Progress report for
Technical assistance on issues related to market access and trade-related aspects
Achievement at a glance
UNCTAD-FAO and UNEP have undertaken a series of dialogue, research and technical cooperation activities in order to advance trade related aspects of SDG 14.<br>
<br>Dialogue:
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<br>28 Sep 2017 How can agricultural and fisheries trade contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals? FAO-UNCTAD session at the WTO Public Forum 2017–Trade: Behind the Headlines
<br>Geneva Switzerland
<br>27 Sep 2017 Challenges and Opportunities for Small-Scale Fishers in Fish Trade. FAO-UNCTAD session at the WTO Public Forum 2017–Trade: Behind the Headlines
<br>Geneva Switzerland
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<br>Research:
<br>Fish Trade and Policy: A primer on Non-Tariff Measures - UNCTAD Research Paper No. 7 (UNCTAD/SER.RP/2017/7), 31 Aug 2017
<br>Fishery Exports and the Economic Development of LDCs: Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Comoros, Mozambique, Myanmar and Uganda (UNCTAD/ALDC/2017/2), 24 Aug 2017
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<br>Technical cooperation:
<br>UNCTAD and UNEP provided technical support to the ACP Information Sharing Brainstorming and Working Retreat, ACP Group Geneva 27-29 Oct 2017. At the event UNCTAD and UNEP did a joint titled "Fish for thought: Towards a multilateral fish subsidies agreement". At the event questions regarding options for prohibitions, special and differential treatment and impact of a future agreement on fish subsidies in line with SDG 14.6 were discussed.
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<br>UN Environment, in cooperation with the University of Eastern Finland delivered a course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements and Trade from the 9th of October to the 19th of October 2017 in Chambery, France, close to Geneva. UN Environment made reference to the voluntary commitment made at the Oceans Conference and conveyed fisheries subsidies as one case study and example of international collaboration and ongoing negotiations at the environment and trade nexus.
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<br>Cooperation with other organizations:
<br>FAO and UNCTAD presented on the fight against IUU fishing on the main findings of UNCTAD at the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment on the 20 June 2017. The FAO representative briefed members on its legal instruments and tools to combat IUU fishing, to which some US$10-23 billion is lost annually according to latest estimates. UNCTAD representatives briefed the Committee on UNCTAD's Trade and Environment Review focusing on fish trade. They noted that developing countries have become the main exporters of fish since 2010. The representatives further noted the increase in technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures that are being applied to fish products, which have implications on the capacity of developing countries to engage in fish trade.
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<br>On behalf of UNCTAD, UN Environment and FAO, UN Environment updated the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment on recent activities related to fisheries subsidies and informed delegates of the launch of a new voluntary commitment made at the Oceans Conference.
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<br>For more information see:
<br>http://unctad.org/en/Pages/DITC/Trade-and-Environment/UNCTAD-FAO-UNEP-joint.aspx
<br>https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news17_e/envir_20jun17_e.htm
<br>http://web.unep.org/greeneconomy/news/environment-and-trade-hub-joins-wto-discussions-trade-and-environment
<br>http://web.unep.org/greeneconomy/sites/unep.org.greeneconomy/files/17-06-19_wto_cte_-_fisheries_.pdf