Trade Minister Participates in WTO Ministerial Meeting

The Minister of Trade, Industry, Handicraft, and Tourism, Ms. Naha Mint Hamdi Ould Moukness, participated, Thursday via videoconference, in a meeting of trade ministers of the Member States of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This meeting relates to negotiations aimed at prohibiting subsidies to companies promoting overfishing, in particular in the territorial waters of countries, especially African and Caribbean countries.

In a speech delivered on this occasion, the Minister explained the importance of this meeting, calling for the need to focus on three main axes which must be taken into consideration as soon as the agreement enters into force, namely:

• Appropriate special and preferential treatment for least developed countries such as African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, when the Agreement enters into force,

• Help these countries to build their capacities and receive technical support to implement the reforms that will be agreed upon.

• The exclusion of artisanal fishing from the agreement to protect the population who depend on this sector for their subsistence.