WT/MIN(24)/2  
 
18 January 2024  
(24-0365) Page: 1/6 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
 
LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY GROUP MINISTERIAL DECLARATION   
PRIORITIES AT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
10 January 2024  
The following communication, dated 1 2 January 2024, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Djibouti on behalf of the LDC Group . 
 
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We, the Ministers of the least developed country Members of the WTO, meeting on 10 January 2024, 
in preparation for the Thirteent h Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13), and to update 
LDC Group priorities at the WTO;  
 
Recalling  the commitments made by Ministers at previous WTO Ministerial Conferences since 
Marrakech in 1994, as well as by the international community at th e Fifth United Nations Conference 
on Least Developed Countries in Doha in 2023, to assist LDCs to secure beneficial and meaningful 
gains from the multilateral trading system and the global economy;  
 
Reaffirming  all of our least developed country (LDC) dec larations at the World Trade Organization 
(WTO), in particular, those made at the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in 2022 in 
Geneva;  
 
Recognizing  the role of the multilateral trading system and the WTO in terms of collective 
opportunities and possible solutions enabling LDCs and all Members to respond to all challenges they 
face; 
 
Emphasizing  strongly that development and special and differential t reatment for developing 
countries, in particular LDCs, must remain central for integration into, and the credibility and 
efficiency of, the multilateral trading system, with a view to promoting industrialization, economic 
diversification, reducing inequali ties and sustainable development, which become more pertinent in 
the aftermath of the COVID -19 pandemic;  
 
Mindful  of the need to address skill gaps and investment in technological development in LDCs for 
digital trade and innovation by LDCs;  
 
Recognizing  the WTO Working Group on Technology Transfer and noting the transformative role of 
the dissemination of technology to achieve a modern and technologically advanced industrial base 
in LDCs, which can be a catalyst in addressing multifaceted challenges to LDC  participation in the 
multilateral trading system such as food insecurity, pandemics, climate change, and unemployment;  
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  Hereby declare the following:  
 
LDC SPECIFIC PRIORITIES  
1  AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY  
1.1.  We reiterate the need for reform based on the Ag reement on Agriculture with priority given to 
issues related to food security, which are critical to promoting resilience in agriculture trade, and 
those for which mandates exist, such as trade distorting domestic support including cotton, the 
special safe guard mechanism, public stockholding, and refraining from imposition of export 
restrictions on food products purchased for food security purposes.  
1.2.  We consider that the report of the Coordinator of the Working Group on  food insecurity 
adequately reflects th e content of deliberations over recent months and the various proposals 
submitted by Members. We urge Members to continue discussions in the appropriate WTO bodies, 
such as the CoA -SS or the General Council or by extending the mandate of the Working Group under 
paragraph 8 of the Ministerial Declaration on the emergency response to food insecurity, to address 
the many issues remaining for consensus.  
1.3.  We recall the importance of fully implementing the commitments contained in the Nairobi 
Ministerial Decision  on cotton in all three pillars of market access, domestic support and export 
competition during the specific discussions on cotton. We call on Members to agree on the elimination 
of domestic support for cotton at MC13 according to the modalities proposed by the co -sponsors of 
the sectoral initiative in favour of cotton (C -4) (TN/AG/GEN/53  and TN/AG/SCC/GEN/25 ). 
1.4.  Therefore, we call upon Members to implement the MC12 Declaration on the Emergency 
Response to Food Insecurity and, given the critical necessity of food security in LDCs, to refrain from 
imposing export restrictions on food import s by LDCs and NFIDCs for domestic consumption.  In 
addition, special and differential treatment taking into account development and food security needs 
should result in exemption of LDCs from any reduction commitments in future negotiations.  
2  FISHERIES SUBS IDIES  
2.1.  We welcome the adoption of the WTO Agreement  on Fisheries Subsidies at the MC12 on 
17 June 2022, as a major step forward for ocean sustainability by prohibiting harmful fisheries 
subsidies.  
2.2.  We support the phase II multilateral negotiations on fisher ies subsidies on overfishing and 
overcapacity (OCOF), in accordance with the Doha and Hong Kong Ministerial mandates, SDG 14.6 
and the mandate for continued negotiations in the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies Ministerial 
Decision.  
2.3.  We draw the attenti on of Members to LDC Group submissions and contributions to the NGR 
Chair's texts.  For MC13, we encourage the Chair 's efforts to achieve an agreement that is balanced 
and proportionate to the responsibility of Members providing subsidies to overcapacity an d 
overfishing.  
2.4.  LDCs are not the contributors to overcapacity and overfishing. Therefore, we urge Members to 
give priority consideration to LDC text proposals submitted in the negotiations, which call in 
particular to limit the exclusion relating to the ma nagement of fisheries in the exclusive economic 
zone of the subsidizing Member. Appropriate special and differential treatment should include 
exemption of LDCs from the discipline and similar treatment for LDCs after graduation for a certain 
number of year s, full exclusion of artisanal and small -scale fishing. Any appropriate capacity building 
assistance should also be provided.  
2.5.  We welcome the new funding mechanism established to receive voluntary contributions from 
Members to help developing countries and  LDCs implement the Agreement. LDCs should be the main 
beneficiaries of this fund.  LDCs should also be well represented in the Steering Committee.   WT/MIN(24)/2  
 
