"For trade to be fair, there should be an immediate elimination of massive fisheries subsidies in developed countries to make their products artificially cheaper, before there should be any talk of tariff reduction in fishery products," said Stanley Yu, secretariat head of the Non-Government Organizations for Fisheries Reform.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) reported that countries providing for big subsidies for their fishing sectors are the US, Canada, European countries, Russia, China and Taiwan which are among top 15 subsidy providers.
In China, this amounts to $400 to $700 million per year while Taiwan gives out $100 million yearly for its fishing industry, WWF said.
The fisheries group said in a statement that it is pushing for an improvement on the World Trade Organization’s Subsidies Agreement. IT wants an "operational definition" of prohibited subsidies that distorts price structures, particularly pulling down imported fishes’ price and posing tough competition to local prices.
"Since the fisheries industry in the country is still undeveloped, domestic subsidies for its sustainable development should be allowed also under the provision on special and differential treatment," he said.
The fisheries group also presses for a policy allowing imposition of quantitative limits on the importation of sensitive products like roundscad (galunggong), sardines, mackerel, and other small pelagic species caught locally by Filipino fishermen. This policy should be made under the WTO’s provision on special and differential treatment for developing countries. (MMA)
In the determination of volume for fishery import limitation, this must be determined to include social and environmental costs in fishery production, Yu said.
"Incorporating socio-environmental costs in tariffs is important to ensure that trade becomes sustainable—that it does not harm the environment or deteriorate social conditions while promoting economic growth," he said.
The fisheries group also represents the Kilusang Mangingisda, Task Force Women in Fisheries, Parasamasa Federation, Association of Purse Seine Operators, Frabelle Fishing Corp., and Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federation Inc. (MMA)
