./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/ST/71
12 September 2003
(03-4831)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth SessionCancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  Spanish
NICARAGUA
Statement by H.E. Mr José Agusto Navarro
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Affairs
I should like, on behalf of the people and Government of Nicaragua and President Enrique
Bolaños Geyer, to thank the host country, the Un ited Mexican States and its authorities, for the
hospitality extended to our delegations and for the excellent organization of this Conference.
I should also like to express our gratitude to the Director-General, Mr Supachai Panitchpakdi,
and the Deputy Director-Generals, as well as His Excellency Ambassador Carlos Pérez del Castillo,
Chairman of the General Council, and the Ambassadors who supported him in the arduous
preparatory process.
The Doha Development Agenda acknowledges the contribution of the multilateral trading
system to economic growth and job creation, but emphasizes the need for it to contribute to the
recovery and growth of the developing countries.
In this context, Nicaragua is concerned to see that the level of compliance with the Doha
mandates and particularly the importance assigned to the development dimension are not reflected in
the results thus far.  Many of the areas of greatest interest to developing countries are not included in
the draft text we have before us.
We nonetheless recognize the efforts made by all Members to arrive at convergences and
stand ready to work positively to arrive at consensus and produce results satisfactory to all parties.
The decisions we adopt must maintain at least th e level of commitment reached in Doha, for which
reason special and differential treatment will have to form a fundamental part of each of the decisionstaken and it must be guaranteed to be precise, effective and operational.
Agriculture lies at the core of these negotiations and it is for my country one of the issues of
greatest concern.  Nicaragua's economy and trade depend largely on agriculture and so we call for
early and ambitious deadlines for the removal of trade-distorting export subsidies and domesticsupport.  Similarly, we hope to reach agreements on tariff cuts to energize world-wide agricultural
trade, with particular attention to reductions that will substantially improve access for products of
interest to developing countries.
The effects of the higher subsidies given by the developed countries for their agricultural
production are ever more crushing for the developing countries.  Any plan, strategy or effort we make
to overcome poverty is impaired by the applicati on of such measures.  Our products cannot compete
on an international market where the competing agents are on an uneven playing field.  Accordingly,
consensus on the modalities for negotiations must, in Nicaragua's opinion, be reached by the end of
this year so that concrete steps can be taken on this essential subject.WT/MIN(03)/ST/71
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My country considers that the special and differential treatment clauses contained in the
Chairman's text do not properly reflect food security and rural development concerns.  It is
inconceivable for our country to move ahead on th e path of liberalization without including basic
elements such as strategic products, differential concessions and a safeguard mechanism for
developing countries.  This is all essential to arrive at balance and equity in these negotiations, wherethe overall level of ambition is considerably higher than in the Uruguay Round.
Similarly, convergence is needed in regard to the modalities for non-agricultural products.
Nicaragua started to open up its trade in the 1990s.  We now have one of the lowest average tariffs in
Latin America, barely higher than 5 per cent and comparable to that of many developed countries.
The social cost of the adjustment has been high and we therefore need the policies of international
bodies to be consistent and to be directed at bringing our countries out of poverty.  Small, highlyindebted countries like ours must receive treatment that is in keeping with their development needs
and with the real macroeconomic situation.  My delegation expressed this need in Doha and we are
grateful for the proposals that have been submitted in the meanwhile, particularly the one on special
treatment for IDA-only countries.  Accordingly, under the terms of paragraph 5 of the Doha
Ministerial Declaration we call for such treatment to be part of the results of this MinisterialConference.
Public health is a matter of prime importance for Nicaragua.  The will displayed by the TRIPS
Council in the Decision of 30 August 2003 is gratifying, but we believe that the matter deserves more
forceful answers and therefore deem it necessary to carry on working to find a permanent, predictableand legally binding solution.
In regard to services, we look appreciatively on the progress made in the negotiations and the
inclusive process in which it has developed.  Nevertheless, despite my country's efforts, we do not see
in the offers made so far any significant opening up for sectors of interest to Nicaragua, particularlywith regard to mode 4 and tourism.  We hope that substantial improvements will be made in offers so
as to bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion.  The horizontal issues in services must go
hand in hand with the negotiating subjects in order to arrive at a balance.
One prerequisite for effective negotiations on the Singapore Issues is to obtain technical and
financial cooperation to create the capacity for us to implement the commitments that might stem
from these negotiations, particularly in regard to trade facilitation.
We acknowledge the laudable work done by the respective Working Groups, Councils and
Committees on rules, TRIPS, trade and the environment and dispute settlement.  Nicaragua considers
that the work by these subsidiary bodies must continue, in accordance with the terms of the Doha
Ministerial Declaration.  Nicaragua takes the view that such work should be completed by the SixthMinisterial Conference at the latest.
Before concluding, I welcome the new WTO Members, whose accession confirms the
decision of countries to strengthen the multilateral trading system.
We have an arduous and important task ahead.  Nicaragua is still ready to work positively so
that by the end of this Fifth Ministerial Conference we will secure concrete results and turn the wishes
of Secretary-General Kofi Annan into a reality, namely the wish that the principles of justice and
equity in international trade stop being nothing more than empty words.
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