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  3  DECISIONS ON GRADUATION  
3.1.  We recall the relevant paragraphs of UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 59/209 o f 
20 December  2004 on "Smooth transition strategy for countries graduating from the list of least 
developed countries" and relevant paragraphs of UNGA Resolution 67/221 of 21 December 2012 on 
"Smooth transition for countries graduating from the list of lea st developed countries".  
3.2.  At the Eleventh Ministerial Conference (MC11), we, the LDC Ministers called for positive 
actions  in favour of LDCs on graduation ( WT/MIN(17)/40 ). In this regard, we draw Ministers' 
attention to the proposals our Group made sin ce MC11: WT/GC/W/807 , WT/GC/W/829  and 
WT/GC/W/807/Rev.2 .  
3.3.  We emphasize the need for fresh support measures by the development partners targeted to 
LDCs after graduation to ensure smooth and sustainable transition.  
3.4.  We applaud the groundbreaking decision ( WT/L/1172 ) taken in the General Council on 
23 October 2023 to ad opt Annex 1 of the LDC Group proposal, concerning preferential market 
access. We also acknowledge, with appreciation that the General Council in July 2023 agreed to 
transmit, for review, Annex 2 of the proposal, regarding specific provisions in favour of L DCs in 
existing WTO agreements, to the LDC Subcommittee.  We urge Members to also take a positive 
decision on Annex 2 at the General Council ahead of MC13 in Abu Dhabi.  
3.5.  In addition, we emphasize the need for an outcome on our proposal submitted in 2018, 
contained in documents WT/GC/W/742  and G/C/W/752 , which are und er consideration by the 
General Council and the Council for Trade in Goods, with a view to correct a technical omission so 
that LDCs, currently listed in the Annex VII(a) of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures (ASCM), equally qualified a fter graduation, should retain the same rights as those 
developing countries listed under Annex VII(b).  
4  PARAGRAPH 8 MC12 OUTCOME DOCUMENT  
4.1.  We call attention to the instructions of Ministers in paragraph 8 of the MC12 Outcome 
Document, to report at the nex t session regarding specific work on LDC issues on services waiver, 
rules of origin, and duty -free and quota -free (DFQF) decisions.  
4.2.  We take note of the work so far in the Council for Trade in Services, the Rules of Origin 
Committee, and the Committee on T rade and Development, respectively, including any relevant LDC 
submissions to those bodies. We urge that the General Council 's work on the MC13 Outcome 
Document includes LDC Group textual proposals in this regard.   
4.3.  We call on preference -providing  countrie s to redouble their efforts to fully implement the 
Nairobi decision on rules of origin for LDCs by making them transparent and simple with a view to 
facilitating market access for LDCs.  
4.4.  To this end, we mandate the Committee on Rules of Origin to develop a roadmap for its future 
work on the Decision adopted by the Committee in April 2022 to enable Members to fully implement 
the Nairobi Decision on preferential rules of origin for LDCs.  
4.5.  The Committee on Rules of Origin shall report on its work to the General Council.  
OTHER PRIORITY AREAS  
5  WTO REFORM  
5.1.  We reaffirm the need for a WTO reform process that would include proposals from all Members 
in a fair, transparent, inclusive and non -discriminatory manner. We also recall the importance of the 
development dimensi on as an integral part of any reform of the WTO.  
5.2.  We acknowledge progress on reform of the functioning of WTO bodies, particularly those that 
had a genesis in the LDC Group submission JOB/GC/223/Rev.1 . Those include use of annotated 
agendas, exped iting the production of minutes, mechanisms to avoid overlapping of key meetings, WT/MIN(24)/2  
 
