The United States expressed frustration Tuesday that last-minute concerns raised by India have blocked World Trade Organization members from reaching a second, more comprehensive deal to curb subsidies that threaten global fish stocks.
“We won’t debate the various points in India’s papers, but would just note that we find it difficult to understand the objectives of these papers,” María Pagán, the U.S. ambassador to the WTO, said during a meeting of the group’s General Council.
“They reintroduce topics that have been debated and discussed repeatedly, most recently during the fall 2023 fish weeks, the fish month earlier this year, and during [the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference in February] and found no support among the vast majority of members,” Pagán continued.
The setback raises the prospect of 18 more months of negotiations on an agreement that has already been years in the making and that ocean conservationists say is badly needed to ensure adequate fish stocks for future generations. WTO members are expected to consider next steps for the negotiations after they return from their August break.
