COFI:FT/VIII/2002/Inf.3

Distinguished Delegates and Observers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the pleasure of welcoming you, on behalf of Dr Jacques Diouf, the Director-General of FAO, to the Eighth Session of the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade of the Committee on Fisheries. It is the fourth time that the Sub-Committee is meeting here in Bremen and as on previous occasions, it is possible thanks to the generous invitation of the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. FAO is grateful for this hospitality which enables the Organization to respond to increasing demands for FAO's role as a forum for international consultations in shaping the new global trading arrangements. It is also imperative on this road to trade liberalization to share experiences and ideas on how to proceed. This is not least true in the area of fish trade - where developments are at a fast pace.

Globalization, at present, has a high profile in the public debate. Many look at globalization and its implication with deep concern that it will lead to widening economic divide, not only between individuals but between nations, the developed world and the developing world. Others see globalization as an opportunity to break the chains of poverty. The truth is that it can do both. Globalization presents opportunities and risks and therefore the world's fisheries and aquaculture industries need to consider international trade issues carefully. Fish processing and trade, has become genuinely an international business. Not only has fish become the food item most traded across national boundaries, but the processing itself is increasingly seeking to lower production cost by moving operations to developing countries. Thus, globalization will not be stopped but we must shape it and tame the process rather than letting it roam without control.

Scientific research shows that despite the internationalization of food production and processing as well as food habits, there are national and regional niches in the global markets, which maintain their importance. At times it may even appear that this regionalization can hinder the process of globalization. Obviously it is the consumers and producers who ultimately decide whether a regional market niche can successfully compete with the strong forces of globalization but I for one, do not believe that we want to see exactly the same brands of foods in food stores all around the globe. The Fisch 2002 Fair, which runs in parallel to this meeting, shows the great variety of fish products representative of these regional niches.

For FAO I can say that we expect globalization to continue as much as liberalization of trade, including food and agricultural trade. FAO's mission is to help the creation of a food-secure world for present and future generations. The up-coming World Food Summit 5 years later - to be held in June 2002, will discuss these themes. One of the strategies applied includes reinforcing policy and regulatory frameworks for food, agriculture, fisheries and forestry. The Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries is one of these frameworks, the implementation of which is well under way.

It will be your task during this Session to analyse the participation of developing countries in international trade in fishery products and to consider how cooperation in this field can be enhanced. You will discuss aspects of globalization and its implications for international fish trade and food security. The proposed agenda provides for discussion on the implementation of the World Trade Organization's agreements. The Ministerial Conference of Doha did not specify where fisheries issues will be dealt within the negotiations of the WTO, but fish trade, subsidies and eco-labelling will be on the agenda.

In addition, this session will analyse the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listing criteria as applied to commercially exploited aquatic species and develop a workplan for further action. The feasibility and practicability of harmonizing catch documentation used by Regional Fisheries Bodies will also be an important topic during this session.

We will report to you progress with ongoing projects on product development, funded by the Common Fund for Commodities, and you will be invited to propose new projects for preparation.

The report of this meeting will be submitted to the Twenty-fifth Session of the Committee on Fisheries, which is scheduled to take place in Rome from 24 to 28 February 2003.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

High priority is now given to the technical assistance which FAO members may require in the implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements as well as assistance needs related to future negotiations. The first part of this programme, led by the FAO Commodities and Trade Division, has been recently completed, and Phase II is being prepared. Coverage of fish trade issues was in my view too limited in that programme, so we are placing high emphasis on much wider coverage of fisheries issues in Phase II of this initiative.

Before starting the Sub-Committee meeting, I would like to remind you that the Terms of Reference of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade is to provide a forum for consultation on technical and economic aspects of fish trade. Given the increasing complexity of issues in this area, it is evident that we can neither cover all its aspects nor can we cover them in great detail. Later during the session we will discuss the future work of the Sub-Committee and how it can be improved.

I wish that we will have a constructive and enjoyable meeting here in Bremen and that it may contribute to better trading practices of fish and fishery products.

Thank you very much.