Las negociaciones sobre las subvenciones a la pesca cobran impulso con la presentación de más propuestas

Los Miembros de la OMC en el Grupo de Negociación sobre las Normas examinaron cuatro propuestas nuevas en el bloque de reuniones sobre las subvenciones a la pesca celebrado los días 10 y 15 de junio, la penúltima ronda de negociaciones antes de la pausa de agosto. A menos de seis meses de diciembre, fecha fijada como objetivo para llegar a un acuerdo sobre disciplinas que limiten las subvenciones a la pesca perjudiciales, los Miembros tienen la intención de elaborar textos simplificados sobre esferas fundamentales de las negociaciones antes del mes que viene, a fin de hacer avanzar las conversaciones.

Members discussed a draft text, submitted jointly by Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and Uruguay, Iceland, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, to prohibit subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Members also discussed a revised draft text submitted by Australia to prohibit subsidies that negatively affect overfished stocks. Australia clarified that the text was submitted on a non-attributed basis to assist the Negotiating Group’s efforts to reach a possible landing zone on overfished stocks. As for subsidies that contribute to overfishing and the overcapacity of fleets, members considered a proposal from China to set spending limits on government support programs for fishing. This is the third capping proposal on the table: the United States and Australia have likewise jointly proposed a capping approach, as has the Philippines. Members also took up India’s proposal seeking special and differential treatment in the fisheries subsidies disciplines being negotiated for developing country members and least-developed countries. Members likewise revisited discussions on earlier proposals.

Four facilitators, delegates appointed to be neutral parties on different topics, have been tasked to distil members’ submissions and positions into clean texts representing a minimum of options. For topics where negotiations are not as advanced, the facilitator will prepare summary papers of issues that need to be resolved. The documents being prepared are intended to help sharpen the focus of the negotiations after the August break. Members intending to submit more proposals were encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

The facilitators will be holding consultations with members ahead of the next cluster of fisheries subsidies meeting on 8-12 July.