WT/MIN(22)/ST/133  
14 June 2022  
(22-4620) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR ALI DJADDA KAMPARD  
MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY , 
LDC GROUP COORDINATOR  
CHAD 
I have the honour to address this august assembly on behalf of the LDC Group. I wish to congratulate 
the WTO Secretariat and in particular the Director -General, Dr Ngozi, for their efforts in preparing 
and organizing this event. I would also like to thank the Swiss Confederation and the Republic and 
Canton of Geneva for their welcome and hospitality.  
 
LDCs feel a powerful sense of  responsibility and urgency to act to address the concerns of the most 
vulnerable Members. This is why the success of MC12 requires concrete progress on LDC -specific 
issues.  
 
It is crucial  to ensure effective implementation of earlier LDC -related decision s that are being 
monitored by various WTO bodies. We have made important decisions in the past (duty -free and 
quota -free market access for LDCs; preferential rules of origin for LDCs; the LDC services waiver), 
and the implementation of these decisions cont inues to be reviewed by the relevant WTO bodies .  
 
It is essential to understand the impact of these decisions on the development trajectory of LDCs. 
These countries trust that measures adopted to support them will be also extended to graduated 
LDCs, in ac cordance with the proposal for a Ministerial Decision concerning  an interim arrangement 
on graduation from LDC status.  
 
Our proposal for an interim arrangement on graduation from LDC status is pragmatic and 
demonstrates openness and flexibility in searchin g for a solution at MC12, while engaging in a more 
in-depth manner after the  Ministerial  Conference. We are convinced of the importance of ensuring 
smooth and sustainable graduation.  
 
The COVID -19 pandemic is one of the greatest crises of this century. Its  socio-economic impacts are 
still visible. This twelfth session of the Ministerial Conference is taking place at a critical juncture as 
the COVID -19 pandemic continues to rage. The loss of human life around the world  is tremendous .  
 
LDCs represent the low -income -country category, which is the most affected by the pandemic. Given 
the lack of diversification in their economies, LDCs have seen their share of world exports fall 
from  1.03% in 2019 to 1% in 2020.  
 
We believe that building resilience in the face of the current pandemic and future pandemics should 
be one of our main priorities. This objective can be achieved only if all people in all countries have 
access to vaccines. This is particularly important for us, as vaccina tion rates in LDCs have remained 
extremely low. Hence, the need for the adoption of the TRIPS waiver and any other measures 
necessary to help combat the pandemic and prevent any future pandemics.  
 
We would urge all Members to take more fully into account a nd integrate the priorities highlighted 
by LDCs in their Ministerial Declaration of 19  October  2021. We must produce outcomes for MC12, 
at which, in our view, LDCs should receive special and differential treatment  (S&DT).  
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  We need a meaningful response to  the pandemic, which has posed multidimensional challenges. It 
is important to address supply chain challenges for vaccine production and deal with export 
restrictions, excessive customs procedures and access to inputs.  
 
Regarding fisheries subsidies nego tiations, we seek a fair and equitable agreement demonstrating 
that the WTO is able to contribute to the conservation of fisheries resources to ensure their 
sustainability, in accordance with target 14.6 of the SDGs, recognizing that an appropriate and 
effective S&D T for developing countries and LDCs is integral to these negotiations.  
 
Agriculture, including cotton, is a strategically important sector for LDCs both in terms of job creation  
and food security. LDCs therefore trust that the MC12 outcomes will set us clearly on the path to  
effective reform of the agriculture sector , and would like MC12 to provide clear guidance on how to 
approach such a reform through a work programme.  
 
We are of the view that it is necessary to chart a course with  specific obje ctives , such as domestic 
support (including for cotton), a permanent solution to public stockholding programmes for food 
security purposes, special safeguard measures and transparency issues.  
 
During the pandemic, companies found to be faring best were th ose that had already gone digital. 
This is thanks to  the dynamism and resilience of e-commerce. Thus, while reaffirming their 
commitment to the 1998 Work Programme, LDCs trust that MC12 will achieve positive and equitable 
outcomes on e-commerce so that no one is left behind.  
 
LDCs hope that the MC12 outcomes help to keep S&D T central to the WTO's work, so that the most 
vulnerable Members have the necessary policy space to further their structural transformation and 
step up their production capacity.  
 
The L DC Group trusts that the MC12 outcomes will help to implement the 2002 LDC Accession 
Guidelines and 2012 General Council Decision "Addendum I ", as the accession instruments for LDCs.  
 
Lastly, the LDCs support a post -MC12 work programme to successfully com plete the  reform of the  
WTO and Appellate Body. The mandate of the group should be to ensure the preservation of the 
fundamental principles and purpose of the WTO as a rules -based, consensus -driven, Member -led 
organization.  LDCs reaffirm their commitment to working with all Members to make MC12 a success.  
 
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