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  summary notes the same day of meetings, and the availability of interpretation provided for all 
informal meetings.   
5.3.  To improve on the well appreciated process of such reform so far, future proposals requiring 
adoption should be evaluated in terms of any impact on LDC participation in WTO bodies. LDCs and 
small delegations can better review and debate the impact of the proposal for adoption at the General 
Council as all delegat ions are present.  In addition, it would be useful if some issues requiring 
adoption should be considered for a trial basis, to assess such impact.  
5.4.  Reform improvements in notification and implementation obligations must not introduce 
punitive measures or a dditional burdensome obligations for the LDCs.  
5.5.  For ministerial conferences, where there are plenaries limited in the size of delegations or small 
group meetings, listening rooms should be set up with simultaneous interpretation in the WTO's 
various workin g languages. Every effort should be made to ensure the effective participation of LDCs 
in these meetings. Priority should be given to LDC issues in these meetings.   
5.6.  Before any adoption of texts by Ministers, reasonable time must be allotted for the text to  be 
presented to Members with relevant explanations.  Group Coordinators must be allowed time to 
consult their members to synthesise and agree.  
5.7.  On dispute settlement reform, discussions must be held within existing multilateral structures, 
in particular th e DSB, following the rules, processes and practices of engagement as provided in the 
Marrakesh Agreement.  In addition, we call on Ministers to agree to expeditiously begin the process 
of appointing Appellate Body members and to ensure establishment of the necessary rules to build 
trust in the procedures and operation of this pillar.  
6  TRADE -RELATED RESPONSE TO COVID -19  
6.1.  We support the initiative of the General Council Chair and the Director -General to identify 
horizontal solutions for the WTO that would contr ibute to the world efforts to recover from the 
COVID -19 pandemic. We draw Ministers' attention to our communication in May 2020 on this subject 
contained in document WT/GC/211 . We noted, and are mindful, that all countries needed to 
safeguard the lives and hea lth of their peoples. However, we urged Members to refrain from imposing 
export restrictions on of essential medical and basic food products destined to LDCs and facilitate 
the flow and transit of products to address COVID -19.  
6.2.  We appreciate the MC12 TRIPS  Waiver decision ( WT/MIN(22)/30 ) that covers COVID -19 
vaccines. We are disappointed that delegations could not yet agree within the deadline set by 
Ministers under paragraph 8 of the MC12 TRIPS Waiver decision with regard to addition of the 
production and supply of COVID -19 diagnostics and therapeutics. Several variants of the COVID -19 
are still active and future pandemics are a threat. As co -sponsors of the communication 
IP/C/W/669/Rev.1 , LDCs support that the MC12 decision on TRIPS Waiver sho uld be extended to 
cover therapeutics and diagnostics, as soon as possible.   
7  OUTSTANDING SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT AGREEMENT SPECIFIC 
PROPOSALS  
7.1.  LDC Members of the G90 support the proposals submitted to the General Council for 
consideration in the  work for MC13 and urge Members to interact positively on pragmatic solutions 
for this unfinished business in the agenda of the WTO for more than twenty years.  
7.2.  We reaffirm the importance of special and differential treatment for the developing countries 
and LDCs to achieve structural economic transformation and take full advantage of international 
trade.  The CTD -SS Chair’s facilitator process by topic is welcome and we remain engaged to work 
with all of the membership. We look forward to outcomes at MC13.  WT/MIN(24)/2  
 
