The WTO updates its global legal framework: the new compendium integrates the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

 

 

La World Trade Organization (WTO) has published an updated version of its legal compendium that incorporates, for the first time, the text of Agreement on Fisheries SubsidiesThis volume, which comes into effect after the regulations came into force on September 15, 2025, unifies the entire regulatory framework of the organization to facilitate its consultation at a global level.

 

Under the title "The WTO Agreements: The Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization and its Annexes"This publication replaces the 2017 edition. The aim is to offer simplified access to the original 1994 text and all subsequent amendments in a single document. The work is co-published with Cambridge University Press and is available in Spanish, French and English.

 

Chronology of amendments and new integrated agreements

 

The new edition does not simply include the latest fishing regulations. The volume consolidates a series of regulatory milestones that have transformed the foreign trade in the last decade. Among the key additions to the 1994 Marrakech Agreement are the following: Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and the modifications in intellectual property and public procurement.

 

The following details the effective dates and specific texts that make up this legal update:

Regulations / Agreement	Effective Date	Integration Details
Agreement on Government Procurement (ACP)	April 2014 (Full replacement in January 2021)	The amended ACP replaced the 1994 text for all parts.
Amendment to the TRIPS Agreement	January 2017	Amendment on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)	February 2017	Key regulations for logistics and customs simplification.
Trade Policy Review Mechanism	July 2017	Amendment to the policy review mechanism.
Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies	15 2025 September	The main new feature of this updated edition.

Scope of the publication

 

This compendium is essential for understanding the current legal architecture of the multilateral trading system. In addition to the texts mentioned, the volume covers:

• El Marrakech Agreement by which the World Trade Organization is established.
• All original annexes.
• All amendments and additions made from 1994 to September 2025 inclusive.

 

Key points and frequently asked questions about the WTO update

 

What is the main new feature included in this edition of the WTO Agreements?
The inclusion, for the first time, of the text of Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which came into force on September 15, 2025, updating the previous edition of 2017.

 

What other important deals have been finalized in terms of volume?
The book integrates the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), the amendment to the TRIPS Agreement (intellectual property) and the amended Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).

 

Who publishes this magazine and in what languages ​​is it available?
The work is co-published by the WTO y Cambridge University PressIt is available in the organization's three official languages: Spanish, French, and English.