WT/GC/237  
 
5 November 2021  
(21-8400) Page: 1/6 
General Council  Original: English  
 
COMMUNICATION FROM MONGOLIA ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF  
LANDLOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
The following communication, dated 4 November 2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Mongolia on behalf of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries.  
 
 
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The Delegation of Mongolia on behalf of the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) presents the 
LLDCs Ministerial Declaration adopted on 4 November 2021 to be circulated as a document for the 
12th Ministerial Conference.  
MINISTERIAL DECLARATION  
WTO MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE GROUP OF LANDLOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
Geneva, 4 November 2021  
We, the Ministers and Representatives of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) met on 
4 November 2021 at the margin s of the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade 
Organization (WTO),  
 
Recalling  the Vienna Declaration and the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) for LLDCs for the 
Decade 2014 –2024 adopted at the Second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing 
Countries in 2014,  
 
Recalling also  the Political Declaration of the Comprehensive  High-level Midterm Review of the 
Implementation of the VPoA for LLDCs for the Decade 2014 -2024, adopted by the General Assembly 
of the United Nations on 5 December 2019,  
 
Further recalling  the Roadmap for accelerated implementation of the VPoA, adopted i n 2020, and 
recognizing its importance in accelerating the implementation of the VPoA and building back better 
after COVID -19,  
 
Recalling  the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals 
(SDGs), the Addis Ababa Action Agen da of the Third International Conference on Financing for 
Development; and the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate 
Change,  
 
Recalling and reaffirming  the objectives and principles of the Marrakesh Agreement establishin g the 
WTO as global trade rule making body and the need to reinvigorate and strengthen its negotiating 
function,  
 
Recalling the Astana Ministerial Declaration adopted on 17 May 2018 at the Ministerial Meeting of 
LLDCs on Trade and Transport held in Astana , Kazakhstan,  
 WT/GC/237  
 
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  Recalling  all Ministerial Declarations of the Group of LLDCs including the Ministerial Declaration at 
the margins of the Eleventh Ministerial Conference of the WTO on 10 December 2017 in Buenos 
Aires, Argentina, where the Ministers of LLDCs,  reiterated the strong commitment of the Group of 
LLDCs to the Multilateral Trading System (MTS), especially in the framework of the negotiations of 
the Doha Development Agenda,  
 
Recalling  the Geneva Ministerial Declaration adopted at the Fifth Meeting of  Trade Ministers of LLDCs 
in 2016  which aimed at Harnessing the trade potential of the LLDCs to accelerate the implementation 
of the VPoA and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,  
 
Recalling  Ministerial Declarations adopted during the 20th Annual meeting of Foreign Ministers of the 
LLDCs, held virtually on 23 September 2021 on the margins of the 76th Session of the United Nations 
General Assembly, and UNCTAD Ministerial Meeting of the LLDCs held on 2 September 2021,  
 
Recalling  the Fifteenth session  of the Ministerial Conference of the UNCTAD in 2021 which recognizes 
the need to address the trade, investment and development challenges of the LLDCs including 
through continuing its support for effective implementation of the VPoA,  
 
Recognizing  the imp ortance of unfettered, efficient and cost -effective access for LLDCs to and from 
the sea, on the basis of freedom of transit and other related matters, in accordance with the 
applicable rules of international law,  
 
Recognizing  also that high transport and  trade transaction costs remain a major stumbling block in 
the pursuit of LLDCs to achieve their trade and development potentials,  
 
Recognizing  that LLDCs are dependent on transit countries to access international markets, and are 
particularly vulnerable to cross -border restrictions aimed at combating the spread of COVID -19 and 
the social and economic impacts of lockdown measures related to it, the health effects of the 
pandemic, commodity price shocks and a global recession, that the pandemic had impacted  the 
LLDCs ' trade as well as implementation of all the VPoA priorities and the fiscal implications of the 
pandemic has led to increased risk of debt distress in many LLDCs, limiting their fiscal and policy 
space for critical investments in recovery, includ ing accessing vaccines,  
 
Recognizing  that COVID -19 pandemic also offers an opportunity for Members to take stock of the 
lessons learned and review the existing tools of the trade policy to enhance Members ' resilience 
against any future health crisis of lo cal, regional or global nature,  
 
