Sustainability Impact Assessment of Proposed WTO Negotiations: The Fisheries Sector Country Case Study: Ghana
This study attempts to analyze the possible impact of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO), Doha Development Round on Ghana’s fisheries sector. The WTO agreements of relevance for fisheries are: Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS); Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT); Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures; Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures; Agreement on Anti-Dumping; Agreement on Rules of Origin; Dispute Settlement; and, Tariff reduction. Ghana is both an exporter and importer of fish. Over the years, Ghana has exported large volumes of fish to international markets, particularly to the EU. As a signatory to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, Ghana currently enjoys a zero tariff on its fish/fishery products exports into the EU. To comply with the agreements on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Ghana has developed domestic food safety and quality standards which are mandatory. Efforts are being made to harmonize these domestic standards with those of the EU. Additionally, the government of Ghana provides subsidies largely to support artisanal fisher men and women.
