WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/ST/160
10 October 2003
(03-5375)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth Session
Cancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  Spanish
ECUADOR
Statement by H.E. Ms Ivonne Juez de Baki
Minister of Foreign Trade, Industry, Fisheries and Competitiveness
First, I should like to congratulate Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez and to thank the Government
and people of Mexico for the excellent organization of the Conference and their magnificent
welcome, which have facilitated the negotiations we are holding in order to promote internationaltrade.
Trade, in the proper and strict sense of the word, means first and foremost an exchange
between countries, regions, races and cultures.  Trading necessarily involves engaging in dialogue and
giving and receiving, as well as a commitment to build bridges and establish ties that prevail over thedifferences which set peoples apart, and that promote the establishment of fair standards and laws
enabling the benefits of trade to be enjoyed and confrontation and wars thus to be ended.  This
exchange of goods and services is conducive to the exchange of ideas, and contributes to peace by
providing a framework of laws within which to promote it.  Trade has no equal in the creation of areas
and opportunities for sovereign peoples to emerge from human relations in an environment of
freedom.
Of the WTO's objectives, the opening up of international markets is the foremost, and the one
that inspired Ecuador to join the Organization.
In pursuance of that objective and with a view to free trade, my country made enormous
sacrifices and introduced reforms to carry through the accession process.
Now, like many other Members of the WTO, Ecuador is waiting and hoping for the fulfilment
of the mandates which will allow the opening of markets for agricultural products, in which our
countries have the potential to be highly competitive.
For Ecuador, this Ministerial Conference is an occasion to go beyond determining tariff levels
or clarifying rules that govern trade.  It is a clear opportunity to promote economic development,
enhanced day by day as we make trade freer, less distorted and fairer.
The Chairmen of the General Council, the Trade Negotiations Committee and the various
negotiating groups have recently engaged in the arduous task of seeking consensus and proposing
alternatives that encompass the interests of all Members of the WTO.  We have noted with concern,
however, that a number of countries show little flex ibility and inclination to open the way to proper
fulfilment of the Doha mandate.
Free and fair trade promotes development, and that is why the challenge we face is to fulfill
the Doha mandate, through our work in Geneva, Cancún and beyond.  The negotiations under wayWT/MIN(03)/ST/160
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have ambitious goals, and I think that we can achieve them if we show the flexibility and courage
needed to achieve a balanced agreement that is acceptable to all.
Certainly, we must all contribute to increasing trade by enhanced market access through a
reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers and the elimination of distorting practices.  Nonetheless, inorder for the burden-sharing to be fair, that contribution has to be proportionate to the expected
benefits, and must therefore take into account the degree of development of the economies of WTO
Members.
Ecuador is concerned that several countries remain entrenched on trade practices that we
agreed to reform, reduce, and eliminate.  This is precisely the case of the agricultural negotiations,
which hold special interest for my country.
Ecuador, for its part, has consistently held and stated clearly in the various negotiating bodies
that until effect is given to what was agreed in the area of agricultural subsidies, and more specifically
the reduction of export subsidies with a view to their elimination and a significant reduction in
domestic support which causes distortions in agricultural trade, Ecuador will not agree to tariffreductions that leave its market unprotected.  In this connection, I should point out that Ecuador has
contributed to the negotiating process by supporting the initiatives proposed by a large group of
developing countries which, moved by a keen sense of responsibility, have put forward a viable
alternative for negotiating modalities.
That initiative responds to the one submitted by the United States and the European
Communities which contains a timid negotiating proposal that is inadequate, especially as regards
subsidies and special and differential treatment for developing countries.
Ecuador is of the view that delegations must have a  level of ambition that is commensurate
with their expectations in the various areas.  It is unacceptable that developed countries such as Japan,
the European Union or Switzerland should seek on the one hand to maintain a high level of protection
for their agricultural markets while on the other demanding substantial tariff reductions from
developing countries for manufactures that are of interest to them.
It must be accepted, moreover, that the developing countries need a larger measure of
flexibility in the management of their tariff policie s so as to facilitate the development of industrial
policies that are adapted to their economic needs and development objectives.
With regard to the negotiations on trade in services and intellectual property, Ecuador takes a
great interest insofar as the negotiations are not directed solely towards maintaining the great
imbalances that exist to the detriment of the deve loping countries.  The WTO faces the challenge of
including all the developing countries in these areas, which offer new opportunities for the economic
growth of the poorest countries.
The negotiations on services must accommodate the proposals from developing countries,
particularly those on service provision under Mode 4 which address the possibility of emigratingpopulations being able to provide their services in more open markets.
Furthermore, intellectual property regimes cannot impose new obligations within the
framework of the WTO that generate trade distortions, as is being sought with the extension of
geographical indications to products other than wines and spirits.
Ecuador stands ready to participate in all the areas of negotiation set forth in the Doha
Declaration, and will do so in an active and responsible manner, consistently defending its interests
while demanding that others meet the commitments agreed on.WT/MIN(03)/ST/160
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Generally speaking, the negotiations will be able to achieve little in other sectors insofar as
they fail to address the concerns of developing countries in the core negotiating areas, particularly
agriculture.  Issues such as the relationship between trade and environment, disciplines for
competition, investment or trade facilitation are areas of  WTO action where the developing countries
unquestionably play a very important role.
Ecuador assumes its responsibilities in taking up the challenges arising in these areas and
pledges its support to the success of the negotiations, but points out that any attention paid to new
issues must not be to the detriment of the Organization's central task of putting into effect what has
already been accepted in existing agreements and of implementing those agreements properly and
fully within the context of the Development Programme.
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