RESTRICTED  
  
WT/MIN(22)/SR/1  
 
3 March  2023 
(23-1468) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 202 2   
 
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE OPENING SESSION  
HELD AT THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD  
SUNDAY, 12 JUNE 2022 AT 3.00 P.M.  
Chairperson: H is Excellency H.E. Timur Suleimenov (Kazakhstan)  
Subjects discussed : 
 
1   OPENING REMARKS  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 1 
1.1   Welcoming Remarks by the Chair  ................................ ................................ ................  1 
1.2   Address by the Director -General  ................................ ................................ .................  2 
1.3   Address by the Chair of the General Council  ................................ ................................ .. 2 
2   ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  ................................ ................................ .....................  2 
 
1  OPENING REMARKS  
1.1  Welcoming Remarks by the Chair  
1.1.  The Chair welcomed everyone  to the Twelfth  Session of the Ministerial Conference of the WTO. 
He noted that WTO Ministers and Heads of Delegation had last met almost half a decade ago. A lot 
had happened since then. The world, the multilateral trading system and the WTO had faced 
unprecedented chal lenges. They were currently living in a once -in-a-generational period that 
demanded collective action from all of them. In this regard, MC12 presented a unique opportunity 
for the WTO to make this happen. Over the next three days, the world's eyes were on the WTO. 
Members had a chance to address some of the major challenges facing their global economy and, 
as a corollary, lives and livelihoods the world over.  
1.2.  More than two years ago, they had all been struck by an unprecedented health crisis which had 
caused the death of more than 6.3 million people worldwide. He wanted to thank all WTO Members 
– especially the delegates in Geneva – for their tireless engagement in advancing the work on the 
WTO Response to the COVID -19 Pandemic, including the TRIPS Waiver, and preparedness for future 
ones. His heartfelt thanks also went to the Director -General for her work with various stakeholders 
and international  organizations. His deepest thanks also went to the General Council Chair, the TRIPS 
Council Chair and the Faci litator on the pandemic response for their leadership and engagement in 
this endeavour. Addressing the pandemic was an issue of utmost priority – both regarding 
intellectual property and trade -related aspects. On top of disastrous human consequences across  
the globe, the pandemic had also struck trade in goods and services with -8 percent and -21 percent 
respectively in 2020 compared to 2021. Should WTO Members agree on a COVID -19 Response 
framework at this Conference, whenever the next pandemic would come,  their collective attention 
would be entirely focused on saving lives.  
1.3.  But as the world continued to recover from the negative effects of a global pandemic, it was 
faced with another crisis – ongoing, unsettling and worsening food insecurity. Families acr oss the 
globe experience d food shortages and were faced with the rising prices of staple food commodities. WT/MIN(22)/SR/1  
 
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  Hunger was on the rise.  In 2020, between 720 and 811 million people had faced hunger. If Members  
did not do anything, the ongoing geopolitical situat ion was likely to further exacerbate the situation 
and affect millions more men, women and children. It was the WTO's  responsibility to deliver 
meaningful results to help address this issue.  As WTO Members, they had a duty to foster predictable 
internation al markets and to raise the prospect for a global economy – and recovery – that was 
sustainable, inclusive and resilient to such shocks.  
1.4.  In order for Members  to make the WTO become more responsive to the challenges the world 
faced, including the two global  emergencies in front of them, they needed to strengthen this 
organization by making it more resilient and future ready.  Ensuring that the multilateral negotiating 
instrument remain ed fully functioning was critical – especially for the most vulnerable amongst them 
who rel ied on the WTO to have their voices heard on trade -related matters.  To begin with, over the 
coming days, he would be counting on Members'  good will and flexibility to build the necessary 
convergence to achieve credible outcomes on agriculture and on fisheries subsidies, as well as on 
the number of other issues for their consideration.  During the  week, Members  had an opportunity 
to provide both guidance and impetus on how agriculture negotiat ions w ould be carried forward in 
Geneva in the coming years. They also ha d an opportunity to finally curb harmful fisheries subsidies 
through a balanced package, taking into consideration a core principle of this house: special and 
differential treatment.  
1.5.  Members  likewise owed the world a Declaration that capture d their collective resolve and 
commitment to their future work. It ha d been close to a decade since Ministers had agreed on a 
multilateral Ministerial Declaration. He called on Members  not to deprive this organization of the 
Ministerial guidance that it genuinely need ed – particularly during these difficult times.  Outstanding 
work ha d been done in Geneva to prepare a draft outcome document for MC12, to provide ministerial 
guidance on a number of mat ters. He appreciate d the tireless efforts by the General Council Chair 
and his predecessor, as well as the positive engagement by Members. He underst ood that several 
issues remain ed to be addressed – and he urged all Members  to exercise the necessary flexi bility 
and political will to get this job done.  In this regard, one paramount issue in the document was 
Reform. All WTO Members agree d on the importance of effecting meaningful reforms to strengthen 
the functioning of this organization. They had a chance t o set the stage for future work on WTO 
reform, to make it fit -for-purpose. He urged them  to seize this opportunity – now. 
1.6.  The task at hand was clear. There were many issues on the table, and they had very little time 
ahead of them to address them. He assured the Ministerial Conference that the  Director -General, 
the General Council Chair and he were there for them every step of the way.  Kazakhstan was a firm 
believer in the multilateral trading  system, in the WTO, and in their collec tive drive and ability to 
deliver. With this in mind, he looked forward to working with the Director -General, the General 
Council Chair and all Ministers. Throughout this work, they could count on his unwavering support 
and determination. As the Chair of M C12, he would spare no effort in helping to bridge gaps to 
secure a meaningful Ministerial Conference.  Recalling the broader objective of improving living 
standards globally, he called on the Ministerial Conference to roll up their sleeves and get to work,  
together.  
1.2  Address by the Director -General  
1.7.  The Director -General  delivered h er address (WT/MIN( 22)/19). 
1.3  Address by the Chair of the General Council  
1.8.  The Chair of the General Council  delivered his address (WT/MIN(22)/20).  
2  ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
2.1.  The Chair proposed that Members proceeded with the adoption of the agenda of the 12th 
Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference. In line with the Rules of Procedure for the Ministerial 
Conference, the Agenda had been circulated on 6 May in document WT/MIN(22)/ W/1. The modalities 
for the Conference were further clarified in document WT/MIN(22)/INF/9. The Agenda contained 
four items:  WT/MIN(22)/SR/1  
 
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  a. Item 1: "Overview of WTO Activities". Under this item, general statements were 
traditionally made during the Plenary Session. Howe ver, in line with the view of Members 
to structure this conference in a business -like and streamlined format, and in order to 
effectively and urgently respond to the challenges faced by the world and the WTO, general 
statements had been pre -recorded. Thus,  general statements would be available on the 
WTO website, as well as streamed in several locations throughout the WTO building during 
the Conference . 
b. Item 2: "Action by Ministers", relate d to any decisions or actions that the Ministerial 
Conference deem ed appropriate and w ould normally be taken up at the Closing Session of 
the Conference. To prepare the finalization of such action, several informal sessions w ould 
be convened from 13 to 15 June.  
c. Items 3 and 4 concern ed the date and venue as well as the elec tion of officers for MC13 
respectively and w ould be taken up at the Closing Session of the Conference. In line with 
past practice, Ministers and Heads of Delegation w ould mandate the General Council to 
take up these agenda items after the Conference.  
2.2.  The Ministerial Conference adopted  the agenda (WT/MIN(22)/W/1).  
2.3.  The meeting adjourned  at 4:00 P.M.  
 
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