Where to find IIED and partners at WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14)

The Fourteenth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC14) takes place from 26-29 March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The IISD Trade and Sustainability Hub 2026 will convene alongside MC14 from 26-28 March 2026. IIED and partners will be attending events to help shape trade reforms that deliver for people, nature and climate.

What is MC14?

The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO, bringing together trade ministers from across the globe. It sets the direction of global trade rules and negotiations, including ongoing discussions on fisheries subsidies and how trade can better support sustainable development. 

At MC14, IIED is calling for WTO members to place sustainable development at the heart of trade reform and to ensure fisheries subsidies reform works for both people and planet.  

Aquatic foods are central to global food systems, supporting millions of livelihoods and providing vital nutrition. Yet current approaches to fisheries management and trade continue to drive overfishing, biodiversity loss and inequality – and there is a risk the burden of reform could be placed on small-scale fishers and coastal communities.

IIED at MC14

Repurposing environmentally harmful subsidies presents a major opportunity to reduce overfishing and unlock funding to support sustainable fisheries and coastal communities. IIED will advocate for redirecting public finance towards positive incentives – such as fisheries management, social protection and community-led development – that can support a just transition. 

When designed and implemented correctly, these approaches can help fishers manage climate risks, improve livelihoods and nutrition, and strengthen stewardship of marine ecosystems. 

We will also highlight how progress under the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (fish 1) can support wider global commitments, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, by aligning trade, biodiversity and development goals.

Through our participation in the IISD Trade and Sustainability Hub, IIED will share evidence and practical solutions for repurposing harmful subsidies in ways that are both fair and environmentally sustainable. We will highlight the need for inclusive decision-making, ensuring small-scale fisheries are meaningfully represented in WTO processes and outcomes. 

Our engagement reflects IIED’s ongoing commitment to challenging harmful economic systems and advancing new models that support sustainable livelihoods, restore nature and deliver fairer outcomes for coastal communities.