WT/MIN(24)/ST/10  
26 February  2024 
(24-1429) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MS MARIA TRIPODI  
UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS  
AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION  
ITALY 
The 13th session of the WTO Ministerial Conference takes place in a particularly critical global context, 
characterized by geopolitical and economic tensions, obstacles to the achievement of the Sustainable 
Development Goals, growing inequalities among and within countries, and increasingly devastating 
consequences of climate change.  
 
This global fragility has  been exacerbated not only by Russia 's ongoing war of aggression against 
Ukraine, but also by the negative impact of Hamas ' terrorist attacks in Israel, the ensuing conflict 
and the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as the Houthis ' persist ent and destructive 
attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, which are having a major negative impact on 
international shipping routes and on our ports.  
 
In this context, the Abu Dhabi Conference offers a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the centrality of 
the multilateral trading system as a key tool to respond to current international challenges, support 
global income, employment and truly inclusive sustainable development, as well as the restoration 
of normal trade flows, to the benefit of the global e conomy.  
 
In particular, Italy 's primary objective for its G7 Trade Presidency in the current year is a successful 
MC13. We would like this Ministerial to achieve concrete progress in the reform process of the 
Organization, confirm the WTO 's ability to conc lude agreements on priority issues for the entire 
international community and strengthen the role of the Organization as a bulwark against the 
growing fragmentation of the multilateral trading system and as a forum for addressing the issues 
related to new global challenges.  
 
The decision to convene the first meeting of the G7 Trade Ministers in virtual format on 7 February, 
shortly before the launch of MC13 and in the presence of Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala, 
should be considered under this light. T he meeting reaffirmed the G7 firm determination to seize 
this opportunity to support the Organization 's reform process and strengthen a rules -based, 
inclusive, free and fair multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. The G7 Ministers will 
meet a gain in person in Reggio Calabria on 16 and 17 July to discuss the results of this Ministerial 
Conference and its follow -up, as well as other topical issues in international trade.  
 
As far as the objectives of MC13 are concerned,  a final agreement on a rea listic but ambitious 
package should include primarily clear indications by Ministers on the follow -up on the reform 
process of the dispute settlement mechanism, with the aim of restoring a fully functioning system 
by the end of 2024 and thus guaranteeing t he implementation of the rules jointly agreed by the 
whole Membership.  
 
We also deem it crucial for Ministers to have a substantive discussion on the strengthening of WTO 
rules, in order to effectively counter distortions in international trade and restore  fair competition. 
In this respect, it will be important to reinforce the deliberative function of the WTO on trade and 
industrial policy, in order to provide all countries with the necessary tools to develop national 
industrialization policies, while ensu ring the necessary level playing field through compliance with 
WTO rules and commitments.  WT/MIN(24)/ST/10  
 
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  In the context of the modernization process of the WTO, it will also be imperative to update the 
Organization 's rules to the rapid developments fostered by digital trade, which increases 
opportunities for global partners, and in particular for SMEs and women 's entrepreneurship. In this 
regard, we call for the extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, 
the only multilaterally ag reed rule on electronic commerce, which facilitates digital trade, ensures 
predictability and reduces costs for suppliers and consumers worldwide.  
 
Other important objectives that we hope will enrich the "Abu Dhabi package " include: the conclusion 
of the n egotiation on the elimination of harmful fisheries subsidies, which fulfils the mandate 
contained in Sustainable Development Goal 14.6; the definition of a program for a concrete and 
credible relaunch of the agricultural negotiations, which is a priority f or the entire Membership; the 
strengthening of the debate on the nexus between trade and global environmental challenges, with 
a view to maximizing climate and environmental benefits while minimizing trade -restrictive impacts; 
and the legal incorporation o f the plurilateral agreement on development investment facilitation into 
the WTO rules.  
 
The final agreement will also have to pay the utmost attention to the needs of developing and least 
developed countries, with the ultimate goal of guaranteeing them a fair share of the benefits deriving 
from the participation in international trade. In this regard, I would like to recall the special attention 
that Italy is devoting to Africa, which also constitutes an absolute priority for our G7 Presidency, and 
our des ire to promote, also in the work of this Organization, its greater access to regional and global 
value chains.  
 
I would like to conclude by congratulating East Timor and the Comoros Islands on the completion of 
their accession process to the WTO.  This even t is of political as well as economic importance for the 
Organization, as it confirms the confidence of the least developed countries in the role of multilateral 
trade as a driving force for supporting sustainable development, employment and income.  
 
I wish you all a successful work.  
 
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