WTO MC12: India will agree to fisheries deal if it is 'equitable'

The current draft is unfairly constraining the less developed nations that don't have the capacity and resources to support their industry and farmers

Even as India is keen on finalising the fisheries agreement at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) 12th ministerial conference (MC12) next month, government officials said the proposed draft lacks fairness and the right balance.

India will agree to the WTO’s proposed agreement on fisheries subsidies, provided the deal is equitable and does not put member countries into a disadvantageous position in perpetuity, they said on Wednesday.

Starting May 30, negotiations on the long-standing issue at the WTO on fisheries subsidies will continue daily for a week to reach an agreement or consensus from all-member nations. Thereafter, it will be taken up at