WT/MIN(22)/ST/96  
12 June 2022  
(22-4534) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12-15 June  2022 Original:  French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR  AIMÉ  CLOVIS GUILLOND  
AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE  
CONGO 
In taking the floor  before  this noble  assembly, I would like to begin by performing a noble duty : that 
of conveying to you the warm greetings of His Excellency Mr Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, 
President of the Republic of the Congo , who has always followed the work of our Organization  
with great interest , and who has asked me to convey to you his  commitment to multilateralism.  
The Congolese  delegation welcomes the holding of this Twelfth  Ministerial Conference and wishes to 
congratulat e the Director -General, Dr NGONZI OKONJO -IWEALA, for organizing  it. 
My delegation would also like to extend warm  congratulations to the Chair  of this session, 
Mr Timur  Suleimenov , as well as to the officers . 
The Congo endorses the statements made by the ACP, African and G33 Groups.  
As noted , this Conference is taking place at a time when the world  has been  shaken by a multi -
dimensional crisis due to the war in Ukraine and the COVID -19 pandemic, for which  countries 
continue to pay a heavy price. 
Our Organization continues to face challenges preventing it from fully fulfillin g its role as regulator 
of the multilateral trading system.  
These well-known impasses  naturally hinder the development of economic dynamics, which are 
essential to the development of developing countries and their integration into world trade.  
In this context, it is essential , more  than ever , to restore the WTO to its rightful place, in or der to 
ensure a general  balance in terms of trade governance.  
To achieve this, we need a firm political will that involves seeking  compromise.  
This is why the Congo reaffirms its attachment to the multilateral trading system, which is embodied 
by the WTO, particularly  through its consensus -based approach, which not only allows for the 
participation of all, but also takes into account the concerns and interests of all Members.  
In this vein, the Congo would like to draw Members' attention to the importance of  being realistic , 
for appropriate solutions in some of the key areas, such as:  WT/MIN(22)/ST/96  
- 2 - 
  The WTO response to COVID -19, the development dimension, agriculture, WTO reform and fisheries 
subsidies.  
- As regards  the WTO  response to the pandemic , it should be co-ordinated and conducive to 
an equitable global economic recovery. As such, Members should adopt a decision to stimulate and 
diversify the production of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics and to strengthen national and 
regional manufacturing capaciti es worldwide . 
- The development dimension , as enshrined  in the concept of special and differential 
treatment , should characterize all WTO Agreements. Moreover , the related provisions should  be 
made more operational and effective, in accordance with paragra ph 44 of the DOHA mandate.  
- With respect to agriculture , any solution should promote fair trade in agricultural products 
through disciplines focused on the reduction of all types of trade -distorting subsidies and the removal 
of non -tariff barriers that im pede the movement of agricultural products.  
- As to WTO reform , it should be based on non -discriminatory, inclusive, equitable and 
transparent rules. It is essential for the Working Group  that will  be set up  to have clear terms of 
reference and a clear  mandate, as well as a clear agenda.  
- Lastly , regarding  fisheries subsidies , the outcome of the negotiations should not undermine 
the right of coastal States and fully respect their territorial integrity and their sovereignty . It should 
also take into account the concerns of developing countries and L DCs regarding  special and 
differential treatment and their needs in terms of policy space for the development of fishing 
activities in inland waters and in exclusive economic zone s. 
The Congo remains convinced that trade is still a key driver of development and of structural 
transformation in the developing and least developed economies.  
The Congo  thus invites the Twelfth Ministerial  Conference to work towards keeping  development at 
the core of the WTO's  present and future work, through a bold and ambitious Ministerial Declaration 
that should crown our work, in order to promote inclusive trade, to ensure  development for all.  
Geneva should give fresh  impetus to strengthen ing the primacy of the multilateral trading system, 
the central  role of development in its rules , and the governance of the WTO by its Members.  
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