./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(99)/ST/2
30 November 1999
(99-5185)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Third Session
Seattle, 30 November - 3 December 1999Original:  French
SWITZERLAND
Statement by H.E. Mr. Pascal Couchepin
Federal Minister of the Economy
The Conference which has brought us together in Seattle today has come at a crucial time.
The far-reaching changes in international economic relations to which we responded by creating the
World Trade Organization (WTO), far from coming to a halt, have continued at a steady pace.  The
constraints resulting from the integration of global economic activities are exerting tremendouspressure on governments, enterprises and individuals and oblige them to make constant adjustments to
their policies, strategies and action.  The dividing line between national and international policy is
disappearing.  More than ever, governments are being called upon to carry out their responsibilities
jointly within a World Trade Organization adapted to modern economic and social realities.  An
Organization that is strong enough to ensure that these extraordinary developments take place in anorderly fashion, to the benefit of the people of all our countries.
An evaluation of the first five years of the WTO's existence shows both its strengths and its
weaknesses.
The Organization must be credited with the fact that the trading system managed to withstand
the recent international financial crisis, limit its negative effects and facilitate economic recovery inthe countries affected.  In general, the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism has functioned
satisfactorily and has fulfilled its task of underpinning the system.  Important negotiations on financial
services, telecommunications and information technology have come to a successful conclusion.
These strengths are the WTO's attraction, as shown by the many accession procedures currently under
way.  I take this opportunity to welcome those countries that have acceded to the WTO since the lastMinisterial Conference in Geneva:  the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic
of Estonia.
The WTO's first five years have also highlighted weaknesses which we must address.  I am
thinking in particular of the problem of integrating developing countries and countries in transition inthe global economy.  In this regard, I wish to emphasize that integration necessarily implies more
consistency between national and international econom ic policies in the commercial, financial and
monetary spheres.  Otherwise, development strategies will not meet with success.
Furthermore, the WTO Agreements do not currently cover areas closely linked to
international trade such as direct investment and competition.  Admittedly, some progress was made
when environmental issues were included in the Marrakesh Agreements, but it is not sufficient.
Consistency between WTO rules and environmenta l protection measures must be strengthened.
Lastly, the consensus in our societies in favour of an open trading system is being undermined
by concerns regarding the rapidity of structural changes and their impact on individuals and
communities.WT/MIN(99)/ST/2
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This situation calls for a clear, decisive response on our part:  we must continue the gradual
liberalization of trade, develop the accompanying regulatory framework, and promote consistent
global policies.
Switzerland is ready to undertake this task.  It  attaches special importance to the continued
liberalization of trade in services and industrial pr oducts.  It will contribute to the long-term process of
reforming trade in agricultural products based on Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture.
Naturally, the instruments and pace of reform will have to take full account of the multifunctional
nature of agriculture, respecting environmental, land-use planning and other non-trade-related
concerns.  Switzerland would also like to see the elaboration of rules on investment and competition
and include government procurement in a multilateral framework.
As to immediate action, sufficient financial resources should forthwith be included in the
WTO's regular budget to allow it to respond better to the technical cooperation needs of developing
countries.  Switzerland will also support any decision that substantially improves market access for
products from least-developed countries.  It endorses an extension of the moratorium on theimposition of customs duties on electronic commerce.  Switzerland is also in favour of clarifying the
dispute settlement procedures.
The WTO is presently the subject of unprecedented attention.  This should be welcomed.  But
it means intensifying the dialogue with the public and non-governmental organizations, if only toclarify the many misunderstandings surrounding the multilateral trading system.  This applies in
particular to the legitimate concerns of consumers and the relationship between core labour standards
and trade.  On this last point, Switzerland welcomes the outcome of the work carried out by the
International Labour Organization (ILO) since the Singapore Ministerial Conference.  Switzerland
supports significant strengthening and broadening of the collaboration between the ILO and the WTOin accordance with the commitment made in Singapore.
My delegation is pleased to cooperate actively over the next few days so as to make the
Seattle Conference a success.  This success will involve launching negotiations to fine-tune the
system established in Marrakesh, and to make further progress towards the opening up of markets and
the strengthening of our trade cooperation framework.
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