India formally joined the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on July 20, 2026, by depositing its Instrument of Acceptance with the WTO Director-General, becoming the 123rd party to this landmark agreement. The agreement — adopted at WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC-12) in Geneva in June 2022 — prohibits subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and over-fishing of depleted fish stocks. India is the world's third-largest fish producer with the fisheries sector valued at approximately ₹2.17 lakh crore. India had previously raised concerns about protecting the livelihood of its small-scale artisanal fishermen.
International
India Becomes 123rd Party to WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement by Depositing Instrument of Acceptance on July 20
Key Points
- India formally joined the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on July 20, 2026, by depositing its Instrument of Acceptance with the WTO Director-General, becoming the 123rd party to this landmark agreement
- The agreement — adopted at WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC-12) in Geneva in June 2022 — prohibits subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and over-fishing of depleted fish stocks
- India is the world's third-largest fish producer with the fisheries sector valued at approximately ₹2.17 lakh crore
- India had previously raised concerns about protecting the livelihood of its small-scale artisanal fishermen
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• India: 123rd party to WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement; Instrument deposited July 20, 2026 • Agreement adopted: WTO MC-12 (June 2022, Geneva); prohibits IUU fishing subsidies • India: 3rd largest fish producer; fisheries sector: ~₹2.17 lakh crore • WTO: World Trade Organization; HQ Geneva; DG: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
