. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/ST/102
12 November 2001
(01-5706)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth Session
Doha, 9 - 13 November 2001Original:  English
JORDAN
Statement by H.E. Dr. Salaheddin al-Bashir
Minister of Industry and Trade
It is my pleasure to be here today, and to have the occasion to represent Jordan in its first
participation as a full Member in a WTO Ministerial Conference.  Many of us here, may still recall
the enthusiasm, dedication, patience and good spirit with which Jordan pursued its membership,notwithstanding, the challenges and frustrations of the accession process, and yes, notwithstanding,
the bitterness, disappointment and apprehensions that was Seattle.
Jordan's enthusiastic bid for membership, underscored one thing:  its strong belief in the
merits and the promise of trade, and in the ability of the multilateral trading system to deliver thispromise.  Indeed, Jordan has always viewed membership in this system as part of its overall pursuit of
economic reforms, growth and development perhaps mainly through export expansion and greater
market access, but also equally deliberately, through greater import and investment liberalization.  For
those of us mired in the world of trade negotiations may falsely assume that our trade policies should
be a function of trade diplomacy, and that successes in this are to be measured in terms of maximizing
market access, and minimizing inroads to our markets and investment environment.  But for us in
Jordan, it is clear that in today's economy, perhaps more than ever, the link between export prosperityon the one hand, and imports and investment liberalization on the other, is more integral than many of
us may like to think.  We are convinced that the sustainable and diverse inroads into global markets
cannot be achieved by highly protectionist economies, isolated from the international competition,
and deprived from the flow of international capital , know-how and technology. We know too well that
import and export liberalization are two flip sides of one and the same coin.
Therefore, we come to this podium not to argue on the ideals and the principles but to make
sure that we participate in calibrating the multilater al trading system in a manner that restores faith to
such principles.  Therefore, we see the challenge of Doha, as the collective challenge of translating the
ideals of trade theory applicable to the textbook world of perfect competition, to the not so perfectworld we live in.  For it is indeed unfortunately a world of great disparities and asymmetry.  In view
of this, for many of the players in the multilateral system, nominal access does not always translate
into effective access, and homogeneous rules are not necessarily fair rules.  Ours is a challenge to
calibrate the multilateral trading system, and its modus operandi  to take account of such disparities,
whereby all of us end up winners, as promised.
Seattle has taught us powerfully and painfully that a bad deal is no deal at all.  Today we
know that if too many of us leave this Conf erence feeling overwhelmed, outpaced, sceptical, or
distrustful, then we all are bound to lose.  If too many of us leave feeling that they have given too
much and gained little in return, we are all bound to lose.  If too many of us feel that the multilateral
trading system compromises principles of fairness, human. dignity, global health, global
environmental safety, and genuinely global prosperity, then we have all failed.  If too many of us feelthat the roles are set by the positional clout and not by a genuine consensus on collective interests,WT/MIN(01)/ST/102
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then we have all failed.  We all need to leave this graciously hospitable capital capable of telling our
public that in return for the mandate they have given us for greater economic cooperation and
dialogue, we will deliver greater welfare and prosperity.
Having said all of that, it is clear from our own experience that absorption of all the
commitments, building capacity within the private and public sectors and full utilization of the
multilateral trading system takes time, investment and commitment.  We had our own successes and
failures in doing so.  Therefore, Jordan as well as many countries that recently joined fine
Organization is in need for flexibility in the comi ng round of negotiations particularly in the area
market access.
Allow me at this juncture to extend Jordan's sincere welcome to the People's Republic of
China, and to Chinese Taipei on the occasion of their accession to the World Trade Organization.  We
are confident that their accession will enrich this Organization and further enhance its universality and
stature.  Moreover, in this regard, we stress the need to accelerate the accession process of the Arab
countries namely:  Algeria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Finally, I would like to express Jordan's sincere thanks to the Emir, people and Government
of Qatar for their hospitality and efforts for the organization of this historic event.
I remain confident of a positive outcome through agreement proving real gains for us all.
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