WT/MIN(24)/ ST/53  
26 February 2024  
(24-1547) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth  Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: French  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MS KALTHOUM BEN REJEB EP GUEZZAH  
MINISTER OF TRADE AND EXPORT DEVELOPMENT  
TUNISIA  
I am honoured to take the floor at the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade 
Organization (WTO). On this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to 
His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi , Minister of State for F oreign Trade of the 
United  Arab Emirates and Chair of MC13, and my sincere thanks to the people and the fellow 
Government of the United Arab Emirates, for their hospitality and the excellent organization of this 
Conference.  
I also extend m y thanks and appr eciation  to the Director -General, Dr Ngozi  Okonjo -Iweala , for 
her dedication to and professionalism in holding and the success of MC13, while assuring her of our 
support in the performance of her tasks.  
First, let me congratulate Comoros and Timor -Leste on their accession to the WTO, which is a sign 
of the countries' renewed confidence in our Organization and in what it can deliver for its Members.  
Let me also underline the fundamental importance of multilateralism in the global trading system. 
Against a ba ckdrop  of increasing ly daunting  economic, security, social, environmental and 
geopolitical challenges, it is vital that we work together to promote open, fair, equitable and 
inclusive  trade.  
Tunisia firmly believes that the WTO, as the guardian of global t rade rules, must play a crucial role 
in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals in line with the United Nations 2030  Agenda.  
Tunisia thus reaffirms its commitment to a rules -based multilateral trading system, while recognizing 
the need for change and r eform to respond to current economic and political realities.  
As such, the industrialization policies of developing countries and LDCs must be made a priority topic 
in the work of the WTO , by enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of special and differential 
treatment to create the policy space that these countries need to achieve their industrialization 
objectives.  
At the same time , we attach great importance to the reform of the Agreeme nt on Agriculture, while 
avoiding unfair and inadequate rules that have exacerbated food insecurity in the world. As a net 
importer of food, Tunisia, like other developing countries and LDCs, faces major challenges related 
to growing food insecurity  which is causing acute vulnerability to recurrent crises.  
Furthermore, Tunisia firmly believes that a permanent solution to public stockholding for food 
security purposes, and fair and equitable outcomes on domestic support and the special safeguard 
mechanism fo r developing countries, will enable these countries to tackle the food security threats 
they face.  
In addition , we are resolved to adopt a strong and effective agreement on fisheries subsidies  at 
MC13 , thereby enabling the WTO to show that it can  contribut e to the conservation of fisher y 
resources to ensure their sustainability, in accordance with target  14.6 of the SDGs, while WT/MIN(24)/ ST/53  
 
- 2 - 
 
  recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment  for developing countries 
and LDCs is an integral part  of any outcome.  
Regarding the TRIPS Agreement, we regret that discussions have not led to a consensus on 
extending the MC12 Ministerial Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement to cover the production and 
supply of COVID -19 diagnostics and therapeutics.  
As such , Tunisia highlights the importance of innovation in global trade. We are convinced that the 
transfer and dissemination of technology is among the aims of the TRIPS Agreement. Therefore, we 
must ensure that access to technology is not limited to powerful e conomic actors alone, but that it 
is accessible to all, thereby helping to reduce inequalities among Members.  
Furthermore, we are committed to WTO reform, which should be based on the principles of 
development, inclusion and the preservation of the core principles of our Organization, such as 
decision -making by consensus, and the achievement of the outstanding objectives of the 
Doha Development Agenda.  
Tunisia calls for the restoration of a fully functional , two-tier dispute settlement system that is 
accessible to all Members and address es the concerns of developing countries, in order to restore 
confidence, securi ty and predictability to the heart of our Organization.  
MC13 should provide clear guidance on our future work and agree on robust programmes of work 
that take into account the different levels of development of Members by providing the necessary 
support to  developing countries and LDCs to increase their capacity to meet sustainable development 
needs.  
Tunisia remains open to any action and initiatives that would help to pave the way for a compromise 
on meaningful, balanced outcomes that are acceptable to all Members.  
In conclusion , I urge all Members to collaborate constructively in a spirit of solidarity during this 
Conference to overcome the challenges facing the global trading system, which should be the engine 
of inclusive growth and prosperity for all.  
__________