Expressing  condolences and grave concern about the loss of life as a result of the COVID -19 
pandemic and the significant adverse social and economic effects it has posed globally, and in 
particular recognizing that the LLDCs will be severely hit in the long term owi ng to the fragility of 
their health systems, limited coverage of their social protection systems, limited financial and other 
resources, and vulnerability to external shocks,  
 
Have adopted the following Ministerial Declaration:  
1. We underscore the importanc e of international trade as an engine for inclusive economic 
growth and poverty reduction, and an important means to achieve the SDGs, as recognized 
by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda;  
2. We recognize the need to  "promote a universal, rules -based, open, non -discriminatory and 
equitable MTS under the WTO, including through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha 
Development Agenda " to achieve the SDGs as stated in Goal 17.10;  
3. We reiterate that the central role of Development in the WTO and the principle of Special and 
Differential (S&D) treatment represent the cornerstones of the WTO Agreements and that the 
reaffirmation of this pr inciple should be an integral part of any agreement, package of the 
work of the organization;  WT/GC/237  
 
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  4. We acknowledge the importance of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) and other 
WTO Agreements in addressing high trade costs faced by LLDCs and in prom oting freedom of 
transit. We recognize that many LLDCs in collaboration with their neighbouring transit 
countries and with the support of development partners have made efforts to implement the 
Agreement, including simplification of trade regulations, docu ments and procedures, border 
agency cooperation including single -stop inspections, electronic payment, transparency, 
public -private -partnership and the modernization and automation of border posts and customs 
services. Despite the progress made, the implem entation of the TFA is estimated to be 51.2 
percent of the notifiable provisions by LLDCs compared with 71.0 per  cent for developing 
countries and 100 per  cent for developed countries;  
5. We attach high importance to the first review of the operation and imp lementation of the TFA 
which is under consideration of the Committee on Trade Facilitation (CTF). We request that a 
substantive review on the progress of the TFA in improving transit for LLDCs be undertaken 
in the context of the first review of the operati on and implementation of the TFA. We call upon 
the members of the CTF to positively consider the comments and suggestions proposed by 
the LLDC Group in this regard;  
6. We emphasize the importance of mobilizing adequate resources to accelerate the 
implementat ion of the TFA. We urge development partners and other WTO Members in a 
position to do so, as well as the private sector, the United Nations system and other 
international and regional organizations to continue to provide technical, financial and capacity 
building assistance to LLDCs on a sustainable basis, for the effective implementation of the 
Agreement and other trade facilitation reforms. We also call for the resumption of activities 
under the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) which was crea ted to support 
developing countries in their implementation of the TFA;  
7. We recognize the persistent challenges to trade and transport connectivity, particularly in 
LLDCs, and we underline that the close cooperation on trade facilitation and transport and 
transit connectivity remain vital to address specific needs and priorities while working on 
aligning the solutions with the global standards and we call for enhanced Aid for Trade, 
including international development assistance and multilateral financing i n the development 
and maintenance of transport and trade -related infrastructure including ICT and cross -border 
transmission line and strengthening of the role of private sector including through, public -
private -partnerships as well as other innovative mean s of finance;  
8. We reiterate our call for constructive cooperation with transit countries for the effective and 
early implementation of disciplines that will contribute to reducing transit time and costs, 
simplify procedures, enhanced transparency and great er certainty in cross -border trade;  
9. We encourage LLDCs and transit countries to appoint and notify their national transit 
coordinators in accordance with article 11.17 of the TFA;  
10. In view of the impact of SPS and TBT measures imposed by trading partners on the trade 
interests of LLDCs, which rely on transit countries for both imports and exports, we underline 
the importance of development of more specific and simplified requirements to be applied to 
goods in transit, as well as notification of all propose d SPS and TBT measures to enable early 
consultations with affected countries, prior to adoption of the measure;  
11. We support further digitalization of trade and customs procedures to establish 
interconnectivity and ensure the fast and secure exchange of dat a and information concerning 
cargo and means of transport, based on international standards and instruments and call for 
these systems to be interconnected and interoperable so as to cover the full transit operation;  WT/GC/237  
 
