Ratifications of the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement

On 15 September 2025, the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies entered into force after Brazil, Kenya, Tonga and Vietnam completed the decisive ratifications. The agreement, which came about after more than 20 years of negotiations, is considered a historic milestone for the WTO and is the first multilateral, legally binding pact on environmental sustainability. 111 ratifications (two-thirds of WTO membership) were required for it to enter into force. The total number of ratifications now stands at 112, with more in the pipeline. The agreement curtails harmful subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (FISH1), while negotiations on subsidies regarding overcapacity and overfishing (FISH2) are still ongoing and must be concluded within four years. In addition, the entry into force of the Agreement also activate the WTO Fisheries Fund, which will support developing countries and least developed countries in implementing the Agreement.