WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/71
11December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5237)
Original: French MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
ROMANIA
Statement byH.E. Mr.Mihai Berinde
Secretary ofState, Ministry ofTrade
Asyouareaware, since theestablishment oftheWTO on1January 1995, themultilateral
trading system hashadapermanent structure thatiscertainly stronger thanitspredecessor, theGATT.
Thesignatories totheAgreement Establishing theWTO havethusrealized oneofthemost
important institutional aspirations ofinternational economic cooperation.
Aswemeettomake afirstassessment ofthenewOrganization, Romania joinsthefamily of
WTO Members inrenewing andreinforcing itsdecision toimplement theresults oftheUruguay Round
andreaffirms itspolitical willtocontinue thebroad process ofnegotiation aimed atestablishing an
openandflexible rule-based multilateral trading system.
ThisConference isofparticular significance. Itisthefirstinaseries ofministerial meetings
provided forbytheWTO Agreement. Butwhat ismore important isthefactthatitgives usan
opportunity toensure thatnational policies areinlinewithmultilateral rules anddisciplines. Inso
doing, weshallbecontributing tothestrengthening ofthelegalframework foropenandbalanced trade,
arealfactor forprogress andsustainable development, confidence andstability throughout theworld.
TheSingapore Conference hasbecome apoint ofreference forallWTO activity andthefuture
towards which theOrganization ismoving. TheMinisterial Conference should recognize thepositive
results ofthefirsttwoyears oftheWTO 'sexistence andtheefforts itsMembers havemade tofulfil
theirobligations. Atthesametime, itshould identify certain objective difficulties which haveemerged
during thisprocess andencourage Members toadopt appropriate technical assistance measures. It
should alsoconfirm theWork Programme andestablish future objectives fortheWTO.
Romania keenly appreciates thevalue andimportance oftheWTO, which brings together the
participantsininternationaltrade,betheylarge,mediumorsmall,developed,intransitionordeveloping.
Romania 'spursuit ofintegration intothemultilateral trading system hasnotbeen easy,
considering thatthecountry faces adualprocess ofreform: domestic transition andstructural
transformationtoamarketeconomy,andintegrationintoamultilateralsystemofstricterandconsiderably
more detailed rules anddisciplines.
Themostrecent developments inthepolitical lifeofmycountry willleadtotheacceleration
ofthereform process andwillrequire anevengreater effort.
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InitsattempttoapplytheWTOAgreement,Romaniahaspaidparticularattentiontothequestion
ofcompatibility between domestic legislation andtrade policy measures andtheprovisions ofthe
Agreement. Positive results havebeenachieved intheareas ofrules, intellectual property rights,
transparency andnotifications.
Commitments onmarket access forgoods andservices havebeenapplied inaccordance with
agreed timetables. Weareopen toparticipation innewmultilateral negotiations aimed atbroader
liberalization, inwhich ourinterests andactual possibilities aretaken intoaccount. Thus, weare
continuing tostudy inafavourable lightthepossibility ofactively participating inthenegotiations on
services, including basic telecommunications.
Atthesame time, Romania willsupport theimplementation oftheWork Programme under
theWTO Agreement andcontribute tothelasting consolidation ofthemultilateral trading system.
Wewelcome therecent establishment oftheCommittee onRegional Trade Agreements and
itsWork Programme. Asyouknow, Romania lieswithin aregion where suchagreements have
developed significantly inrecent years, inresponse toregional andinternational trade liberalization.
From itsownexperience, Romania canaffirm thatregionalism hasalready shown thatitcanplaya
positive roleintrade liberalization andinthecreation ofnewtrading opportunities forallMembers
oftheWTO.Regionalismandmultilateralism-farfromworkingagainsteachother-arecomplementary
andmutually reinforcing.
Withregard tonewissues, Romania attaches great importance tothebeginning ofadialogue
oninvestment, competition, thesimplification oftrade procedures, transparency ofregulations and
procurement practices. These newelements willfacilitate thegradual opening upoftheWTO system
toareas which, inouropinion, areclosely linked totrade andwhich willenable theWTO todevelop
andreinforce itsroleintheworld economy.
Wearedetermined tosupport efforts aimed atexpanding theWTO andwefavour theaccession
ofnewmember countries, being convinced thatthisprocess willhaveapositive impact ontherule-based
multilateral trading system.
Thepoints which Ihavemade illustrate Romania 'sdesire tomake acontribution tothegrowth
andsmooth development ofthemultilateral trading system. Webelieve thatthedocuments submitted
forconsideration attheConference andtheresults ofthemeeting willgiveusaclear ideaofthe
achievements oftheWTO andthefuture ofourOrganization inthenextcentury, when itwillplay
avaluable roleofgreat political andeconomic significance.
Inconclusion, Iwould liketotaketheopportunity tocongratulate you,Mr.Chairman, and
theother Officers onyourelection.
Iwould alsoliketoexpress thegratitude ofmydelegation fortheeffort thehostcountry has
made towards thepreparation andsuccess oftheConference, aswellasforthewarmth ofourwelcome.
Last, butbynomeans least, Iwould liketothank theDirector-General oftheWTO,
Mr.Renato Ruggiero, andtheSecretariat, whose unfailing competence, devotion andreadiness toassist
inGeneva andhereinSingapore haveensured suchexcellent arrangements forthisConference.