WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(98)/ST/87
20May1998
ORGANIZATION(98-2090)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE Original: English
Second Session
Geneva, 18and20May1998
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Statement Circulated byH.E. Mr.Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib,
Minister ofIndustry andPrimary Resources
Onbehalf ofthedelegation ofBrunei Darussalam, Iwould liketocongratulate youonyour
election asChairman andthank you,theGovernment andthepeople ofSwitzerland forthewarm
hospitality accorded tousduring ourstayinGeneva. MayIalsocommend theDirector-General and
hisstafffortheir valuable contributions andwelcome theefforts toward thestrengthening ofthe
WTO Secretariat.
Ithasbeen fouryears since wemetinMarrakesh toconclude themost demanding ever
multilateral trade negotiations. AndwiththeFirst Ministerial Conference which wasconvened in
Singapore, wehaveatremendous work programme thatliesahead ofus.
Thisthenbegsthequestion: What areourpriorities?
Webelieve thattheimplementation oftheUruguay Round commitments should remain our
toppriority. Ifthegains aretoberealized, wemustensure thattheseAgreements arefullyandfaithfully
implemented.
Insodoing, werecognize thenumerous problems thathavetobeovercome. Themyriad
notificationandlegislationrequirements,amongstothers,imposeaheavyburdenonthelimitedresources
ofsmaller developing countries. They alsofacecostly andoften, peculiar structural adjustment
difficulties. Itwould indeed bemosthelpful ifmeasures suchas,butnotlimited to,technical assistance,
aregiven dueemphasis.
Now, letmeturntofuture activities. Ihavebeenlistening towhatcolleagues havebeensaying
inthepastfewdaysandIagree thatglobalization isnolonger amere abstract concept, butagrowing
reality, which hasmade thestructure oftheworld economy amore complex one. Itisalsogenerally
accepted thatthebestwayforward forcountries insuchasituation istocontinue withtheprocess
ofprogressive trade liberalization.
Thediscipline imposed bythemarket isnodoubt invaluable. Buttoensure thatallMember
countries benefit fromthis,itisimperative thatthedeveloping Member countries aregiven sufficient
timetodevelop theirowncapacity tocope.
Forthisreason, weshould berealistic inourexpectations. TheWTO 'sresources mustnot
besquandered oncontroversial andpotentially divisive issues. Wetherefore believe thatatthisjuncture,
itwould bepremature toadvance thework ontrade andinvestment, trade andcompetition policy,
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andtransparency ingovernment procurement beyond theeducative process asmandated byourFirst
Conference.
Specifically ontrade andenvironment, wehope thatconcerns fortheenvironment continue
tobeaddressed inamanner which doesnotundermine market access. Inthisregard, theCommittee
onTrade andEnvironment should continue toassess therelationship between trade provisions in
Multilateral Environmental Agreements andthemultilateral trading system.
Ontheissue ofelectronic commerce, weaccept thattechnological progress hasdramatically
changed themanner weconduct ourbusiness. However, before proceeding further, there isaneed
forustofullyunderstand allitsimplications. Weareprepared, nevertheless, togoalong withthe
proposed work programme.
Inallthis,wewould liketoreiterate ourcallthattheinterests ofdeveloping countries notbe
subordinated. Trade isafterall,ameans toanend. Nocountry should beleftonthemargins. The
greatest challenge before ustherefore, istoreconcile thediverse needs andaspirations ofallMembers.
Wewould alsoliketoreiterate ourfirmsupport fortheuniversality ofWTO membership.
Weurge thattheprocess ofaccession oftheapplicants, including some ASEAN members, be
expeditiously carried out.
Finally wewould liketowarmly welcome theoffer bytheUnited States tohostournext
conference. ThefactthattheUnited States ismaking thisgesture atthiscrucial juncture augurs well
forthefuture ofthemultilateral trading system.
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