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  8  TRIPS AGREEMENT ARTICLE 66.2  
8.1.  We urge developed Members to implement more effectively their obligations under Article 66.2 
of the TRIPS Agreement and provide incentives for their enterprises and institutions to promote the 
transfer of technology to LDCs, so  that our countries are able to create a sound and viable 
technological base.  
8.2.  The relevant institutions and enterprises in developed countries must demonstrate the 
technology transfer with clear and concrete evidence.  
9  TRIPS NON -VIOLATION AND SITUATION COMPLAINTS  
9.1.  We urge Members to agree to a permanent moratorium at MC13 on the application of 
GATT  1994, paragraphs 1(b) and 1(c) of Article XXIII on complaints regarding non -violation and 
status of the TRIPS Agreement.  
10  ELECTRONIC COMMERCE DECLARATION  
10.1.  We remain committed to finding a solution under the WTO E -commerce Work Programme and 
MC12 decision WT/L/1143 . We call on Members to take into account of LDC opportunities and 
challenges in the utilization of e -commerce, which w e communicated in LDC Group submissions to 
the work programme, more recently in document WT/GC/W/905/Rev.1 . 
11  ENHANCED INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK  
11.1.  We recognize the role of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) as the only aid for trade 
mechanism dedic ated to LDCs and we appreciate its substantial contribution in supporting LDC 
efforts to integrate into the multilateral trading system and to build their trade related capacity 
towards achieving their development objectives and Sustainable Development Goa ls. We also 
appreciate the EIF for putting in place a procedure for smooth graduation transition.  
11.2.  We welcome tangible results achieved and the efforts made by the EIF during the global health 
and current crises to enhance LDCs' trading capacity by empower ing women, supporting micro -small 
and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and improving digital skills in order to diversify LDC economies.  
11.3.  Building on the achievements made so far, we welcome the continuation of the EIF partnership 
to provide financial and techn ical support beyond the current phase in order to further enhance the 
institutional and productive capacity in LDCs, including those in the process of graduation, and in 
line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the principle of leaving no LDC behind .  
11.4.  We call for the launch and effective implementation of the future programme by January 2025 
at the latest.  
12  AID FOR TRADE (AFT)  
12.1.  We noted with concern the negative impacts of the COVID -19 pandemic and current crises on 
LDC economies. Such reality reveals  clearly the extent to which the LDCs need to strengthen their 
economic resilience and ability to respond to crises and shocks. In this regard, we welcome the new 
Aid-for-Trade Work Programme for 2023 -2024 as well as the results of the 8th Aid for Trade Gl obal 
Review, which took place in July 2022.  
12.2.  We recognize the importance of aid for trade initiatives in trade -related capacity building, 
addressing supply -side bottlenecks and development of trade -related infrastructure, and facilitating 
integration of LDC  economies in regional and global trade. We therefore call upon development 
partners to prioritize projects identified by LDC governments in accordance with their needs and 
development objectives.  
12.3.  Aid for trade should not substitute official development as sistance (ODA). We urge 
development partners to provide additional flows of aid for trade to fully implement trade -related 
capacity -building activities identified in favour of the LDCs in the Aid -for-Trade Work Programme for 
2023-2024. In addition, we appr eciate the complementary funding to the technical advisory support WT/MIN(24)/2  
 
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  enjoyed by the LDC Group to date, which has strengthened our capacity in Geneva to participate in 
negotiations and all deliberations in the WTO and the multilateral trading system.  
12.4.  We are l ooking forward to participating constructively in the Ninth Aid for Trade Global Review 
in 2024. We call on donors and development partners to support the advancement of Aid for Trade 
agenda, including trade finance given its vital importance for our Micro , Small and Medium -sized 
Enterprises (MSMEs).  
13  TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT  
13.1.  We are aware and concerned about the degradation of the environment with its negative 
consequences on our planet and emphasize that LDCs are not responsible for the climate crisis. 
However , we are among the main victims of its harmful consequences.  
13.2.  While recognizing Members ' right to regulate to protect the environment, we are concerned 
about unilateral trade -related measures adopted or in the process of adoption by Members. Some 
of those measures stand to impact negatively on our market access and our overall sustainable 
development. Therefore, we urge Members to refrain from adopting trade distorting measures, which 
are inconsistent with WTO rules. It is a priority that measures taken by Members to mitigate climate 
change do not serve as disguised barriers to trade, especially the trade of LDCs.  
13.3.  We recall paragraph 14 of the MC12 Outcome Document and urge Members to follow the Paris 
Agreement and other relevant international instruments to  provide adequate financial support and 
technology transfer to LDCs to adapt to climate change.  
14  ACCESSIONS  
14.1.  We request that additional efforts should be made to streamline and simplify LDCs accession 
procedures, reducing the time and administrative burdens involved. We call for adequate support 
and assistance to LDCs in their accession process, enabling them to overcome challenges and 
maximize the opportunities that WTO membership offers.  
14.2.  We support the progress made by the LDCs in the accession process. We congratulate them 
for their perseverance in these negotiation processes over several years. We call upon Members to 
provide them with the necessary support to implement their obligations in the post accession phase.  
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