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  12. We affirm our commitment to take approp riate action in facilitating trade and transport and 
in maintaining the integrity of the supply chains for the benefit of all. In that regard we call 
on all WTO Members to support LLDCs in their efforts aimed at sustainable socio -economic 
recovery in post -COVID -19 times;  
13. We urge members and the WTO Secretariat to study the impact that the current situation of 
container shortages and high shipping costs is having on trade of the LLDCs. Work on this 
issue should be carried out under the auspices of the Counc il for Trade in Services and the 
Council for Trade in Goods. In the area of trade in goods we also urge the Committee on Rules 
of Origin of the WTO to explore the issue of how rules of origin affect the ability of LLDCs to 
take advantage of preferential ac cess to markets given the particularities of their trade;  
14. We recognize that COVID -19 pandemic has heightened the need for deepened regional 
integration through strengthening of transport, energy and digital infrastructure connectivity; 
increased intraregio nal trade and the development of regional value chains; improving the 
quality and effective implementation of regional integration agreements. We call upon the UN 
system, and other international organizations to strengthen their technical, financial and 
capacity building support to LLDCs and transit countries to enable them to advance their 
regional integration efforts;  
15. We recognize the need to reduce commodity dependence and LLDCs ' vulnerability to external 
shocks as demonstrated by COVID -19 pandemic and c all for concerted measures and actions 
to support LLDCs ' efforts including support towards diversification of their export base, and 
enhanced processing of the commodities, investment facilitation, trade diversification, trade 
finance, and building conduci ve business and trade environment;  
16. We continue to make efforts to mainstream building of productive capacities in our 
development strategies and call for international support including financial, technical and 
capacity -building assistance;  
17. We recognize that foreign direct investment (FDI) can be a catalyst for structural 
transformation, raising the value added of the domestic economy and linking it more 
effectively into global value chains (GVCs). We commit to continue promoting conducive 
policies to att ract FDI that promotes trade as well as sustainable development of LLDCs;  
18. We recognize the importance of official development assistance (ODA), including the Aid for 
Trade support, to LLDCs and transit countries in addressing the impact of COVID -19 and 
supporting their post -COVID 19 recovery efforts. In this regard, we call upon ODA providers 
to increase their ODA allocations to LLDCs. We also reiterate that the Aid for Trade should 
give special consideration to the special needs and requirements of LLDCs,  including capacity -
building for the formulation of trade policies, participation in trade negotiations and 
implementation of trade facilitation measures, trade finance, development of trade related 
infrastructure as well as the diversification of export p roducts and strengthening of productive 
capacities with a view to increasing the competitiveness of LLDCs ' products in export markets;  
19. We emphasize that agriculture, including the role of trade in achieving food security, is of 
critical importance to the LLDCs. The continuation of the reform process in order to promote 
market access; reduction of distortive domestic support measures; the total elimination of all 
forms of export subsidies; and the promotion of fair rules for agriculture sector will constitu te 
an important tool for the promotion of economic activities and development in LLDCs. We also 
urge WTO members to examine the issue of the application of SPS measures to goods in 
transit in the SPS Committee;  WT/GC/237  
 
