What happened

India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance for the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 20 July 2026 and became a Party to the Agreement. The step links trade policy with marine conservation and fisheries livelihoods.

Background and earlier position

The World Trade Organization adopted the Agreement by consensus at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva in June 2022. The Agreement entered into force on 15 September 2025 after acceptance by two-thirds of WTO Members, and India is the 123rd WTO Member to deposit acceptance.

What the Agreement covers

The Agreement is the first multilateral World Trade Organization agreement with an environmental sustainability objective. It focuses on marine wild capture fishing and fishing-related activities at sea.