Negotiations for a new global agreement to address fisheries subsidies and combat overcapacity and overfishing may face challenges as India, often seen as an obstructionist element in trade talks, calls for an extended transition period of 25 years. Research reveals that China, the European Union, the United States, South Korea, and Japan are the top five subsidizers, contributing to 58% of total global subsidies. The draft text, seen as a positive step, could be undermined if India’s efforts to water it down succeed, impacting the effectiveness of the agreement in promoting sustainable fisheries practices.