WT/MIN(22)/ST/72  
12 June 2022 
(22-4509) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY HON. MS BETTY MAINA , EGH  
CABINET SECRETARY, MINIST RY OF INDUSTRIALIZATION,  
TRADE  AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT  
KENYA 
It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity  to thank the Chair of the Ministerial 
Conference H.E Bakhyt Sultanov , Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan,  and the first woman and the first African Director -General in the history of 
the WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala .  
I simila rly wish  to recognize  my fellow Ministers, the Chair of the General Council, 
Chairpersons of the various WTO Committees, Delegates representing Members, and the 
WTO Secretariat,  who have all contributed to organizing this important Conference.  
Let me also  thank  the Government of Switzerland for hosting the Conference in this beautiful 
city of Geneva.  
Under the stewardship of the D.G., we have made commendable progress in multilateral 
deliberations, particularly in the Fisheries Subsidies, which have taken over 20 years.  
We look forward to other meaningful outcomes on:  
• WTO response to the pandemic  and TRIPS Waiver ;  
• Roadmap on  WTO  Reforms ; 
• Agriculture Reforms ; 
• The Food Crisis ; and 
• Development  in line with the Doha Development Agenda . 
The 12th WTO Ministerial Conference convenes amidst an unprecedented economic situation 
occasioned by the COVID -19 Pandemic , as well as the prevailing geopolitical trends . These 
have presented both trade -related challenges and opportunities the world over, in vary ing 
measures.  The situation has also reminded us of the cardinal place of the multilateral trading 
system in the search for common solutions to cross -border challenges.  
The WTO Members have actively engaged in protracted deliberations seeking ways to 
mitigate the devastating effects of the COVID -19 Pandemic on global trade  and how the 
affected Members could recover better while developing resilience.  
Alongside these discussions is the  longstanding debate on the role of the WTO in responding 
to the Pand emic, particularly  in ramping up the production, and promoting availability and 
equitable access to essential goods and services required in the fight against COVID -19. WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 72 
 
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  Technology is at the core of this debate, and therefore technology transfer, technical assistance, 
and capacity building ought to be given the required prominence. This discussion is vital in 
determining the way forward.  
We are therefore optimistic that the agenda on  WTO response to the Pandemic and TRIPS 
Waiver will be concluded in a manne r that  takes the Members ' aspirations into account .  
As members who care for human life, we need to consider establishing a system that could 
trigger action anytime a pandemic arises in the future  instead of the current process where 
we are witnessing loss  of lives before a waiver is granted.  
Concerning reforms,  Kenya, like most members, is of the considered view that the WTO ought 
to be revamped to align it with the prevailing global economic situation  and to ensure that 
it effectively addresses the policy  and systemic concerns that members, and in particular, 
Developing Countries have with the multilateral trading system.   
We, therefore, look forward to a high-level political commitment by this Conference, which 
will define the path toward comprehensive WTO reforms.   
Agricultural subsidies distort trade and negatively affect the competitiveness of African products in 
the global markets. It is in this respect that agricultural subsidies must be addressed to 
discipline them to create a fair pl ayground for all.  
With regard to Fisheries Subsidies,  Kenya anticipates that the Conference will send an 
unequivocal message on the mutual supportiveness of trade and environment by reaching 
a meaningful agreement that will also reflect the commitments of  the SDG 14.6.   
Development is one of the fundamental aspects of the multilateral trading system anchored in the 
Doha Development Agenda. We wish to reiterate the centrality of Special and Differential 
Treatment as an integral part of the WTO principles th at provide flexibilities to address 
trade and development concerns of Developing Countries.   
This issue has been on the table for far too long. A successful conclusion would ensure that 
developing countries use Special and Differential Treatment  to acceler ate their growth and 
development. In Kenya 's view, we may have to borrow a leaf from the Agreement on Trade 
Facilitation to ensure the outcome responds to each member 's finance, trade, and 
development needs.  
Regarding  the current global food crisis , we hav e witnessed higher food prices that have 
affected the net food -importing countries such as Kenya , compounded by the crisis in some 
parts of the world.  
We need to revisit export bans, especially those imposed to create buffer stock, as they 
hurt the net im porting WTO members.  In the meantime, this Ministerial Conference should 
provide policy guidelines for Developing Countries to offer the support needed to enhance the 
productive capacities of, and economic opportunities for small -scale farmers to improve 
their agricultural productive capacity and access to requisite infrastructure and 
agricultural inputs.  
The socio -economic impacts of the Covid 19 Pandemic, as well as the prevailing geopolitical situation, 
cannot be over -emphasized. The greatest lesson lear ned has been the susceptibility of the global 
supply chains to disruptions and the unpreparedness of WTO Members to mitigate these disruptions.  
As I conclude, I urge Members to seek sustainable measures to address the current and future 
pandemics and cris es that have dire impacts on trade.  
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