WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/15
9December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5186)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE Original: English
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
THAILAND
Statement byH.E. Mr.Amnuay Viravan
Deputy-Prime Minister andMinister ofFinance
Itismygreat pleasure toexpress mygratitude toHisExcellency Mr.GohChok Tong for
theinspiring opening address andforsharing withushisvision tothegoals andpurposes ofthis
important Ministerial gathering. Ialsothank youdeeply forthehospitality youhave shown my
delegation. Ofcourse, thisisnotthefirsttimethatIhaveexperienced suchgenerosity andgraciousness
which onecomes toassociate withSingapore.
When Singapore waschosen tobethevenue ofthefirstpolitical meeting oftheWTO, this
perhaps cannot better represent thesuccess story ofaneconomy inwhich trade hasalways played a
leading role.
Thefactthatthisimportant meeting isbeing heldinoneoftheASEAN countries augurs well
fortheregion andisatestimony oftheeconomic progress wehaveachieved under theumbrella of
themultilateral trading system.
When theUruguay Round Agreement wassigned inMarrakesh inApril 1994, theWTO
established withitahighlevelofhopeandexpectation asthefirst,fully-recognized institutional and
legalfoundation ofthemultilateral trading system. Ourpresence hereatSingapore, testifies tothe
political importance thatweattach totheaspirations, theimplications andtheanxieties thatareinherent
inthisnewinstitution.
Inretrospect, somuch hashappened during thelastfewyears interms ofthedevelopment
ofeconomic events. Wehaveseentheproliferation ofnewregional trading arrangements. Already
some 100regional orsubregional groupings hadbeenidentified bytheWTO lastyear. Thecontinuing
applications ofextra-territorial measures onsovereign Members. During theperiod, aslow-down in
export growth wasexperienced bymany exporting countries including Thailand. Andasaresult of
thegrowing economic interdependence, financial constraints were feltindeveloped anddeveloping
countries alike. These global phenomena illustrate thefactthatglobalization isanevolving reality
among nations thatposechallenge, opportunity andproblem thatwillhavesignificant bearings onthe
evolvement andviability ofthemultilateral trading system.
Yet,despite allthese events which havetranspired since theinception ofthisorganization,
notverysubstantial results havebeenachieved intheimplementation oftheUruguay Round package.
Trade liberalization andimplementation arestillincomplete inmany keyareas. Various issues of
unfinished business arestillonouragenda. Itwould beanillusion tobelieve thatcomplete
implementation oftheUruguay round results iseasyorstraightforward. There isplenty onliberalization
andimplementation tokeepusoccupied intothenextcentury.WT/MIN(96)/ST/15
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With thisinmind, theWTO 'simmediate concern should betofocus ontheimplementation
andconsolidation oftheresults achieved inthelastround ofnegotiations. These commitments are
essential totheproper functioning ofthesystem. Although itisactivity thatseldom makes theheadlines,
itshould beourcommon, toppriority.
Equally important, another immediate priority ofoursistomake surethattheWTO endeavours
tostrengthen itsinstitutional aspect inorder fortheorganization toremain credible, relevant andtruly
universal inthechanging trading environment. First, WTO mustensure thatthenewdispute settlement
system works inalegally andpolitically credible manner. During thepasttwoyears Members have
beenmaking useofitinawaywhich demonstrate considerable faithintheWTO. However, willingness
toabide bythedispute settlement procedures andfindings isjustimportant asrespecting therules.
Secondly, theWTO must promote theuniversality ofitsmembership. Tobeatruly global trade
rules-making body, themembership oftheWTO must beexpanded. Accession should beonfair,
equitable andpractical terms. Thirdly, theWTO mustenhance itsprimacy roleintheglobal trading
system withthecomplementary support from theregional economic groupings. TheWTO needs to
leadfromthefrontinorder thattheglobal trading system doesnotdisintegrate intoregional trading
blocs. Finally, theWTO musttakecareofthelessdeveloped Members inorder toeffectively integrate
these Members especially theleastdeveloped onesintotheglobal trading system. TheWTO must
onceandforallshake itsimage ofarichman'sclub.
Notwithstanding thefactsthatthecurrent built-in agenda isveryextensive, weshould like
tostress theimportance ofagriculture andtextiles andclothing sectors. Efforts tointegrate the
developing andleastdeveloped countries intotheworld trading system willnotbearfruits unless
agriculture andtextiles andclothing areaccorded rightful attention andoverdue political commitments.
