Canada welcomes entry into force of World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
News release
September 26, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, welcomed the announcement by the World Trade Organization (WTO) that the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies has entered into force.
The agreement aims to ensure sustainable global fisheries by establishing new multilateral trade rules on certain forms of harmful fisheries subsidies, including those related to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, overfished stocks and unregulated high seas fishing. It is the WTO’s second multilateral agreement since its inception and the first to focus on environmental sustainability as a core outcome.
Canada was the fifth WTO member to accept the agreement and encourages all members that have not yet done so to submit their acceptance of the agreement.
Quotes
“Healthy oceans sustain people’s lives and livelihoods around the world. This landmark achievement at the WTO marks a major step forward in setting fair, enforceable trade rules to protect our oceans, our fisheries, and our shared future. Canada remains committed to working with WTO members to uphold a strong, rules-based trading system and to safeguard the long-term sustainability of global fish stocks.”
- Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade
“Healthy fish stocks are critical to food security and economic prosperity globally. Our ocean is a shared resource, and we must continue working together across borders to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and to protect harvesters’ livelihoods. I am pleased to see that this Agreement, which Canada has championed since its creation, is now coming into force and will pave the way for more fair trade around the world.”
- Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries
Related products
Associated links
- Canada accepts WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
- Canada supports sustainable global fishing with contribution to WTO Fisheries Subsidies Trust Fund
- WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
- WTO members secure unprecedented package of trade outcomes at MC12
- Members submitting acceptance of Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
- Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
Contacts
Huzaif Qaisar
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade
343-575-8816
Huzaif.Qaisar@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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