RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(98)/SR/2
10 June 1998
(98-2363)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Second Session
Geneva, 18 and 20 May 1998
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SECOND MEETING
Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,
on Wednesday, 20 May 1998, at 3 p.m.
Chairman:  Mr. Pascal Couchepin (Switzerland)
Subjects: 1. Action by Ministers (Agenda item 2)
2. Date and venue of the Third Session (Agenda item 3)
3. Election of Officers (Agenda item 4)
4. Closure of the Session
1. Action by Ministers
The CHAIRMAN drew attention to a draft Ministerial Declaration that had been made
available in WT/MIN(98)/DEC/W/1, and proposed that the Ministerial Conference adopt the
Declaration.
The Ministerial Conference adopted the Ministerial Declaration (WT/MIN(98)/DEC/1).
The CHAIRMAN then drew attention to a draft political declaration on global electronic
commerce that had been proposed by the United States, and circulated in WT/MIN(98)/W/2.
Intensive consultations had been held on this text by the Chairman of the General Council, and an
informal meeting of the General Council at the Heads of Delegations level had noted a consensus onthe text.  He proposed that the Ministerial Conference adopt the Declaration.
The Ministerial Conference adopted the Declaration on Global Electronic Commerce
(WT/MIN(98)/DEC/2).
Mr. ISHAQ DAR (Pakistan) said that the importance of electronic commerce was
considerable and that Pakistan was already engaged in a significant way in commerce overcyberspace.  Pakistan's burgeoning computer a nd software industry would enable it to further
participate in and benefit from electronic commerce.  However, Pakistan had had reservations both in
principle and in substance regarding the Declaration on Global Electronic Commerce just adopted.
Pakistan continued to have doubts regarding the fiscal and revenue implications of a standstill on
customs duties.  It would therefore seek independent economic analysis of this issue both nationallyand from relevant intergovernmental institutions, in particular UNCTAD.  Pakistan therefore reserved
the right to review its position in the light of these analyses.  Although Pakistan appreciated US
efforts in introducing this innovative idea, it would ha ve been preferable to take this initiative after a
thorough consideration and detailed study of its many complex aspects.  This would have avoided theWT/MIN(98)/SR/2
Page 2
doubts that still remained in the minds of many delegations.  Pakistan expected that the procedure of
adopting this Declaration would not establish a precedent for the inclusion of new issues on the
WTO's agenda in future.
The Ministerial Conference took note of the statement.
The Ministerial Conference then took note of the report of the General Council in
WT/MIN(98)/3 and Add.1.
2. Date and venue of the Third Session
The CHAIRMAN informed the Ministerial Conference that following discussions held on this
matter at its meeting on 17 May, the General Council had accepted and agreed to submit to the
Ministerial Conference an offer from the Government of the United States to host the Third Session.
He proposed that the Ministerial Conference formally agree to accept the offer from the United States,
and that the General Council be invited to determine the date and duration of the Third Session.
The Ministerial Conference so agreed.
3. Election of Officers
The CHAIRMAN recalled that the Rules of Procedure for sessions of the Ministerial
Conference (WT/L/161) provided for the election of a Chairperson and three Vice-Chairpersons to
hold office from the end of the present session until the end of the next regular session.  Followingconsultations  that had been held, he proposed the following:  First, that the United States, as the host
Government, hold the post of the Chair and, second, that Burkina Faso, Colombia and Pakistan hold
the posts of Vice-Chairs of the Ministerial Conference.
The Ministerial Conference so agreed.
4. Closure of the Session
The CHAIRMAN, in concluding remarks, said that the past three days had constituted an
outstanding event in various senses.  First, the Second Session of the Ministerial Conference had
permitted Ministers to discuss two essential issues:  the implementation of the WTO Agreement and
Ministerial Decisions, and the future activities of the WTO.  Second, world leaders had gathered in
Geneva to mark the jubilee of the multilateral trading system and to underline the contribution of thissystem to peace and prosperity.  As with the historic First Session of the Ministerial Conference in
Singapore in December 1996, this Session had confirmed the ever more universal character of the
WTO, which represented both an opportunity and a responsibility for all.  The statements in the
course of the working sessions had shown the importance all attached to the implementation of the
WTO agreements and the consolidation of the liberalization process resulting from the Uruguay
Round.  Members' deliberations on future activities had also been fruitful.  As a result of this session,
Members had decided to set into motion under the direction of the General Council a process forpreparing the decisions that would have to be taken at the Third Session of the Ministerial
Conference.
