New Delhi, March 28: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the importance of protecting the livelihoods of small fishermen during discussions at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC-14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held in Cameroon on Saturday.
Goyal shared insights on social media platform X, highlighting his address at the ministerial session focused on ‘Fisheries Subsidies.’ He underscored that fishing is a vital source of livelihood and food security in India, supporting over 9 million fishermen. Most of these fishermen belong to small, traditional, and artisanal communities that employ sustainable fishing practices.
He reiterated India’s long-standing commitment to conservation, citing measures like annual fishing bans. Goyal noted that sustainability has been an integral part of India’s approach, even before it became a global priority.
The minister pointed out that the challenges of overproduction and overfishing stem primarily from heavily subsidized industrial fleets, rather than from small-scale fishermen in developing countries. He stressed that global decisions should be fair and should not disproportionately impact vulnerable communities.
Goyal also expressed India’s support for adopting a draft decision on fisheries subsidies, advocating for future outcomes that are equitable and development-oriented, safeguarding both marine resources and livelihoods.
During the conference, he held bilateral meetings with several counterparts, including UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle. They discussed priorities under the MC-14 agenda and the progress of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed in July 2025.
Goyal also congratulated Cameroon’s Trade Minister, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, on hosting the WTO ministerial conference and praised the organization of the event. Both parties discussed enhancing bilateral trade, investment, and regional cooperation.
Throughout these discussions, Goyal reaffirmed India’s support for a reformed, relevant, and effective WTO. He emphasized the need to maintain core principles such as consensus-based decision-making, Most Favored Nation (MFN) standards, and Special and Differential Treatment (S&D) to ensure fairness in global trade.
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