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  20. We acknowledge the importance of global equit able access to safe and effective COVID -19 
vaccines, therapeutics and health technologies. We call on all WTO Members to unite for 
meaningful solidarity in effectively responding to the pandemic, addressing all possible 
barriers and ramping up the producti on and equal distribution of the essential health 
commodities;  
21. We commit to working together with our development partners to seize the opportunities 
offered by technologies to address the COVID -19 crisis, including by scaling up collaboration 
on essentia l medicines, vaccines and innovations in health systems;  
22. We recognize that the COVID -19 pandemic spotlighted that digital transformation and 
connectivity creates tremendous opportunity for achieving the SDG. However, LLDCs face 
fundamental challenges incl uding inadequate infrastructure, limited internet access, high cost 
of broadband, inadequate digital skills and regulatory and data policies. We aim to foster 
favorable conditions for the development of the digital economy by creating appropriate 
enabling environment including the necessary policies, legal and regulatory framework to 
support ICT development in particular the development of broadband, enhancement of digital 
skills, promotion of digital inclusion, increased adoption and utilization of ICT app lications and 
services. We also call for increased public -private -partnerships and support from the 
development partners to enable LLDCs to reap the full potentials of the digital technologies 
and e -commerce and close the digital divide;  
23. We recognize that  the growth in e -commerce provides international trade opportunities 
including new market opportunities for LLDCs. We call on UN -OHRLLS, UNCTAD, ITU and 
partners to provide technical assistance to promote e -commerce in LLDCs including through 
capacity buil ding and advice on, developing the necessary legal framework and improving 
digital infrastructure. We recognize the importance of a conducive multilateral trade 
framework for the promotion of digital inclusion and the development of e -commerce in LLDCs. 
We commit ourselves to fully take into account our interests in multilateral, regional and 
bilateral negotiations on this subject including our fundamental challenges specially the 
inadequate infrastructure, the underdeveloped legal and regulatory framework as well as the 
limited digital skills.  
24. We note that the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic and the measures taken to mitigate its 
impact have resulted in lower business and industrial activity, and we call on development 
partners and international organizat ions to provide assistance to LLDCs to establish initiatives 
and adopt resilient policies to support MSMEs such as through provision of enhanced finance, 
including trade finance and access to credit, capacity building for entrepreneurship and 
employing ICT s and innovation in business operations that may help in building the resilience 
of LLDCs ' economies in the post -COVID -19 era;  
25. We recognize that the LLDCs ' share in services exports still remains very low, and emphasize 
that an efficient and productive services industry will contribute significantly to productivity 
growth and for the overall competitiveness of LLDCs ' economies. We recognize the importance 
of a conducive multilateral trade framework for the development of their services sector as 
well as the importance of addressing supply side constraints.  We commit ourselves to fully 
take into account their interests and constraints in multilateral, regiona l and bilateral 
negotiations on this subject including the granting of economically relevant preferential access 
to their markets. We call on international organizations and bilateral donors to assist the 
development of their services sector. In that regar d, we affirm our commitment to develop 
the service sector with the view to addressing supply side constraints, and call on development 
partners and international organizations to support LLDCs to develop their services sectors 
and provide market access to LLDCs service providers;  WT/GC/237  
 
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  26. We commit to strengthen the works of the LLDCs group in Geneva, in order to maintain regular 
meetings, share experiences and seek for enhanced support including capacity building for 
LLDCs, in the main areas of work of the WTO: mo nitoring, rules making, dispute settlement 
and capacity building. This effort should allow the Group to enhance our role and establish 
work plan;  
27. In view of the continued hardships in international trade suffered by the LLDCs, we stress the 
importance to have a specific Work Programme for LLDCs in the WTO that will study the special 
needs, challenges and vulnerabilities of LLDCs in order to increase their participation in the 
MTS. We call for exploratory discussions on the establishment of this Work Progra mme to take 
place in the Committee on Trade and Development and for the Committee to report to the 
13th Ministerial Conference on the outcome of these discussions;  
28. We recognize the significant contribution to the strengthening of the MTS of the LLDCs that 
acceded under Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO. For a balanced 
outcome of trade liberalization negotiations, we stress the need to take into account the 
extensive commitments undertaken by the Article XII Members upon their acces sion to the 
WTO;  
29. We recognize the increasing role of environmental sustainability in international trade, and 
the impact of climate change on trade of the LLDCs. In this framework, we call upon the LLDCs 
to pay more attention to address their trade -relate d environmental issues, provide 
comprehensive review on this matter and share their best practices based on past 
experiences;  
30. We express appreciation to the Governments of Kazakhstan and Switzerland for hosting of the 
12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Gen eva and we look forward to a balanced and inclusive 
outcome that takes into account the needs of the most vulnerable;  
31. We request UN –OHRLLS, WTO, UNCTAD, UN Regional Commissions, UNDP, ITC, ITU, and 
WCO, among others in close cooperation and coordination w ith relevant organizations and 
stakeholders of recipient countries to continue to assist the LLDCs in their effective 
participation and negotiations in international trade.  
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