. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/ST/37
10 November 2001
(01-5620)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth Session
Doha, 9 - 13 November 2001Original:  English
THAILAND
Statement by H.E. Dr. Adisai Bodharamik
Minister of Commerce
I would like to express my sincere apprecia tion to His Highness Emir (Sheikh Hamad bin
Khalifa al-Thani) and. the Government of Qatar for the excellent arrangements made for the Fourth
Ministerial Conference.  I also wish to thank the Chairman of the General Council, Stuart Harbinson,
and the Director-General, Mike Moore, for their extensive efforts to come up with the Draft
Declaration, which provides us with a good basis for negotiations.
We are gathering here in Doha amidst global economic uncertainties to discuss a number of
important issues, the results of which will have a profound impact on the global economy as well asthe future of the World Trade Organization.  To reverse the trend of the world economic downturn,
we must regain confidence in the multilateral trading system by finding a way to collectively push the
global trade talks forward.
On the part of Thailand, we attach utmost importance to the negotiations on agriculture, as it
is still the sector that is discriminated against in the WTO framework.  Trade-distorting export
subsidies and domestic support resorted to by some major trading partners are unjustly tolerated at theexpense of the developing countries that have comparative advantages in this sector.  The only reason
Thailand enters into a new round of trade negotiations is to seek commitments from Members to end
the discrimination against agriculture and have it fully integrated into the WTO rules and disciplines.
We would be willing to work out with our trading partners on the timeframe to achieve such goals.
Without the commitments to end trade distorting export subsidies and domestic support in
agriculture, a new round of trade negotiations will not be relevant to Thailand.
Thailand has joined with other Members to push for a WTO Ministerial Declaration for
TRIPS and Public Health.  Without such Declaration, the public perception of the WTO as an
institution that does not respond to the needs of the poor in the developing countries will be more
difficult to prevent and a failure on this issue will have serious repercussions in a wider context.
Indeed, our goal is not to weaken the TRIPS Agreement but to seek clarification and to assure the
public that the TRIPS Agreement will not be an obstacle to the public health policies of Member
countries.  Another issue of importance is the possible extension of the protection of geographicalindications under TRIPS Article 23 to products other than wines and spirits.  [WTO work in this
regard should include as a matter of principle the issues of effective means of remedy and prevention
of abuses.]
With regard to investment and competition policy, we recognize that most Members,
particularly the developing countries, are not ready to participate in full-fledged negotiations on
multilateral agreement on these two issues at the moment.  They need to be convinced of the benefitsto be derived from having such multilateral agreements as well as the implications on their industrialWT/MIN(01)/ST/37
Page 2
and developmental policies.  We therefore suggest further analytical work by the Working Group and
to have its recommendation for decision whether to embark on these negotiations at the Fifth
Ministerial Conference.
Not only the Government but also civil society in Thailand is very conscious of environment
protection as well as sustainable development.  We however believe that existing WTO provisions are
adequately addressing environmental concerns in relation to trade.  The commitment on Trade and
Environment should continue with its existing work programme that is of value to Members
especially the developing countries to have better understanding on this complicated issue.  In this
respect, we have to express our strong objection to turn the Committee into a negotiating forum on
environment.  We cannot accept any proposal to weaken relevant WTO provisions using
environmental protection as a pretext to create new trade barrier measures.  To make it clear, we areagainst the introduction of a precautionary principle that is not science based and goes beyond the
scope of existing WTO provisions.
Last but not least, we would like to extend a warm welcome to China and Chinese Taipei as
new members of this Organization and look fo rward to working constructively with them.
In conclusion, a successful outcome at Doha can. be achieved only if Members demonstrate
political will to compromise and narrow their differences. Thailand is ready to do its part in
supporting the launch of a new round since we believe that it can help keep the world economy on
track.  At the current possible onset of a global session, we need the WTO more than ever and asuccessful launch in Doha will certainly strengthen  confidence in the rules-based trading system and
that will be in the interest of all.
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