The overarching theme of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) to be held in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025 is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”. The Conference aims to support further and urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and identify further ways/means to support the implementation of SDG 14. It will build on existing instruments to form successful partnerships towards the swift conclusion and effective implementation of ongoing processes that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean.
Under this framework, the WTO in collaboration with Costa Rica and France, as co-hosts of UNOC3, and in partnership with FAO and UNCTAD will be hosting a side event (ID 120) titled: "Sustainable fisheries: The role of trade from oceans to plate" on 13 June 2025 from 8:45 to 10:00 am in Room 5 of the main conference venue (Blue Zone).
This side event will showcase the role of trade, trade policies, and a rules-based global trading system in the sustainable fisheries value chain. International trade rules are relevant at every step of the value chain of marine fisheries catch, trade and consumption. The side event will aim to navigate through the relevant international trade rules and global initiatives, to highlight their importance for ocean sustainability and food security.
Speakers:
Moderator, Mr. Aik Hoe Lim, Director, Trade and Environment Division, WTO
- Ms. Angela Ellard, Deputy Director-General, WTO
- H.E. Mr. Arnold André Tinoco, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Costa Rica
- H.E. Mr. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, France
- Ms. Vera Agostini, Deputy Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, FAO
- Ms. Chantal Line Carpentier, Head, Trade, Environment & Sustainable Development, UNCTAD
- Mr. Iván López van der Veen, Chair, International Coalition of Fisheries Associations
- Mr. Rashid Sumaila, Professor, University of British Columbia, Canada
Aik Hoe Lim is Director of the Trade and Environment Division at the World Trade Organization and leads its work on environmental sustainability, climate change and trade, as well as on the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. In this role, he has strengthened WTO's partnership with UNEP as well as other international environmental organizations. He led the establishment of WTO's Trade and Environment Week, which is now an annual flagship event for the organization. He joined the WTO in 1999 and served in the External Relations Division, the Director-General's Cabinet and the Trade in Services Division. He was previously Counsellor to two WTO Director-Generals, Advisor to the Director‑General's Consultative Group, and Secretary to WTO committees, working groups and negotiating bodies on services trade and domestic regulation. He represents the WTO in the UN Environmental Management Group and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and is a member of the Advisory Board of the UNEP Global Environmental Outlook. Some of his publications include contributions to the "Research Handbook on Climate Change and Trade Law" (2017); "Win-Win: How International Trade Can Help Meet the Sustainable Development Goals" (2017); and an edited volume on "WTO Domestic Regulation and Services Trade" (2014).
Ms Angela Paolini Ellard has served as WTO Deputy Director-General since June 2021. She is responsible for dispute settlement/reform, trade remedies, market access/trade facilitation, and ongoing negotiations on fisheries subsidies. She supervised the Secretariat's facilitation of the successful conclusion of the 2012 Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. She also oversees the WTO budget.
Previously, DDG Ellard had a distinguished 26-year career as Majority and Minority Chief Trade Counsel in the United States Congress. She achieved significant bipartisan trade policy outcomes with Congressional leaders and five Presidential administrations. She practiced law, focusing on trade litigation, policy, and legislation.
She is renowned for her expertise in trade and international economic policy, resolving trade barriers, and negotiating outcomes. She earned her J.D. cum laude/Tulane Law School, M.A. in Public Policy/Tulane, and B.A. summa cum laude/Tulane's Newcomb College.
She speaks and lectures worldwide and has received numerous awards for her contributions to trade law and policy.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica. Doctor of Law, University of Hamburg, Germany.
Former President of the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce (2010-2013) and International Arbitrator for the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Costa Rica and the Republic of Chile (2007).
He was also Professor of International Law at the University of Costa Rica (1984-1994). His practice areas include international law, investment, commercial and contracts law, arbitration and ADR, tax and real estate. He is fluent in Spanish, English and German.
Chantal Line Carpentier joined UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)'s Division on International Trade and Commodities (DITC) in 2014, after serving as Chief, UNCTAD New York Office of the Secretary-General. She brings to the Branch over 25 years of work experience in international trade, and environmental and agro-economics.
Prior to working with UNCTAD, she supported the Commission on Sustainable Development and served as Major Groups (of non-State actors) coordinator for the UN Rio+20 Conference and the SDGs negotiations at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). She also supported the sustainable consumption and production and sustainable agriculture negotiations.
As Head of the North American Free Trade Agreement Commission for Environmental Cooperations, she lead work on the nexus of environment, economy, and trade. She also served as Agro-environmental Policy Analyst for Winrock International, and post-Doctoral fellow/Brazil office manager for the International Food Policy Research Institute.
She has an extensive list of publications on sustainable agriculture, trade and environment, sustainable consumption and production, financing for sustainable development, stakeholder engagement, global value chains, micro, small and medium enterprises, and economic empowerment of women.
She obtained a PhD. in Agro-Environmental Economics from Virginia Technology and MSc. and BSc. from McGill University.
