Brazil urges rich countries to reduce fishing subsidies

Brazil appealed to members of the World Trade Organization, and wealthy countries in particular, to reduce their subsidies to the fishing industry.

"The over-exploitation of some fisheries resources was the result of an active fishing policy conducted by developed countries with a long fishing tradition, using highly industrialized and mobile fleets, most often heavily subsidized," Brazil argued here during negotiations on global trade rules.

"The situation is completely different in developping countries," the country said in a statement.

"There, the problem is not over-capacity leading to over-exploitation but just the opposite: lack of capacity thwarting development."

As a result, "developed countries should bear the greatest part of the burden resulting from a broader prohibition on fisheries subsidies," the statement said.

Brazil has proposed the authorization of subsidies that do not distort trade but accompany measures to cut back on fishing fleets.

The suggestion was well-received by developing countries, which would enjoy exemptions from provisions of the Brazilian proposal, and by the United States.

But the European Union, already taking steps to reduce its fishing fleet, said the proposal poses "serious implementation challenges."

Japan, Taiwan and South Korea rejected the Brazilian initiative. Japan contended that developing countries are responsible for more than half the over-exploitation of fisheries resources, adding that rich countries account for only a fifth of the global fishing industry against a third 10 years ago.

Brazil's proposal came during negotiations in the current Doha round of trade liberalization talks that should in principle conclude at the end of 2006.

The process has been dogged by disagreements over agriculctural subsidies, with poor countries arguing that government aid to farmers in the developed world penalizes producers in developing nations.

(From Servihoo, April 13, 2005)
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