.

Meanwhile, negotiations continue at the WTO to reach consensus on outstanding issues related to fisheries subsidies, including additional provisions that could enhance the current rules.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.