He believed that this Conference had also been an occasion to demonstrate the deep
commitment of all Members, and of those that wi shed to become Members, to the fundamental
principles of the multilateral trading system.  The commemoration of the 50th Anniversary had,moreover, allowed all to reaffirm that a genuinely multilateral trading system was essential for the
better management of the global economy.  In so doing, Members had demonstrated their politicalWT/MIN(98)/SR/2
Page 3
will to work together in order to face the present and future challenges.  He expressed his gratitude to
all for their efforts in helping to brin g about the success of this Conference.
Finally, he wished to thank the Chairman of th e General Council, who had presided over the
institution efficiently and with elegance, as well as the Director-General for his personal contribution
to the success of the Second Session and the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary.  He alsowished to thank the Secretariat as well as the interpreters for the considerable work they had
undertaken both before and during the Conference.
The DIRECTOR-GENERAL agreed with the Chairman that the past three days had been very
important in the life of the institution.  This ha d been the second successful Ministerial Conference in
two years' time, and proved that the institution was working efficiently.  There certainly were issues
on which delegations were divided.  It would be impossible for it to be otherwise, since this was an
organization in which there were least-developed, developing, transitional and advanced economies.However, it was clear that the interests that united Members were much stronger than the interests that
could divide them.  The WTO's achievements over the past three days were important achievements.
Members had launched a balanced process to prepare decisions for the next session of the Ministerial
Conference.  All options had been left open.  Members had also decided on the venue of the next
Session and had elected the officers that would hold office until the end of that Session.  Furthermore,the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the multilateral trading system on 19 May had been a
high-profile event with the participation of eminent leaders representing different regions of the world
and different ideas, but all committed to the success of the WTO.  Members had also agreed to launch
a broad work-programme on the trade-related aspects of electronic commerce and had declared their
intention to continue not imposing customs duties on electronic commerce.  In addition, all hadenjoyed the hospitality of the host government, Switzerland.  The Director-General then presented the
Chairman with the gavel used at the Conference.
The Ministerial Conference took note of the statements.
The Session of the Ministerial Conference closed at 3.45 p.m.WT/MIN(98)/SR/2
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ANNEX
The following statements were circulated at the Ministerial Conference.
I. MEMBERS
Argentina H.E. Mr. Guido Di Tella, WT/MIN(98)/ST/97
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
International Trade and Worship
Australia The Honourable Tim Fischer MP, WT/MIN(98)/ST/16
Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Trade
Austria H.E. Mr. H. Farnleitner, WT/MIN(98)/ST/12
Minister for Economic Affairs
Bahrain H.E. Mr. Ali Saleh Al-Saleh, WT/MIN(98)/ST/2
Minister of Commerce
Bangladesh Mr. Tofail Ahmed, WT/MIN(98)/ST/60
Minister for Commerce and Industry
Belgium Statement Circulated by the Delegation WT/MIN(98)/ST/100Bolivia D. Jorge Crespo Velasco, WT/MIN(98)/ST/19
Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment
Botswana The Honourable George Kgoroba, WT/MIN(98)/ST/110
Minister of Commerce and Industry
Brunei Darussalam H.E. Mr. Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib, WT/MIN(98)/ST/87
Minister of Industry and Primary Resources
Bulgaria Mr. Valentin Vasilev, WT/MIN(98)/ST/14
