WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/98
12December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5279)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
SAINT LUCIA
Statement byH.E. Mr.Edwin Laurent
Ambassador, Permanent Representative totheWTO
Mr.President, letmeattheoutset extend sincere thanks totheGovernment ofSingapore for
theexcellent andmeticulous organization ofthismajor Conference, thegraciousness ofitsreception
andthelengths towhich ithasgone toensure thatourdeliberations willbeconducted inamost
favourable environment.
TheGovernment ofSaint Lucia iscognizant ofthedynamic nature oftheworld environment
ofwhich weareapart; oneofrapid andoften unpredictable change. Amongst themany important
changes within theinternational economic environment ofthemid-nineties wastheconclusion ofthe
lengthy Uruguay Round Negotiations andtheestablishment oftheWorld Trade Organization, with
itsmandate tooversee thevarious Agreements reached intheUruguay Round.
Itisnotthree years since wegathered inMarrakesh tosigntheAccord which gavebirthto
theWTO inApril 1994, atrulymomentous event; forthisAgreement represents thebroadest, most
historical andcomprehensive trade agreement which builds anewfoundation fortheglobal trading
system. Thiswasanoccasion ofgreat euphoria andmostofallhope, hopethatastrengthened and
rule-based multilateral system would leadtoimprovement ofliving standards ofthepeoples ofthe
world. These months since Marrakesh haveprovided uswiththeopportunity toassess theextent to
which thechanges haveledtoorpromise anyrealimprovement totheprospects ofourcountries.
SaintLucia became aMember oftheWTO onitsentry intoforceon1January 1995, signifying
itsdesire tobeparty totheworld trading system established bytheMarrakesh Agreement. Asits
commitment tothisAgreement, Saint Lucia hasprovided trade offers ongoods andservices.
Theunfortunate conclusion which hastobedrawn fromanobjective assessment oftheprocess
setintrainbytheWTO isthatmany poorcountries havenotseenanyimprovement intheirprospects
sincetheWTO.Likeallcontractingparties,theytoohavemadeconcessions,imposingontheirfledgling
economies rigidcommitments andburdens waybeyond theircapacities tobear-butwhatcantheir
governmentsshowtotheirpeopleascompensationorreciprocityforthehighpricewhichwascommitted.
Itmust beadmitted thatthemarginalization ofthese countries andtheirexclusion from the
much-vaunted benefits ofglobalization arebecoming increasingly apparent along withagenuine desire
toaddress theirdisadvantages.
MyGovernment though hastwoconcerns:
Firstly therearecountries though notofficially recognized asleastdeveloped, which, because
oftheir smallness andinsularity, fragile, vulnerable andopen economies, dependence onsingle
commodity exports, etc.arejustasstructurally disadvantaged andunable tocompete intheglobalWT/MIN(96)/ST/98
Page2
economy. Existing inthis"grey area" theytoolacktheeconomic andinstitutional ability totake
advantage ofbenefits ofliberalization. Therefore theytooneedspecial attention iftheyarenotto
befurther marginalized.
Secondly, recognizing thattheinability tocompete stems fromeconomic factors, iftheproblems
aretobeseriously addressed, thenconcrete measures mustbetaken toovercome orcompensate for
impediments ofthese disadvantaged groups.
Saint Lucia hasalready submitted some ofitsnotifications. Cognizant ofthefactthatthe
fulfilmentofnotificationrequirementsisvitalforacredibleandtransparentWTOsystemtheGovernment
ofSaint Lucia willendeavour tosolicit theintroduction ofspecial measures andtechnical assistance
toensure greater participation andtotakeadvantage oftheopportunities presented bytheliberalization
process intheWTO. Attempts bytheWTO Secretariat insimplifying notification formats arehighly
commendable.
Ourinability tomaintain acontinuous presence inGeneva isagain amanifestation ofourlimited
resources. Weareaware ofthebenefits ofactive participation almost onadaily basis. Theissue
ofastrengthened representation inGeneva ishowever receiving attention. Thebusiness oftheWTO
withrespect toitswork programme must however beadvanced.
Technical assistance andother suchmeasures areindispensable forhelping lessdeveloped
countries aswellassmall vulnerable economies suchasSaint Lucia. Iftheirlotistobeimproved
atall,theywillhavetobenefit fromspecial trade measures. Thelaudable andnodoubt sincere good
intentions ofsomany countries willonlymake arealdifference iftheyarematched bytheadoption
ofsupportive trade policies andpractices. Inthisregard, thisistherealchallenge facing theWTO.
Letmeuseaconcrete example from mycountry 'sownexperience. Theongoing campaign
against thepreferential arrangements enshrined intheLomé Convention which enables several African
andCaribbean countries toselltheirbananas totheironlymarket, theEU. How canthese attacks
bereconciled withanysincere intention toenhance mycountry 'sparticipation inworld trade, forshould
theattacks prevail, theresult would betoexclude usfrom ouronlyexport market. Theproof of
commitment tothenoble cause ofhelping thedisadvantaged canonlybethrough concrete action and
itsreflection intradepolicy measures. Forus,itisonthisthattheverycredibility ofthetrading system
hinges.
Saint Lucia hasbeenaparticipant toseveral regional andinternational agreements which by
their nature serve tocomplement totherules oftheWTO. Interms ofresponse totheglobal
liberalization process, CARICOM (andSaint Lucia asamember ofCARICOM) hasputinplace a
phased reduction oftariffs against extraregional imports.
Saint Lucia isasignatory totheAssociation ofCaribbean States Agreement signed in1995.
ThisAgreement brings Member States intoanAgreement withtrade liberalization andfunctional
cooperation objectives.
Attempts attabling newareas forconsideration totheMinisterial Conference havebeennoted.
Caution needs tobeexercised inensuring thatsuchinitiatives arenotintroduced asapretext for
protectionist measures. Consultations withinternational organizations suchasUNCTAD andtheILO
withrequisite expertise would beessential. Small developing economies suchasSaint Lucia within
thecontext ofourconstraints will,whilst attempting toparticipate inthenewareas ifadopted will
ofnecessity giveimmediate priority totheimplementation ofthecurrent Agreements aswellasthe
completion ofthework programme oftheWTO.WT/MIN(96)/ST/98
Page3
During thetransition periods afforded todeveloping smaller economies, attempts willbemade
bySaint Lucia atacquiring ourfairshare ofthepotential benefits which compliance offers. Itisin
thiscontext thatweshould beassured ofamore levelplaying fieldamongst allfreetrade partners.
While mycountry andsomany others aredisappointed withprogress todate,weremain hopeful
thatthesystem willnotcontinue toevolve asonebased onpower relations butrather willbecome
onecharacterized byfairness, andequality ofopportunity.