WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(98)/ST/33
18May1998
ORGANIZATION(98-1988)
Original: Spanish MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Second Session
Geneva, 18and20May1998
COLOMBIA
Statement Circulated byDr.Carlos Ronderos Torres,
Minister ofForeign Trade
Globalization, liberalization andtheexpansion oftrade havegenerated newopportunities for
thedevelopment ofourpeoples, forincreased wealth andemployment, andfortheimprovement of
living standards. Themultilateral trading system plays afundamental roleinthisrespect inthatits
rules provide Members withaguarantee ofcertainty andtransparency intheirtrade activities. This
ishowColombia hasperceived theWTO, andinaddition toitsautonomous policy ofliberalization
introduced atthebeginning ofthisdecade, ithasfocused itsefforts onensuring theproper
implementation ofthemultilateral agreements.
Freetradeisnotanendinitself, butameans ofgenerating wealth andimproving thestandard
ofliving ofindividuals. Inother words, theroleoftradeistocontribute toprogress andtonarrowing
thegapbetween thedeveloped andthedeveloping countries. Inthisrespect itisimportant thatthe
chieftrading partners oftheWTO takepositive measures toensure proper access totheirmarkets for
products ofinterest tothedeveloping countries, avoiding theuseofprotectionist measures andusing
traderemedies inwaysthatareconsistent withWTO rulesandregulations, inparticular theprovisions
granting special anddifferential treatment toexports from developing countries.
ThisapproachshouldguidethediscussionsofthisMinisterialConference,whosemainobjective
istostudy andanalyse theprocess ofimplementation ofthedifferent WTO Agreements. Itisimportant
toassess thewayinwhich theMember countries haveimplemented theAgreements andfulfilled the
commitments made andtheobjectives established. Atthesame time, wemustnotignore theefforts
made bythedeveloping countries toimplement thecommitments adopted during theUruguay Round
andthedifficulties theyhaveencountered indoing so.
Intheframeworkofthisexercise,Colombiawishestoexpressconcernatthepoorimplementation
oftheobjectives oftheAgreement onTextiles -indeed, theprogressive liberalization andintegration
intotheGATT system oftheproducts subjected torestrictions hasbeenveryslow. Consequently,
weurgetheprincipal importing countries toshow leadership andcommitment totrade liberalization
andnon-discriminatory treatment bytaking positive steps toensure broad access totheirmarkets for
ourtextile products.
Another issueofspecial interest toColombia isthedispute settlement system, which constitutes
thecornerstone ofregulated multilateralism andoftheWTO. While ithasfunctioned satisfactorily,
anumber ofgapsandflaws havebeendetected which should bestudied inthecontext oftheplanned
reviewoftheDisputeSettlementUnderstanding.Wemustfindwaystostrengthenitsobjectivity,fairness
andtransparency; anditisequally important todevelop mechanisms tomake iteasier forthedeveloping
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countries toparticipate effectively inthevarious dispute settlement mechanisms provided forinthe
WTO Agreement.
Inanalysing themultilateral trading system, wemust notloose sight ofthecontribution of
regionalintegrationagreements.Colombiaisconvincedofthebenefitsofpursuingapolicyofintegration
within theframework ofopenregionalism consistent withtheWTO disciplines, andhasparticipated
actively inthemodernization oftheinstitutions oftheAndean Community, whose integrationist vocation
intheAmerican hemisphere hasastrong liberalizing effect.
Colombia recognizes theresponsibility ofgovernments toadopt domestic policies which enable
them totakeadvantage ofthebenefits ofthemultilateral trading system, andtocreate thenecessary
conditions forthedevelopment ofprivate initiative. Thus, since thebeginning ofthisdecade ithas
beenpromoting apolicy ofinternationalization ofitseconomy backed bytrade liberalization andthe
dismantling ofrestrictions toforeign investment. Atthesame time, ithasintroduced anindustrial
development strategy which hasmade itpossible topromote thedissemination oftechnology andthe
emergence ofnewproductive sectors which could hardly havedeveloped ontheirown. Theadoption
ofthismodel reflects thebelief oftheColombian Government inthebenefits oftrade liberalization
asatoolformodernization andeconomic growth contributing tothedevelopment andwelfare ofour
population.
Atthesame time, Colombia considers thereorganization ofproduction tobeanecessary
complement totheliberalization process. Tothatendithasdrawn upaspecific competitiveness strategy
which aimstofacilitate restructuring intheframework ofanopeneconomy. Themechanisms setforth
intheWTO Agreements forusebythedeveloping countries inboosting thecompetitiveness and
productivity oftheireconomies, paving thewaytoincreased participation inforeign markets, have
beenofconsiderable useinthisrespect. Only through increased productivity willitbepossible to
improve ourcompetitiveness. Wemustrecognize, however, thattheability totakeadvantage ofexisting
incentives depends onthecountry 'slevelofincome andavailable resources. Thus, asthetransition
periods granted tothedeveloping countries begin torunout,itwillbenecessary tofindnewforms
ofstimulation inkeeping withtheirneeds andpossibilities.
Technological development hasopened upnewpossibilities andopportunities fortrade. Thus,
electronic tools aregradually being introduced asavehicle fortransactions. TheWorld Trade
Organization must notlosesight ofthisreality, andmust begin conducting analyses withaviewto
establishing disciplines intheareaofelectronic trade.
Finally, Colombia reaffirms itsinterest inandcommitment toproceeding withthenegotiations
agreed intheMarrakesh Agreement inboththeagricultural andtheservices sectors asacontinuation
oftheprocess begun withtheUruguay Round. What isneeded isaclear andprecise procedure to
facilitate theirpreparation andtheestablishment oftheirframework andstructure. Colombia isready
toexplore theextension ofthenegotiations toadditional sectors ordisciplines, butbefore committing
ourselves wewould bewisetogather more information andconduct further analyses ontheimpact
oftheresults oftheUruguay Round onoureconomies andontheevolution offoreign trade, andto
reflect onourexperience inimplementing thedifferent Agreements sothatwecandeepen the
liberalization process andthedisciplines ofthemultilateral system inawaythatisconsistent withits
objectives andprinciples andtakes account ofconditions inthedeveloping countries.
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