Nepal Becomes 108th Member to Join WTO Fisheries Subsidies Pact

Kathmandu: Nepal has formally deposited the Instrument of Acceptance of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, becoming the 108th WTO member to join the landmark pact.

Ambassador Ram Prasad Subedi, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and the WTO in Geneva, handed over the Instrument of Acceptance to WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at a ceremony held at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva.

Adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in June 2022, the Agreement seeks to curb harmful fisheries subsidies that fuel overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Nepal’s ratification demonstrates its commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system and to global efforts aimed at protecting marine biodiversity, promoting environmental sustainability, and addressing climate change.

“Nepal is pleased to deposit its Instrument of Acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies today, reaffirming our commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system. As a landlocked country, we nonetheless share with other WTO members a responsibility to ensure the sustainable use of marine resources. We believe healthy marine ecosystems are vital for food security, environmental sustainability, and the livelihoods of millions of people around the world,” Ambassador Subedi said at the ceremony.

Congratulating Nepal, WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi said, “Nepal’s ratification brings us closer to the entry into force of this historic agreement, with just three ratifications remaining.” She also commended Nepal for joining as the 13th landlocked member to endorse the agreement.

The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies will come into force once two-thirds (111) of WTO members have ratified it. Once operational, it will be the first WTO agreement focused specifically on environmental sustainability.

Nepal signed the Instrument of Acceptance on 7 August 2025, following the ratification of the Agreement by the Federal Parliament on 4 August 2025.