Minister of Trade and Tourism
Burkina Faso H.E. Mr. Youssouf Ouedraogo, WT/MIN(98)/ST/83
Ambassador at Brussels
Burundi H.E. Mr Grégoire Banyiyezako, WT/MIN(98)/ST/78
Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism
Cameroon Mr. Edmond Mosampea Mbio WT/MIN(98)/ST/99
Secretary of State for Industrial and
Trade Development
Canada The Honourable Sergio Marchi, WT/MIN(98)/ST/73
Minister for International TradeWT/MIN(98)/SR/2
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Chad H.E. Mr. Djitaingar Djibangar, WT/MIN(98)/ST/79
Minister for Industrial, Trade and
Crafts Development
Chile Mr. José Miguel Insulza, WT/MIN(98)/ST/35
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Colombia Dr. Carlos Ronderos Torres, WT/MIN(98)/ST/33
Minister of Foreign Trade
Costa Rica H. E. Mr. Samuel  Guzowski, WT/MIN(98)/ST/23
Minister for Trade and the Economy
Cyprus H.E. Mr. Nicos Rolandis, WT/MIN(98)/ST/7
Minister of Commerce, Industry
  and Tourism
Czech Republic H.E. Dr. Karel Kühnl, WT/MIN(98)/ST/86
Minister of Industry and Trade
Denmark Mr. Niels Helveg Petersen, WT/MIN(98)/ST/10
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Dominican H.E. Mr. Luis Manuel Bonetti Veras, WT/MIN(98)/ST/117
  Republic Secretary of State of Industry and Commerce
Ecuador H.E. Mr. Benigno Sotomayor Jaime, WT/MIN(98)/ST/31/Rev.1
Minister for Foreign Trade, Industrialization
and Fisheries and President of the Andean
Community of Nations
Egypt H.E. Dr. Ahmed A. Goueili, WT/MIN(98)/ST/66
Minister of Trade and Supply
El Salvador H.E. Mr. Victor Manual Lagos Pizzati WT/MIN(98)/ST/115
Ambassador, Permanent Representative
to the United Nations Office in Geneva
Commission of Sir Leon Brit tan Q.C., WT/MIN(98)/ST/76
the European Vice-President of the European
Communities Commission
Council of the Right Honourable Ma rgaret Beckett MP, WT/MIN(98)/ST/90
European President of the United Kingdom Board
Communities of Trade, on behalf of the Presidency of the
Council of the European Communities
Fiji Hon. Berenado Vunibobo, WT/MIN(98)/ST/89
Minister for Foreign Affairs and
External Trade
France Mr. Jacques Dondoux, WT/MIN(98)/ST/95
Secretary of State for Foreign TradeWT/MIN(98)/SR/2
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Germany H.E. Dr. Günter Rexrodt, WT/MIN(98)/ST/40
Federal Minister of Economics
Ghana The Hon. Mr. Dan Abodakpi, WT/MIN(98)/ST/112
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry
Greece H.E. Mr. A. Baltas, WT/MIN(98)/ST/65
Vice-Minister
Guatemala H.E. Mr. Juan Mauricio Wurmser WT/MIN(98)/ST/118
Minister for the Economy
Guyana The Hon. Michael Shree Chan, WT/MIN(98)/ST/94
Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry
Haiti H.E. Mr. Fresnel Germain, WT/MIN(98)/ST/85
Minister of Trade and Industry
Honduras H.E. Carlos H. Matute-Irías, WT/MIN(98)/ST/104
Ambassador, Permanent Representative
to the WTO in Geneva
Hong Kong, Mr. Chau Tak Hay, WT/MIN(98)/ST/47
  China Secretary for Trade and Industry
Hungary H.E. Dr. Szabolcs Fazakas, WT/MIN(98)/ST/26
Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism
Iceland Mr. Halldór Ásgrímsson, WT/MIN(98)/ST/58/Rev.1
Minister for Foreign Affairs and
External Trade
India Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde, WT/MIN(98)/ST/36
Minister of Commerce
Indonesia Mr. Mohammad Hasan, WT/MIN(98)/ST/50
Minister for Industry and Trade and Corr.1
Ireland Mr. Tom Kitt, WT/MIN(98)/ST/25
Minister for Trade
Israel Mr. Natan Sharansky, WT/MIN(98)/ST/103
Minister of Industry and Trade
Italy Prof. Augusto Fantozzi, WT/MIN(98)/ST/13
Minister of Foreign Trade
Jamaica The Honourable Seymour Mullings, WT/MIN(98)/ST/46
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ofForeign Affairs and Foreign TradeWT/MIN(98)/SR/2
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Japan Mr. Masahiko Koumura, WT/MIN(98)/ST/116
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Mr. Takehiko Endoh WT/MIN(98)/ST/116/Add.1
State Secretary for International
Trade and Industry
