. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/ST/57
11 November 2001
(01-5660)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth SessionDoha, 9 - 13 November 2001Original:  English
NETHERLANDS
Statement by H.E. Mr Gerrit Ybema
Minister for Foreign Trade
The Netherlands is built on foreign trade, that is why we like the WTO.  Also, the
Netherlands has always championed a strong international legal order.  To protect the weak against
the strong and to provide justice for all.  That is why we need the WTO.
We have come to the hospitable city of Doha with great enthusiasm and expectation.
We want the Fourth Ministerial Conference to launch a new round of negotiations,In the aftermath of 11 September there is a clear need for positive action.  New negotiations
to further liberalize trade in goods and services will boost confidence.  Confidence that may help us
avoid a deep recession, which would hurt the poorest countries most of all.
We also want to improve and strengthen the WTO.  For instance, we need balanced rules in
new areas to reflect ever changing economic realities.  We must also improve existing WTOdisciplines on anti-dumping,  This instrument is much too often abused for protectionist proposes.
We know that from our own experience as a victim of such unjustified measures.
We also need to expand WTO membership to make the Organization truly universal.
Therefore, I welcome the accession of China and of Chinese Taipei.
There are hesitations and reservations about a new round.  In particular with developing
countries.  They feel they did not get a fair deal out of previous trade rounds, I think they have a point.
Even though their share of world trade is increasing steadily, there is a clear need to improve theworld trade system.  We must ensure that it works to the benefit of all.  So let us make things better!
First of all we need to increase market access for products of particular interest to developing
countries.  These are not just hollow words.  We mean it!  Already five years ago in Singapore the
Netherlands advocated tariff-free and quota-free market access for the least-developed countries.
Since then we have not stopped our efforts.  We kept pushing until the European Union took thedecision to liberalize "everything but arms".  I now call on all other industrialized countries to follow
the EU's example!
Secondly, we need to ensure that developing countries are able to really participate in the
WTO's work.  They must be provided with training and other forms of technical assistance.  Again,
we mean it!  It is a disgrace that the WTO's regular budget does not provide adequate means fortechnical assistance and capacity-building.  This is a core function of the WTO.  A fair burden sharing
among Members is also important to the Netherlands.  But until Mike Moore's plea for an adequate
budget is honoured, we will continue to provide volu ntary support.  Just as we have done ever since
the Singapore Conference.WT/MIN(01)/ST/57
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A particular case of assistance concerns legal support in WTO dispute settlement.  This
cannot be provided by the WTO itself, because it must remain neutral.  But what good are
international rules, if only the rich have the means to secure access to justice?
Again, we mean it!  the Netherlands, together with Colombia, took the initiative to set up the
Advisory Centre for WTO Law.  Last month it became operational.  It provides developing countriesand countries in transition with affordable legal assistance and training.  I call upon all WTO
Members to join and support the Centre!
Thirdly, the WTO must recognize the different situations of its Members,  Therefore, special
and differential treatment for developing countries must be an integral part of the negotiations we
hope to launch here at Doha.  For the same reason we need a fair solution to the implementation
problems raised by developing countries.
Fourth,  trade policy cannot be pursued in isolation.  We need to interpret WTO rules in such
a way, that they do not create an obstacle to effective policy-making in other areas that are important
to all of us.  For example:  the protection of the environment, poverty reduction or public health.  TheDeclaration we pursue here in Doha concerning the relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and
access to medicines is just one example of what is needed in this respect.
As to the social dimension of trade, I agree with Alec Erwin that this is a complex, but
important issue and that we should not fear dialogue.
In the days to come, we will decide on success or failure, a decision with historic
consequences.  We cannot afford to fail.
We cannot afford a breakdown of the global economic dialogue.
We cannot afford a breakdown of the drive towards a truly multilateral trading system.Above all, we cannot fail the many millions in developing countries who have not been able
to really benefit from the growth of world trade.
 Failure is not an option!
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