On Wednesday, China's proposal to selectively ban subsidies for illegal fishing was not supported by other major fishing nations in the World Trade Organization talks on the issue this year.

The issue of the world's fish supply is one of the major topics in this year's WTO talks and it is the organization's hope to create a deal in the ministerial conference in December rides on China's willingness to support and accept the deal.

China's proposal involved banning subsidies to vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing came with several provisos. First of all, developing countries and areas currently involved in territorial disputes would be exempted from the bans and it is the national governments and regional fishing organizations would be the ones to determine what is included as a IUU activity.

In an interview with Reuters, one official included in the meeting said that the proposal sounded like China's attempt to stall the discussions due to its large fishing fleet and claims to the large percentage of the South China Sea.

Many nations, according to the official, said are not very happy with the proposal. Another official shared with Reuters that the US and the European Union were hesitant to accept China's plan as it would provide leeways for countries to subsidize. Aside from the US and the EU, Iceland, New Zealand, Russia, Australia and Japan have expressed their reservations over China's proposal.

Several officials from the meeting then shared that the Chinese diplomat included in the meeting appologize for putting forward the idea in a very inopportune time and China understands as to why others may have doubts over the plan.

Previously, the US has told the WTO that they were skeptical over the creation of a fishery subsidy that includes "meaningful disciplines", but they are willing to try creating one.

Aside from China, countries such as Norway, Indonesia, the European Union and small factions of countries have also laid down their proposals to create a deal for fishery subsidies to speed up the talks.

Source: China Christian Daily