Kenya The Hon. J.J. Kamotho, EGH, MP, WT/MIN(98)/ST/43
Minister for Trade
Korea H.E. Mr. Han Duck-soo, WT/MIN(98)/ST/105
Minister of State for Trade
Kuwait H.E. Mr. Abdul Aziz Al-Dakhil, WT/MIN(98)/ST/3
Minister of Commerce and Industry
Liechtenstein H.E. Mr. Michael Ritter, WT/MIN(98)/ST/77
Minister for National Economy
Macau Mr. Vitor Rodrigues Pessoa, WT/MIN(98)/ST/8
Secretary for Economic Coordination
Malaysia The Honourable Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz, WT/MIN(98)/ST/92
Minister of International Trade and Industry
Maldives The Honourable Abdulla Yameen, MP, WT/MIN(98)/ST/88
Minister of Trade, Industries and Labour
Mali Mr. Harouna Niang WT/MIN(98)/ST/113
Secretary-General of the Ministry of
Industry, Trade and Crafts
Malta The Honourable Leo Brincat, WT/MIN(98)/ST/15/Rev.1
Minister of Finance and Commerce
Mauritius The Honourable Rajkeswur Purryag, WT/MIN(98)/ST/80
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Mexico Dr. Herminio Blanco Mendoza, WT/MIN(98)/ST/101
Minister for Trade and Industrial
Development
Mongolia H.E. Mr. R. Amajargal, WT/MIN(98)/ST/63
Minister for External Relations
Morocco Mr. Abderazzak El Mossadeq WT/MIN(98)/ST/107
Secretary General of the Ministry ofCommerce, Industry and Culture
Myanmar H.E. Major General Kyaw Than, WT/MIN(98)/ST/6
Minister for CommerceWT/MIN(98)/SR/2
Page 8
Namibia The Hon. Wilfried I. Emvula, WT/MIN(98)/ST/111
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry
Netherlands Mrs. Anneke Van Dok-Van Weele, WT/MIN(98)/ST/45
Minister for Foreign Trade
New Zealand The Honourable Lockwood Smith, WT/MIN(98)/ST/67
Minister for International Trade
Nicaragua Mrs. Azucena Castillo, WT/MIN(98)/ST/52
Junior Minister of the Economy
and Development
Niger H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Koussou, WT/MIN(98)/ST/61
Minister of Trade and Industry
Nigeria The Hon. Dr. Emmanuel O. Udogu, WT/MIN(98)/ST/38
Minister of Commerce and Tourism
Norway Mr. Knut Vollebæk, WT/MIN(98)/ST/75
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Pakistan Mr M. Ishaq Dar, WT/MIN(98)/ST/48
Minister of Commerce
Peru H.E. Mr. Gustavo Caillaux, WT/MIN(98)/ST/18
Minister for Industry, Tourism,
Integration, and International
Trade Negotiations
Philippines H.E. Mr. Cesar B. Bautista, WT/MIN(98)/ST/11
Secretary of Trade and Industry
Poland Mr. Janusz Steinhoff, WT/MIN(98)/ST/109
Minister of Economy
Portugal H.E. Mr. Francisco Seixas Da Costa, WT/MIN(98)/ST/106
Secretary of State for European Affairs
Romania Mr. Liviu Hagea, WT/MIN(98)/ST/22
Secretary of State, Ministry of
Industry and Trade
Singapore H.E. Mr. Lee Yock Suan, WT/MIN(98)/ST/37/Rev.1
Minister for Trade and Industry
Slovak Republic Mr. Ján Foltín, WT/MIN(98)/ST/29
State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy
Slovenia Dr. Marjan Senjur, WT/MIN(98)/ST/24
Minister for Economic Relations
and DevelopmentWT/MIN(98)/SR/2
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Solomon Islands The Hon. Daniel Enele Kwainairara, WT/MIN(98)/ST/93
Minister for Commerce and Trade
Spain H.E. Mr. Raimundo Pérez-Hernández y Torra WT/MIN(98)/ST/34
Ambassador, Permanent Representative
to the United Nations in Geneva
Sweden H.E. Mr. Leif Pagrotsky, WT/MIN(98)/ST/102
Minister for Trade
Switzerland Mr. Franz Blankart, WT/MIN(98)/ST/32
Secretary of State,
Federal Office of External Economic Affairs
Tanzania Hon. K.A. Mussa, WT/MIN(98)/ST/96
Minister of Trade, Industries andMarketing, on behalf of the Southern
African Development Community
(SADC) Member Countries
Thailand H. E. Dr. Supachai Panitchapakdi, WT/MIN(98)/ST/71/Rev.2
Deputy Prime Minister andMinister of Commerce
Turkey Dr. Iÿin Çelebi, WT/MIN(98)/ST/39 and
Minister of State Corr.1
Uganda The Hon. H.M. Kajura, WT/MIN(98)/ST/114
Minister of Trade and Industry
United Kingdom Right Honourable Margaret Beckett MP, WT/MIN(98)/ST/119
President of the Board of Trade
United States Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, WT/MIN(98)/ST/57
