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EU Statement at the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC/HODs), 30 September 2025

30.09.2025
Geneva
EU mission to the WTO in Geneva - Press and information team

Statement delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative, Antonio Fernandez-Martos

We would like to thank you Director-General for your report and the Chairperson of the CoA SS for the update.

Let me come straight to the point. 

Given the very serious strains faced by the multilateral trading system and the challenges that we are facing to which you have referred DG, the European Union sees delivering on WTO reform as the top priority for MC14.It is therefore vital that Members focus primarily on engaging in the WTO reform process led by Ambassador Olberg to arrive at a meaningful outcome at MC14. A renewed sense of direction could then be beneficial to tackling the different streams of the sectoral negotiations. And I would turn to those now.

Agriculture Negotiations

  • On agriculture, the European Union is committed to continuing discussions on all agricultural pillars while taking full account of the current challenges facing the global agricultural sector such as food security and sustainability. 

  • In view of the December cut-off date and the ministerial approaching fast, the European Union believes that with a sense of realism and pragmatism an outcome on enhancing the disciplines on export restrictions could be possible at MC14. Such an outcome would greatly benefit the most vulnerable Members, while the membership continues to engage on broader agriculture reform. 

Fisheries Subsidies

  • With regard to Fisheries subsidies, the European Union welcomes the entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. The European Union calls on the remaining WTO Members, that haven’t ratified yet, especially the large fishing nations, to accept the agreement soon to ensure even wider benefits.

  • We should focus on implementing the Fisheries phase 1 Agreement swiftly. This would allow us to hold the first regular meeting of the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies by spring 2026, at the latest. 

  • The European Union remains committed to concluding negotiations on additional provisions on fisheries subsidies. Regrettably, however, the divergencies between Members have grown. Even if prospects are limited in the short term, it would be of importance to relaunch substantial negotiations as quickly as possible after MC14. 

  • Thank you. 

 

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