• Resolution Calling for a Fair and Just Outcome in the WTO Negotiations in the Sector of Fisheries in Geneva,
    Switzerland in 2009
  • ICFO Resolution Calling for a Fair and Just Outcome
  • in the WTO Negotiations in the Sector of Fisheries
  • We members of the International Cooperative Fisheries Organization (ICFO) of the International Cooperative Alliance, gathered in its annual meeting of ICFO in Geneva on 16 November, 2009,
  • Recognizing that the trade liberalization must not be allowed to destroy sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture and put fishers throughout the world further at risk,
  • Recognizing that the Doha Round is a "development round" ,
  • Recognizing that the trade rules must permit countries to implement policies which ensure that the concerns of their own nationals about food, fisheries and aquaculture are met,
  • Recognizing that, in the NAMA negotiations, tariffs are the only national border measures that are allowed by the WTO, and that they are contributing to the protection of the industry,
  • Recognizing that the current text of negotiating group on Rules of WTO, announced on 30 November, 2007 lists a wide variety of fisheries subsidies such as, for example, for infrastructure, fish landing facilities, and financial support to fuel etc. as "prohibited subsidies", and therefore, if it is adopted as it is, it is strongly feared that many countries would suffer from difficulties for ensuring sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture, and further
  • Recognizing, therefore, that fisheries subsidies should be allowed as a means of national border measures, except for those that which lead to and/or promote over-capacity and over-fishing,
  • Resolved that we call upon millions of fishers and their families throughout the world to raise their voices and demand a fair and just outcome in WTO which takes account of the priorities below and demand the same to the WTO authorities:
  • 1. In the NAMA negotiations, tariffs should not be totally eliminated.
  • 2. In the Rules negotiations, prohibition of fisheries subsidies should be limited only to those which lead to and/or promote
  • over-capacity and over-fishing.
  • 16 November, 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland
List