Trade Representative
Uruguay Dr. Didier Opertti, WT/MIN(98)/ST/30
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Venezuela Dr. Hector Maldonado Lira, WT/MIN(98)/ST/53
Minister of Industry and Trade
Zambia The Hon. Syamukayumbu Syamujaye, WT/MIN(98)/ST/82
Minister of Mines and Minerals
Development
Zimbabwe The Hon. N.M. Shamuyarira, WT/MIN(98)/ST/17
Minister of Industry and CommerceWT/MIN(98)/SR/2
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Asia Pacific The Honourable Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz, WT/MIN(98)/ST/1
Economic Minister of International Trade and Industry
Cooperation of Malaysia, on behalf of Ministers responsible
Forum for Trade from the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation Forum
ASEAN Circulated by ASEAN WT/MIN(98)/ST/108
and Corr.1
International Ministers of Members of the WT/MIN(98)/ST/21
Textiles and International Textiles and Clothing Bureau
Clothing Bureau
Least-Developed Ministers of the Least-Developed Countries WT/MIN(98)/ST/91
Countries
Organization of Joint Statement by Ministers of Trade WT/MIN(98)/ST/72
African Unity/
African Economic
Community
SAARC Commerce Ministers WT/MIN(98)/ST/49
II. OBSERVER GOVERNMENTS
Belarus H.E. Mr. Mikhail A. Marinich, WT/MIN(98)/ST/70
  (Observer) Minister of Foreign Economic Relations
Croatia H.E. Mr. Nenad Porges, WT/MIN(98)/ST/4
  (Observer) Minister of Economy
Estonia Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, WT/MIN(98)/ST/56
  (Observer) Minister for Foreign Affairs
Georgia Mr. Konstantin Zaldastanishvili, WT/MIN(98)/ST/44/Rev.1
  (Observer) Minister of Trade and Foreign
  Economic Relations
Holy See Mgr. Celestino Migliore, WT/MIN(98)/ST/27
  (Observer) Under-Secretary for Relations with States
Kazakstan Mr. Kasymzhomart K. Tokayev, WT/MIN(98)/ST/42
  (Observer) Minister of Foreign Affairs
Latvia Mr. Valdis Birkavs, WT/MIN(98)/ST/28
  (Observer) Minister for Foreign Affairs
Lithuania Mr. A. Rimkÿnas, WT/MIN(98)/ST/84
  (Observer) Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs
Nepal The Hon.Chiranjibi Wagle, WT/MIN(98)/ST/51
  (Observer) Minister for CommerceWT/MIN(98)/SR/2
Page 11
Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Karastin, WT/MIN(98)/ST/59
  (Observer) Deputy Minister for External Economic
Relations and Trade
Saudi Arabia H.E. Mr. Osama J. Faqeeh, WT/MIN(98)/ST/54
  (Observer) Minister of Commerce
Separate Customs Dr. Chih-kang Wang, WT/MIN(98)/ST/98
Territory of Minister of Economic Affairs
Taiwan, Penghu,
Kinmen and Matsu
  (Observer)
Sudan H.E. Ahmed Eltigani Salih WT/MIN(98)/ST/68
  (Observer)
Ukraine Mr. Sergly G. Osyka, WT/MIN(98)/ST/62
   (Observer) Minister for Foreign Economic
Relations and Trade
Viet Nam H.E. Mr. Truong Dinh Tuyen, WT/MIN(98)/ST/64
  (Observer) Minister of Trade
III. OBSERVER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Common Market The Honourable Enoch Kavindele, WT/MIN(98)/ST/74
for Eastern and Chairman of the Council of Ministers
Southern Africa
  (Observer)
European Bank Hans Peter Lankes, WT/MIN(98)/ST/69
for Reconstruction Director, Transition Strategy
and Development
  (Observer)
Food and Mr. Hartwig de Haen, WT/MIN(98)/ST/81
Agriculture Assistant Director-General, Economic
Organization and Social Department
  (Observer)
South Centre Mr. Branislav Gosovic WT/MIN(98)/ST/20/Rev.1
  (Observer)
World Bank Mr. Masood Ahmed WT/MIN(98)/ST/9
  (Observer) Vice-President and Head of the Poverty
Reduction and Economic Management
Network
World Customs Mr. James W. Shaver, WT/MIN(98)/ST/5
Organization Secretary General
  (Observer)WT/MIN(98)/SR/2
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World Dr. Kamil Idris, WT/MIN(98)/ST/55
Intellectual Director-General
Property
Organization
  (Observer)
IV. OTHER
United Nations H.E. Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko, WT/MIN(98)/ST/41
 General Assembly President of the 52nd Session of the
UN General Assembly
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