WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/ST/34
10 November 2001
(01-5612)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth SessionDoha, 9 - 13 November 2001Original:  Spanish
SPAIN
Statement by H.E. Mr D. Rodrigo de Rato y Figaredo
Second Vice-President and Minister of Economy
As we meet here for the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha, I should like first of all to
take this opportunity to express Spain's gratitude for the hospitality lavished upon us by the people
and the Government of Qatar, and in particular the city of Doha.  Choosing the Middle-East to host
this meeting was a sound decision in Spain's view.
We also greatly appreciate the effort made by the organizers and the World Trade
Organization, as well as the work of Messrs. Moore and Harbison.
This meeting is taking place in a context marked by three major events:
- A world economic slow-down which, for the fi rst time in several decades, is affecting
all the world's economies.
- Secondly, the terrorist attacks against the United States, in addition to involving a
human tragedy, have undoubtedly heightened uncertainty and thereby further
depressed the short-term economic outlook.
- And thirdly, after the Seattle failure it is more necessary than ever to launch a new
round aimed at liberalizing trade and promoting development, bringing good tidings
for all the world's citizens.
What sets the World Trade Organization apart from other multilateral organizations is that
consensus alone produces results and is therefore the sole dominant force.  Our decision-making
system ensures the equality of the 142 Members.
The establishment of the WTO meant that it is now, together with the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund, the third major pillar of the international economic system, playing afundamental role not only as the forum of negotiations aimed at freer trade but above all because it
has managed to create a world legal order for intern ational trade.  For Spain, the multilateral trading
system has been the main engine of international trade liberalization, thereby boosting economic
development and growth worldwide, since we believe that investment, together with trade, constitute
the backbone of development.
I should now like to refer in greater detail to some specific aspects which, in my opinion,
deserve to be highlighted at this conference.
For many months now, world society has been calling on governments for a clear response to
the imbalances created by globalization for the less developed countries.  Spain, together with the rest
of the European Union, is convinced that free trade is an essential instrument, as well as a greatWT/MIN(01)/ST/34
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opportunity, for promoting development in a world of globalized markets.  Spain therefore believes
that it is quite right that the objective of promoting development should be the hallmark of the new
round, and to that end the World Trade Organization does indeed need to be strengthened.
The entry of China and Chinese Taipei during this conference is an indication of the strength
of free trade as a basic instrument for development purposes.
We agree with others that, alongside free trade, other issues such as the debt burden and
suitable financial assistance should be part of a broad agenda for development, which all multilateral
organizations will have to take duly into account.
The strengthening of this multilateral trading system and expansion of its liberalizing scope
must ensure that the developing countries are mo re and more fully integrated into the multilateral
trading system and obtain the benefits which it offers to all its participants.
In a broader context, Spain is making an active contribution to initiatives in favour of
development.  This refers in particular to debt forgiveness at multilateral level and bilateral debt
relief;  providing considerable resources through the EU, the multilateral financial institutions and
bilaterally;  as well as cooperation in disaster situ ations and, together with the institutions, bilateral
financial support to countries in crisis.
We meet here in Doha to push forward new multilateral negotiations to overcome the
differences which stopped us from achieving results in Seattle, with the launch of an expanded
programme of negotiations which, along with a new work programme, constitutes a balanced agenda
aimed at boosting the development of the poorer countries.
Strengthening the WTO will further contribute to creating a more peaceful and integrated
international environment, something that is espe cially necessary following last September's tragic
events: an environment in which all may reap the benefits of international cooperation, and
specifically within the context of the multilateral trading system.
In the age of globalization our response must also be a global one, aimed at maintaining and
boosting its vast potential for economic and social gains as well as for understanding between
countries and people, while at the same time redressing its harmful effects on the less developed
countries.
In order to achieve this, we will have to make progress, in working on the built-in agenda, in
the negotiations on services and the progressive liberalization of international trade in agriculture,
including non-trade concerns, such as rural development and environmental effects.
The negotiations on market access in non-agricultural sectors is another of our liberalization
objectives.  Here, owing to its specific features, the fisheries sector will need specific rules. In any
case, this treatment must be set in the contex t of environmental conservation, so as to avoid
exhausting fishery resources, and take into account compliance with the United Nations Conventionon the law of the sea as well as international fishing agreements at regional level.
Another issue to which Spain attaches great importance concerns the needs of countries
suffering from serious health crises and epidemics.  We believe that it is essential to pay the utmost
attention to this issue, ensuring that such countries can benefit from flexibility under the Agreementon Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights, in the interests of effective and immediate access to
medicines for their populations.  Stimulating innovation and research to develop new pharmaceutical
products and improve existing ones is in everyone's interest and especially that of countries suffering
from pandemics.WT/MIN(01)/ST/34
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Measures for the implementation of the Marrakesh Agreements and the concerns aroused in
that connection should have a key place in this conference.  Spain is ready to give consideration to
these concerns and find the most appropriate solutions to them.
In our interdependent world, the WTO, whose main sphere of competence is trade, cannot
work in isolation but must continue its cooperation with other international organizations in order to
coordinate their action and find a multilateral response to development.
The reply to the social criticism of our organization must be to enhance its transparency.  We
must respond to the information needs of our civil societies and answer their concerns.  We must
pursue our dialogue with them both within the WTO and in our own countries, improving
transparency and welcoming the presence of the non-governmental organizations here at thisconference.
I wish to conclude by saying that the Government of Spain considers that, in the current
political and economic circumstances, it is essential to launch a new round of negotiations in order to
improve the outlook for economic recovery and stand up to the temptations of protectionism whichcould spread throughout the world in this state of uncertainty.
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