India’s fisheries sector plays a vital role in ensuring food security and supporting the livelihoods of more than 9 million fishing families, said Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who is seeking fair global rules to protect small and traditional fishermen.
Addressing the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held from March 26 to 29 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Goyal said that India’s fisheries ecosystem is largely comprised of small, traditional and artisanal communities practicing sustainable methods and should not be unfairly targeted in subsidy disciplines.
“India is not a heavily industrialized fishing nation and does not have large fleets in remote waters or heavily mechanized operations. Moreover, India’s fishing subsidies are among the lowest in the world – barely about $15 per fishing family per year – compared to tens of thousands elsewhere,” Goyal said in a Commerce and Industry Ministry statement issued late Sunday.
Read also | Explainer | Why India wants WTO to address cross-border payment costs
The Indian delegation led by Goyal contributed actively to the discussions at the WTO-convened conference, notably in shaping the Ministerial Decision outlining Phase II negotiations on overcapacity and overfishing fisheries subsidies.
India has argued that the problem of overfishing stems from heavily subsidized industrial fleets, not from small-scale fishermen in developing and least developed countries.
For S&DT
India has placed sustainability alongside equity and called for special and differential treatment (S&DT), adherence to common but differentiated responsibilities and the polluter pays principle. It proposed a 25-year transition period, stricter rules for industrial fleets, subsidy disciplines based on per capita intensity (higher subsidy per person) and a permanent exemption for small-scale fishermen.
Highlighting conservation efforts, India has pointed to measures such as an annual fishing ban, highlighting its long-standing commitment to sustainability long before it became a global priority. New Delhi argued that future WTO outcomes must balance environmental protection and livelihood security.
On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, Goyal held a series of high-level bilateral meetings to deepen trade and economic cooperation with key partners.
In a meeting with European Union Trade Commissioner Maros Šefčovič, the two sides reviewed the progress of the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and discussed steps to expedite its signature.
Read also | India is pushing the WTO to formalize commitments on technology transfer ahead of MC14
“At the MC-14 (Ministerial Conference-14) program, Goyal and Šefčovič agreed on the necessity of WTO reforms. Goyal emphasized to his EU counterpart that the WTO reform agenda should remain strictly member-driven. Goyal and Šefčovič also exchanged views on the issue of the moratorium on tariffs,” reads the statement on the electronic transmission and incorporation of the development agreement.
During the meeting with Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, the focus was on speeding up negotiations on the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The two sides also explored expanding cooperation across sectors, including shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, tourism, education and clean energy, along with cooperation in critical minerals, agriculture and nuclear energy. India reiterated that the WTO must remain consensus-based and prioritize outstanding issues such as agriculture.
Decision welcome
“India also supported Canada’s proposal to send a trade delegation to India to cover high-tech sectors such as aerospace, defense and space. Underscoring the importance of the clean energy transition, the two ministers agreed to explore cooperation in nuclear power and other critical areas, including agriculture and critical minerals,” the statement said.
In a meeting with New Zealand’s Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay, the two countries reviewed progress on their proposed free trade agreement and discussed strengthening cooperation beyond the FTA, including in agriculture and sports. Preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to New Zealand were also discussed, with both sides working on a substantial set of deliverables.
Separately, in talks with UK Secretary of State for Trade and Commerce Peter J. Kyle, the two sides reviewed the implementation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (India-UK CETA) signed in July 2025. Both countries confirmed the completion of internal approval processes and looked forward to its entry into force, while discussing efforts to maximize benefits for businesses.
Read also | India joins efforts to reduce remittance costs ahead of WTO ministerial meeting
“Goyal emphasized the importance of outreach plans to ensure that the benefits of CETA reach businesses across the length and breadth of India. In this context, Kyle also highlighted plans to organize trade delegations and regional outreach activities, including engagements in Scotland and Manchester,” the statement added.
They also exchanged views on WTO reforms and maintaining inclusiveness in global trade discussions.
