WTO Releases Updated Legal Compendium Including Fisheries Subsidies Agreement

The new publication consolidates the full body of WTO law into a single, easy-to-access volume—reflecting all amendments and additions through September 2025.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has released an updated and expanded edition of its comprehensive legal compendium, The WTO Agreements: The Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization and its Annexes. The new publication consolidates the full body of WTO law into a single, easy-to-access volume—reflecting all amendments and additions through September 2025.

This edition marks a significant milestone, as it incorporates for the first time the full text of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which entered into force on 15 September 2025. The agreement represents a landmark global effort to curb harmful fishing subsidies that contribute to overfishing and the depletion of marine ecosystems.

A Complete, Updated Reference for WTO Members and Practitioners

The updated compendium replaces the previous 2017 edition, which was published following the entry into force of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation. It provides a fully consolidated reference for:

• Government trade officials

• Legal practitioners

• Academics and researchers

• Students of international trade law

The volume contains:

• The founding 1994 Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO

• All its annexes

• All amendments and decisions applied to date

By compiling these texts into a single book, the WTO aims to support clearer understanding, application, and teaching of multilateral trade rules.

Key Additions Included in the 2025 Edition

In addition to the new Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the compendium features several major updates:

1. TRIPS Agreement Amendment (January 2017)

This amendment incorporates provisions that facilitate access to medicines for countries lacking manufacturing capacity—an essential update for global health.

2. Trade Facilitation Agreement (February 2017)

The TFA aims to streamline customs procedures, reduce trade costs, and improve border efficiencies worldwide.

3. Trade Policy Review Mechanism Amendment (July 2017)

This update refines procedures for monitoring and assessing WTO members’ trade policies.

4. Amended Government Procurement Agreement (April 2014)

The amended GPA fully replaced the 1994 version for all parties by January 2021, expanding market access and strengthening transparency in government procurement.

These additions reflect the dynamic evolution of international trade rules since the WTO’s establishment in 1995.

Co-Publication and Multilingual Availability

The WTO Agreements is co-published with Cambridge University Press and is available in English, French, and Spanish, ensuring accessibility for a global audience.

The updated edition provides one of the most authoritative and complete legal resources for understanding the multilateral trade system as it exists today.