Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoUnifeed
WTO / FISHERIES SUBSIDIES PRESSER
STORY: WTO / FISHERIES SUBSIDIES PRESSER
TRT: 4,15
SOURCE: WTO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS
DATELINE: 15 JULY 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1.Wide shot, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Ambassador Wills arrive
2.Wide shot, Okonjo-Iweala and Ambassador Wills prepare for press conference.
3.Med shot, DG Okonjo-Iweala prepare for press conference
4.SOUNDBITE (English) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General:
"It's been a very long day, but it's been a successful day. We had, for the first time, an unprecedented number of ministers and heads of delegations speaking, 104 of them, and representing 128 members. The sheer participation shows the commitment and the dedication and the interest in getting these fisheries subsidies negotiations moving and concluding."
5.Pan right, attendees listen to press conference
6.SOUNDBITE (English) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General:
"Today we were looking for the political guidance, the political support to move forward. And for the first time in 20 years, we have a text that has been agreed and blessed by all the ministers and heads of delegations of the 128 members we have today.”
7.Close up, journalist listening to press conference.
8.SOUNDBITE (English) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General:
"Two things I would like to mention: one is the fact that the fundamental conclusion from the interventions is that members are ready to use the text as a basis for future negotiations. We recognize that there were many issues listed with respect to the text, gaps that need to be filled, differences that members have to bridge, as well as some strengths that were noted. It was also important to note that virtually every member wanted to move in this positive direction, so that's the first observation. The second thing is that it's clear: no member, every member wants to conclude, a good agreement, a balanced agreement, the quality agreement, and they want to conclude it with some sense of speed, but speed should not give space to just any agreement. So, a balanced quality agreement that gets away from the status quo."
9.Close up, journalist listening to press conference.
10.SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Santiago Wills, Chair of the Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations:
“What was sought from ministers today was political guidance. And I must say that we got it. We did hear that guidance, and we wanted to thank you ministers for that. I think a big takeaway from today's meeting is that it is clear from ministers that continuing the status quo is not an option. And that we have a shared responsibility to bring these talks to a meaningful, balanced and credible conclusion well before MC12.” (12th Ministerial Conference of the WTO)
11.Wide shot, journalists during press conference
12.SUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Santiago Wills, Chair of the Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations:
“It's also evident from today's meeting, that of course there are still gaps in some issues, but precisely moving into text-based negotiations will allow us to address those gaps and hopefully bridge those differences between members.”
13.Wide shot, journalists during press conference
14.SOUNDBITE (English) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General
“Virtually every minister of the delegations, recognize the importance of special and differential treatment with respect to artisanal fisheries for developing countries, especially the least developed countries. And the takeaway from listening to them on this issue is that they're supportive of special and differential treatment with regard to artisanal fisheries. Of course, there were, you know, caveats to make sure that this is managed in a way that is sustainable, but there was no mistake in that this was the case.”
15.Pan right, attendees listen to press conference
Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) edged closer today (15 Jul) to an agreement which would set new rules for the global fisheries industry and limit government subsidies contributing to unsustainable fishing and the depletion of global fish stocks.
During an all-day meeting with 104 ministers and heads of delegation, WTO members pledged to conclude the negotiations soon and certainly before the WTO's Ministerial Conference in early December, and to empower their Geneva-based delegations to do so. Members also confirmed that the negotiating text currently before them can be used as the basis for the talks to strike the final deal.
After the meeting, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Ambassador Santiago Wills of Colombia, who chairs the Rules Negotiating Group overseeing the fisheries subsidies negotiations, spoke with journalists at the WTO and virtually.
"Today we were looking for the political guidance, the political support to move forward. And for the first time in 20 years, we have a text that has been agreed and blessed by all the ministers and heads of delegations of the 128 members we have today.” said Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
“What was sought from ministers today was political guidance. And I must say that we got it. We did hear that guidance, and we wanted to thank you ministers for that. I think a big takeaway from today's meeting is that it is clear from ministers that continuing the status quo is not an option. And that we have a shared responsibility to bring these talks to a meaningful, balanced and credible conclusion well before MC12.” (12th Ministerial Conference of the WTO), said Ambassador Wills.
Download
There is no media available to download.
