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31 July 2019  
(19-5034) Page: 1/1 
    
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Australia donates over AUD 1 million to support SPS standards, 
LDC role in fisheries talks  
 
Australia is donating over AUD 1 million (approximately CHF 705,000) to help developing and 
least-developed countries (LDCs) engage more actively in global agricultural trade and participate 
in fisheries subsidies negotiations taking place in Geneva.  
The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) will receive AUD 1 million for the years 
2019 and 2020 to support developing countries to comply with international food safety, animal 
and plant health standards and increase their access to world markets. A dditionally, Australia is 
also contributing AUD 23,000 (approximately CHF 15,800) to the recently established LDC 
Fisheries Subsidies Fund to support attendance by LDC capital officials at Geneva negotiating 
clusters in 2019,  ahead of the end -of-year deadl ine for this work agreed by members.  
WTO Director -General Roberto Azevêdo said: "I welcome Australia´s continued generosity. This 
new donation will be important to help developing and least -developed countries improve their 
sanitary and phytosanitary stand ards, thereby accessing agricultural markets more easily. I also 
thank Australia for supporting the WTO fisheries trust fund that allows capital -based delegations 
from LDCs to participate in negotiations on fisheries subsidies. These negotiations are techn ically 
complicated and are important for LDCs, many of which rely on the sustainability of world's fish 
stocks and fishing communities."  
Australia's Ambassador to the WTO, Frances Lisson, said: “Australia is committed to helping 
developing countries partic ipate in, and benefit from, the multilateral trading system.  We value 
the work of the STDF in improving compliance with SPS standards, sharing knowledge and building 
capacity.  We also recognize that supporting active LDC participation is critical to achi eving 
outcomes in the fisheries subsidies negotiations which benefit all WTO members.”  
Australia has contributed over CHF 17 million to WTO trust funds over the past 17 years.  
The STDF is a global coordination platform that brings together leading trade, h ealth and 
agriculture experts worldwide to share knowledge, tools and good practice and strengthen the 
effectiveness of SPS technical assistance provided to developing countries. The STDF also provides 
support and funding for the development and implementa tion of collaborative and innovative 
projects that promote compliance with international SPS requirements. The STDF is housed and 
managed by the WTO.  
DG Azevêdo announced on 3 May the creation of the WTO fisheries trust fund in response to a 
request from L DCs.  
 
END 