. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/ST/60
11 September 2003
(03-4825)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth Session
Cancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  Spanish
COLOMBIA
Statement by H.E. Mr Jorge Humberto Botero
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism
It is well known that Colombia is experiencing enormous problems as a result of widespread
acts of violence, especially in rural areas, and terrorist attacks carried out by groups of various
ideological persuasions, although they all share a single common denominator:  massive funding fromdrug trafficking.  The Government, with the over whelming support of the people, is making every
effort to eliminate this source of financing.  Unde r the firm leadership of the President of Colombia,
the last year has seen a dramatic reduction in the area sown with illegal crops, while considerable
success has been achieved in restoring public safety.  Human rights have been scrupulously respected
in the implementation of this task.
Colombia is doing its duty for the good of humanity, and naturally hopes that its efforts will
be fully reciprocated by the international community.  The liberalization of external markets and the
elimination of distortions, especially with regard to agricultural products, is the kind of response that
many developing countries expect from more prosperous nations in order to balance the benefits of
free trade.  Colombia, moreover, is both a victim and a leading player in the fight to free the world
from the grip of drug addiction.
My Government is aware of the need to strengthen the multilateral rules that should govern
agriculture.  This implies a firm commitment to substantially reduce trade-distorting domestic
support, significantly improve market access and progressively eliminate all forms of export
subsidization, albeit within a pre-established time- frame.  On that understanding, we welcomed the
launch of a new round of WTO trade negotiations in Doha two years ago.
Given our commitment to a development round, we firmly believe that the time has come for
countries with the strongest economies to assume greater responsibilities.  On that basis, we could
build a fairer, more equitable system and, even more importantly, address the underlying causes ofmajor global problems, such as the unmanaged increase in migratory flows, inadequate land use,
desertification and failure to make progress in efforts to combat poverty.
We simply cannot ask our farmers to face increased competition from abroad while the
agricultural sector continues to be unfairly excluded from the multilateral disciplines.  Let us notforget that many of our rural inhabitants ended up growing illegal crops on account of the lack of
market opportunities for their products.  If there had been better access for tropical products, there
would undoubtedly have been fewer coca or poppy fields.
In spite of the harrowing conflicts that plague the Middle East, the world is experiencing a
period of unprecedented peace.  It is no accident that, as the experience of Europe over the past
50 years shows, the triumph over war has coincided w ith the growth of trade.  We know from ancientWT/MIN(03)/ST/60
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times that peoples with mutual trade links tend to be peace-loving.  The contribution we expect from
rich countries is a guarantee of fair trade for poor and developing countries, which means free access
for their products and the elimination of distortions that prevent them from competing.  By acting in
this way, they would be making a significant contribution towards peace in the world.
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