Argentina Ratifies WTO Fisheries Subsidies Pact, Advancing Global Ocean Protection

In a pivotal move towards global ocean sustainability, Argentina has officially ratified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, marking a significant step forward in the effort to curb environmentally and economically harmful fishing subsidies worldwide. On 22 July 2025, Ambassador Gustavo Lunazzi presented Argentina’s instrument of acceptance to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Geneva.

With Argentina’s ratification, the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the agreement has now reached 106—leaving the world just five ratifications short of the 111 required (two-thirds of WTO members) for the agreement to enter into legal force.

A Milestone for Oceans and Trade

Adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies represents the first multilateral trade agreement with environmental sustainability at its core. It introduces binding global rules to eliminate subsidies that contribute to:

• Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing

• Fishing of overfished stocks

• Unregulated fishing on the high seas

Director-General Okonjo-Iweala praised Argentina’s leadership in ocean stewardship:

“I warmly welcome Argentina's formal acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. As one of the world's leading fishing nations and exporters, Argentina's commitment underscores this Agreement's importance for protecting marine ecosystems and promoting responsible practices for people’s livelihoods and food security. We are now only five ratifications away from the Agreement entering into force.”

Argentina’s Commitment to Sustainable Oceans

Ambassador Lunazzi emphasized the significance of Argentina’s ratification, both for its domestic interests and for the broader multilateral trading system:

“Today, with the deposit of the instrument of ratification, Argentina is taking an important step. This firm commitment to fairer and freer trade not only strengthens our economy but also protects the marine resources in the South Atlantic, preserving them for future generations.”

He added that Argentina’s endorsement reflects the collaborative spirit among WTO members and their dedication to the organization’s founding principles of fairness, sustainability, and inclusiveness.

A Growing Coalition of Support

The agreement has so far been ratified by 106 WTO members, including a diverse mix of developed, developing, and least-developed countries. Ratification requires formal acceptance by two-thirds of the WTO’s 164 members—111 in total—before it can legally enter into force. Once effective, the agreement will reshape global fisheries subsidy regimes, promoting the long-term health of marine ecosystems and enhancing equity among global fishing nations.

The current list of ratifying members can be accessed on the WTO website, and the momentum continues to grow as the organization intensifies diplomatic outreach and technical support to secure the final few ratifications.

Support for Developing and Least-Developed Countries

Recognizing the capacity constraints of developing economies and Least-Developed Countries (LDCs), WTO members at MC12 also agreed to establish a dedicated fund to assist with the implementation of the new obligations. This WTO Fish Fund, officially launched in 2023, is now operational and began accepting project proposals on 6 June 2025.

Eligible countries that have ratified the agreement can now submit grant proposals through the WTO Fish Fund Portal. These grants are intended to support:

• Legislative and policy reforms aligned with the agreement

• Monitoring and enforcement mechanisms

• Institutional capacity-building

• Scientific assessments and data management related to fish stocks

The fund is backed by several donor nations and international institutions and is seen as a vital component in ensuring the inclusive and equitable implementation of the fisheries agreement.

What Comes Next: Second Wave of Negotiations

While the current agreement tackles key issues, WTO members are continuing negotiations to address additional disciplines, such as subsidies contributing to fishing overcapacity and overfishing—topics that remain unresolved in the current text. These discussions aim to strengthen the global ruleset and further align subsidies with sustainable fisheries management practices.

The WTO is also committed to ensuring transparency and regular notifications from members about their subsidy programs, in order to improve accountability and foster trust among nations.

A Global Turning Point

The WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is not only about environmental protection—it is about economic justice, sustainable livelihoods, and long-term food security. With over 34% of global fish stocks overexploited, the agreement comes at a critical time. It seeks to level the playing field for developing countries whose small-scale fisheries often suffer under the weight of subsidies in larger, industrial fishing nations.

As global pressure mounts and the final five ratifications are awaited, attention now turns to WTO members yet to deposit their instruments of acceptance. Each new endorsement brings the world closer to a historic breakthrough in global ocean governance.