WT/MIN(22)/11  
TN/AG/GEN/52  
TN/AG/SCC/GEN/24  
 
12 June 2022  
(22-4571) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelf th Session  
Geneva, 12-15 June  2022 Original:  French   
 
 
 
MINISTERIAL DECLARATION ON COTTON  
Communication from the co -sponsors of the Sectoral Initiative in  
Favour of Cotton1 plus Côte d'Ivoire  
The following communication, dated 11 June 2022, is circulated at the request of the delegation of 
Burkina Faso on behalf of the co -sponsors of the Sectoral Initiative in Favour of Cotton plus 
Côte d'Ivoire.  
 
_______________  
 
 
We, the Trade Ministers of the four co -sponsors of the Sectoral Initiative in Favour of Cotton (C -4) 
plus Côte d'Ivoire, at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva,  
 
o Stressing:  
 
• that the issue of cotton is of vital importance for the economies and populations of 
cotton -producing and exporting African countries and, in particular, least developed 
countries (LDCs);  
 
• that this support and these subsidies continue to seriously disrupt world cotton prices and 
that one of the main consequences of this dis ruption is the significant loss of income suffered 
by millions of people in cotton -producing and exporting African countries and LDCs;  
 
• the crucial role of the cotton sector in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 
notably as regards the figh t against poverty and the contribution to food security in cotton 
producing and exporting African countries and LDCs;  
 
o Taking into account the need to empower women and young people in rural areas;  
 
o Recognizing the vital needs of African cotton -producing countries in general and of the  C-4 in 
particular, and the structural constraints exacerbated by the COVID -19 pandemic on the cotton 
sector;  
 
o Reaffirming our deep concern at the lack of substantial , concrete and measurable  outcomes in 
the multilateral trade negotiations on domestic support for cotton, despite the mandate issued 
in December 2005 in Hong Kong;   
 
o Having assessed  all the outcomes of the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference held in Buenos 
Aires (Argentina) from 10 to 13 December 2017;   
 
o Having also assessed  the negative impact, on the economies and social conditions of 
the cotton -producing populations in African countries, in LDCs and, in particular, in the C -4 
countries, of domestic support that creates distortion, of export subsidies, and of any other form 
of cotton subsidy with equivalent effects granted by certain WTO Members;  
 
1 Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali. WT/MIN(22)/11 • TN/AG/GEN/52 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/24  
 
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o Recalling:  
 
- the Ministerial Decisions on Cotton adopted on 1 August 2004 in Geneva and on 
22 December  2005 in Hong Kong, issuing a specific mandate to address cotton 
"ambitiously, expeditiously and specifically";   
 
- Decision WT/MIN(15)/46  - WT/L/981 dated 19 December 2015, of the Tenth WTO Ministerial 
Conference held in Nairobi (Kenya) from 15 to 19 December 2015, and the need to achieve 
substantive, concrete and measurable outcomes for cotton;  
 
• the conclusions and observations formulated at the close of the various sessions of the WTO 
Director -General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton, held in Geneva, and 
following the post -Buenos Aires multilateral trade negotiations on cotton;  
 
▪ UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/75/318 of 30 August 2021 underscoring the 
historical importance of cotton as a global commodity  and the vital role that cotton plays in 
several Member States by providing livelihoods and as a subsistence crop for millions of 
people, and its broader e conomic and social impacts  around the world;  
 
1. Reiterate the pressing demand of several countries that produce and export cotton and 
cotton -related products to reach a concrete and fair Agreement and to bring about 
agricultural policy reforms, with a view t o eliminating the distorting effects of all forms of 
support for the cotton sector;   
 
2. Urgently c all upon all WTO Members granting domestic support that distorts the 
international cotton market to strive for further progress in the work on cotton and to 
notify, on a regular basis and to ensure transparency, up -to-date information on the 
domestic support granted to their cotton producers, in order to effectively meet the 
objectives set for this vital issue;   
 
3. Emphasize the need to explore all possible solutio ns that would adequately respond to 
and take into consideration the vital and trade -related concerns of several million producers 
regarding domestic support for cotton;   
 
4. Once again express our confidence in our negotiators in Geneva and, at the same time,  
give them a fresh mandate to pursue the negotiations on cotton;  
 
5. Remain committed to concluding the Doha Round of negotiations, taking account of the 
legitimate concerns of developing countries and, more particularly, those of LDCs, which 
include several African countries, notably the C -4 countries;  
 
6. Express our readiness to continue t he reforms under way in the cotton sector in our 
countries;   
 
7. Reaffirm our support for the preservation of a multilateral trading system based on WTO 
rules;   
 
8. Express our gratitude to the South -South, North -South, bilateral, regional and multilateral 
development partners for their support for capacity -building activities with respect to the 
production, processing and exportation of cotton and cotton by -products in African 
countries, in LDCs and, in particular, in the C -4 countries;   
 
9. Re-extend the invitation to all the development partners (bilateral, regional and 
multilateral) to contribute to the implementation of the integrative and regional 
programme, most notably the "Cotton Roadmap Programme",  so as to ensure the 
development of value chains in the cotton sector in the beneficiary countries, with a view 
to truly making this sector an instrument for creating jobs, combating poverty and illegal 
migration, improving food security, and sustainable and inclusive economic and social 
developme nt;  
 WT/MIN(22)/11 • TN/AG/GEN/52 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/24  
 
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10. Once again express our appreciation to all the partners that have contributed to the 
successful implementation of the "Project on technology transfer for cotton by -products in 
eight (8) pilot African LDCs";  
 
11. Urge our technical and financial partners  to contribute to the implementation of 
integrative  programmes and projects that could promote the production, processing and 
marketing of cotton and its by -products in accordance with the development component of 
the MC10 Ministerial Decision on Cotton;   
 
12. Welcome the active involvement of our partners to ensure the successful celebration of 
the first, second and third editions of World Cotton Day, held at WTO Headquarters in 
Geneva, in the capitals of the C -4 countries and in other cotton -producing countri es 
respectively on 7 October 2019, 2020 and 2021, and invite them to continue to support 
the effective implementation of, and harmonious follow -up to, the recommendations 
arising from this important event;   
 
13. Welcome the commitment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Trade 
Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to 
maintaining their support for the implementation of projects and programmes in the 
cotton/text ile, and their by -products , sector in the C -4 countries;   
 
14. Welcome the commitment and support of Member States  for the adoption, by the 
UN General Assembly, of Resolution A/RES/75/318 of 30 August 2021, proclaiming 
7 October World Cotton Day (WCD);  
 
15. Invite  Member States to celebrate this Day, in an appropriate manner, in accordance with 
national priorities, in order to raise awareness of the importance of cotton production, 
processing and trade, as well as the specific challenges and emerging opportunities for 
developing countries in general and for LDCs in particular.   
 
 
Done at Geneva on 11 June 2022  
 
__________