WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/ST/121
13 September 2003
(03-4918)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth Session
Cancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  English
DENMARK
Statement by H.E. Dr Per Stig Møller
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Speaking on behalf of the Kingdom of Denmark including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, I
would like to thank the Government of Mexico a nd the city of Cancún for hosting this Conference.
My appreciations also go to you Mr Chairman, to the Director-General of the WTO, and to theChairman of the General Council.
The global economy needs a successful round of trade negotiations.  Here in Cancún, we must
pave the way for progress in the Round.  We have a historic opportunity to set the pace for a
comprehensive outcome to the Round.  That will not only help create free and fair trade.  A successfulmeeting will be crucial to the ongoing efforts to restore confidence and to boost economic growth.  It
provides an opportunity of integrating developing countries in the world economy.  And – not least –
it will strengthen the WTO as one of the cornerstones of the international political scene.  If we
succeed we will contribute to a more powerful a nd stable world based on multilaterally agreed rules.
In theory, our task is simple.  Two hundred years ago David Ricardo introduced his theory of
comparative advantage.  In practice, the task is more complicated.  It is not just a question ofharvesting the advantages to the detriment of others.  The challenge is two-sided.  We need to
cooperate to maximize benefits.  And we need to ensure that benefits are distributed in a manner that
suits all parties and interests.
I am sure you have all had the following expe rience.  You are watching an exciting football
game.  But in spite of nice and comfortable seats the persons in front of you constantly get on their
feet to improve their view.  As a result you loose your view which means that you now rise up and
spoil the view for other spectators.  In the end, everybody is left standing.  Due to lack of cooperation,
no one is able to enjoy both the comfortable seats and the game.  Everybody is made worse off than
they could have been, because of the egotism of others.
John Nash received the Nobel Prize in economics for describing exactly this kind of
inefficiency.  At this Ministerial we have a responsibility for not falling into this trap.
Our will to compromise will establish the only way forward.Developing countries should be given real opportunities for eliminating poverty and
improving living conditions of their citizens.  In th is respect trade is a key instrument.  Developing
countries should have as unrestrained access to our markets as possible.  Moreover, we as donors
must be ready to support developing countries in their efforts to capture new markets and strengthen
their foothold on existing ones.  In this context the necessity of translating trading opportunities into
actual trade and to growth and development should be underlined.  For many developing countries aidWT/MIN(03)/ST/121
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and assistance is necessary in order for them to reap the benefits of tariff reductions and trade
concessions.
The Danish Government has adopted a strategy that spells out how Denmark will support
developing countries in their efforts to capture the be nefits of trade.  The overall ambition is to ensure
that international trade regimes and development c ooperation supplement each other in this respect.
To move the trade and development agenda forward, we hosted a meeting in Copenhagen in May;
US$8 million were pledged for the Integrated Framework of Trade-related Assistance to the Least-
Developed Countries.
Developing countries should also be prepared to market openings themselves and generally
pursue policies that enhance their trade potential and ability to make sure that the gains benefiteveryone.  Big gains are to be expected, not le ast from "South/South" trade.  Isolation and
protectionism is not the way forward.  History speaks for itself on this matter.
For the least-developed countries, a special effort should be made.  All countries with
developed economies should follow the example set by the EU and grant full market access to the
least-developed countries.  In this process the special needs and concerns of small economies should
be taken into account.  We must give special consideration to their particularly vulnerable situation.
Speaking of particularly vulnerable, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome the
agreement on access to medicine.  This agreement is a milestone in the WTO.  First and mostimportant it will literally mean the difference between life and death for thousands of people.  At the
same time, it carries the strong message of making globalization work for the poor.
Denmark is generally in favour of liberalizing trade.  This goes for all products – however
sensitive they might be.
Agricultural products most certainly belong to this category.  Trade-distorting subsidies must
be eliminated to the extent possible.  It is possibl e to do so – also when taking into consideration the
different needs of different countries.  Some – like the EU – pay special attention to environmental
issues and animal welfare.  Others – in particular developing countries – have a need to preserve and
protect large rural populations and their agricultural pr oduction.  It is important that we strike the right
balance in a global solution.
Also trade in industrial products trade should be liberalized.  Tariffs should be eliminated;
non-tariff barriers removed, and unnecessary and burdensome procedures be simplified.
Liberalization of trade in fish products is important, and of course of particular importance for the
Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Products of special interest to developing countries need specific attention.  This goes in
particular for textiles and other products where developing countries have particular advantages.
Let me also mention services as a sector, with a lot of scope for progress – although we have
to proceed with respect for countries' right to regulate and ensure sectors such as education and health.
In addition to liberalizing trade, we strongly favour a set of multilateral rules in the WTO.Rules that all countries have to follow – large as well as small, rich as well as poor.  This is
the best way of making globalization work for all.  It is a means of creating a better and more
predictable world.  This is one important reason why we should include the so-called Singapore Issues
in the negotiations.  Through better rules for investments and competition, the developing world
surely will get more investments and more jobs.WT/MIN(03)/ST/121
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Liberalizing trade should go hand in hand with sustainable development.  Promoting the
environment does not mean creating barriers to trade.  The combination of more trade and a better
environment should be high on our agenda.
With regard to the social dimension of globalization, Denmark would like to see a
strengthened cooperation between the WTO and the ILO.  Although the social dimension of
globalization is not part of our agenda, it is an important dimension that must be borne in mind.
Also I should like to mention the objective of transparency.  We need openness in trade
policy.  This applies to the WTO as well as to Member States.  Openness and public involvement are
necessary elements if we aim to mainta in support for global trade liberalization.
Finally, I would like to repeat my most sincer e hopes that this Ministerial Conference will
create the progress the world is waiting for.  The WTO should become a symbol of progress and new
opportunities for people in a more peaceful world.  This can only happen if we are all willing to
compromise and cooperate in a true global partnership where a fair and free market will be to the
advantage of all of us.
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