Director-General Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am happy to receive Jordan's formal acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Jordan, the fourth member from the Middle East region to have formally accepted the Agreement, is demonstrating its leadership in protecting our shared marine resources for future generations. This is a critical step towards ending harmful fisheries subsidies and ensuring a thriving and resilient ocean for all.”

Ambassador Obeidat said: “We, as all members of the WTO, attach importance to the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. It's a very important step forward. We all know it may not be the only step needed to move forward, but we're still working on a better future. Trade for Jordan, which is a small developing country, is very important. And being part of a larger membership of partners, seeing eye to eye on fisheries, among other things, is a very important matter to Jordan. I am very happy that I have managed to deliver on the Minister of Trade and Industry's promise on ratification and on the Government of Jordan's willingness to move forward by presenting this ratification today.”

Jordan's instrument of acceptance brings to 81 the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the Agreement. Twenty-nine more formal acceptances are needed for the Agreement to come into effect. The Agreement will enter into force upon acceptance by two-thirds of the membership.

Adopted by consensus at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held in Geneva on 12-17 June 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world's fish stocks. In addition, the Agreement recognizes the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries and establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations.

The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

Members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiations on outstanding issues, with a view to adopting additional provisions that would further enhance the disciplines of the Agreement.

The full text of the Agreement can be accessed here. The list of members that have deposited their instruments of acceptance is available here. Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment is available here.