24/03/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Monday, 23 March, the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced on its website that WTO members intend to continue their work in order to identify new rules and put an end to harmful fisheries subsidies, despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak and the postponement of the organisation’s 12th ministerial meeting (see EUROPE 12445/8). Two proposals—submitted by India and the Least-Developed Countries Group—have been circulated to the negotiators, who have been asked to comment on them in writing. The WTO believes that this effort should provide a useful contribution to the preparation of a consolidated text. The purpose of this text will be to develop disciplines on fisheries subsidies so as to combat overcapacity and overfishing; to eliminate subsidies favouring illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; and to commit to refrain from granting new ones (see EUROPE 12386/9 and 12411/27). (HD)