23/07/2024 (Agence Europe) – Two years after the first phase of the agreement to ban subsidies that contribute to illegal fishing (see EUROPE 12974/2), the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have still not reached a consensus on the second phase of the text to tackle subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing. Many delegations were hoping for an agreement at the General Council meeting in Geneva on 23 July, and were very disappointed that some delegations rejected the text. These include India, Brazil, the ACP countries and the least developed countries, which are denouncing the lack of balance in the text currently on the table. These countries are demanding more concessions for developing and least developed countries. India is pointing the finger at the advantageous conditions for long-distance fishing for certain industrial countries that heavily subsidise their fishermen. (LM)