Toourconcerns, theimplementation intextiles stillleaves much tobedesired. There isaconsiderable
anxiety among textiles exporting developing countries thattheobservance oftheAgreement hasbeen
lessthansatisfactory. Wefeelthatitisdifficult toembark oncreating asense ofmutual confidence
unless ourcounterparts areready toactcourageously inthissector. Thailand callsforcollective
commitment toprogressively bring textiles tradeintotheWTO rulesanddisciplines inletter andspirit.
Inagriculture, weurgethattheremaining reform works becarried outbyMembers without
delay. Inthisconnection, Thailand callsforimmediate commencement ofappropriate work inthis
area.
TheWTO, asanorganization, musthaveavisionary approach inorder tomaintain effectiveness
andcredibility ofthesystem wellintothefuture. Inother words, weneedvision withapriority.
While honouring thecommitments, weshould alsomove forward. Charting intothefuture course,
theWTO should embark uponnewgrounds ofwork onamodest scalewhile seeking toavoid upsetting
thebalance ofpriority.
Weareaware ofsuggestions thatnewinitiatives should becontemplated andstudied inthe
areas ofinvestment andcompetition policies. Although theymaynotbenewissues totheWTO, the
problem ishowandwhere wecanproceed inthemost appropriate manner. Wemust notprejudge
theoutcome offuture works undertaken. There isaneedforamore horizontal andall-encompassing
approach tothese issues intheWTO. Theworks musttakeintoaccount theinterests ofallmembers
ofthetrading system inallstrata -developed, developing andleastdeveloped alike.
Ifinvestment andcompetition policies aretobetruly global andresponsive tothechanges
constantly taking place intheworld wellintothenextmillennium, thenabroad coverage should be
taken intoaccount. Atthisstage, proposals withregards totheinformation gathering andeducative
process should beapproached inthemost comprehensive manner.WT/MIN(96)/ST/15
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Thailand hasalways supported theinitiative onfurther liberalization ofinformation technology
products. Oursuccess ontheITAwillbeanachievement ofimmense value andbenefits interms
ofadvancing thewelfare ofourpeoples. Itisveryimportant thatITAbeabroad-based agreement
taking onboard asmany participants aspossible. Wedohopethataneventual agreement willbemade
onamultilateral basis, tomake themost ofitsbenefits bothtotheglobal economy andthetrading
system. Atthesame time, wemusttakeintoaccount thedeveloping countries 'needtodevelop their
industries. Thus, theSMC should notbethedeadline forconclusion, buttheprocess should continue
afterSingapore.
Wewishtostatecategorically thatwhile wearestrongly committed tointernationally recognized
labour standards, weshare theviews ofmany Members thatthisisnotanissue overwhich theWTO
hasthecompetence.ThisissuewillbemoreproperlyaddressedintheInternationalLabourOrganization.
Noonecandenytheimportance ofcorelabour standards thathavebeeninternationally agreed
upon. Asamatter offact,allbasic relevant elements ofcorelabour standards mentioned havelong
beenrecognizedbyandwitnessedinThailand.Thereisclearevidencetosupportthisremark.However,
there isnorelevancy toforce linkages ofthisissue withtrade, unless there isanulterior motive to
bring intheissue asdisguised protectionism. FortheWTO, theimmediate challenge istobuild a
consensus inorder toavoid thisbecoming adivisive issue.
Thailand would liketoemphasize thatthere must beaproportionate balance intheWTO 's
future undertaking withthepriority intheimplementation process. While ensuring thatourpast
commitments arehonoured, wecanmove forward knowing thatourfuture course isfirmly based on
solid ground. TheWTO canembark onanewdirection onamodest scale while seeking toavoid
overburdening orupsetting thebalance ofpriority currently inplace.
FortheWTO toremain relevant andtoexert primacy intheworld trading system, itmust
takeintoaccount thechanging environment andseekthewaytotakethelead, within thebound of
possibility andreason. Letusremember thatwegather herewithourcommon belief inmultilateralism.
Letuswork together withasense ofharmony sothattheSingapore Ministerial Conference willbe
remembered astheoccasion where allnations areunified toshow thatmultilateralism remains the
possible means through which economic wellbeing andprosperity canbeequitably shared.