The Chairman of the NGR noted in his July 2006 report that negotiations for fisheries subsidies have been very active since the outset of the negotiations. He noted that the nature and focus of the debate has evolved significantly over time, with all sides now discussing the structure and content of possible new disciplines, rather than whether there would be any new disciplines at all. He also noted that country submitted papers are becoming more precise, and seek to analyze the types of subsidies that exist in this sector and to identify those which should be prohibited.

The Chairman’s report noted that important differences remain with respect to the structure and extent of new disciplines. A key issue is whether disciplines would take the form of a broad ban on fisheries subsidies, with certain exemptions, or instead would take the form of a positive list of prohibited subsidies. Another issue now being discussed is whether or not any new disciplines would apply to aquaculture. There has also been an increasing focus on the nature and extent of special and differential treatment, including the related issues of artisanal fisheries and access payments, and given the diversity of views expressed, it is clear that this issue will be an important and potentially complex one to resolve. It is, however, clear that much technical work remains to be done. Thus, the pace of the negotiations depends on how quickly the main proponents proceed from here.