WT/MIN(22)/ST/ 93 
12 June 2022 
(22-4531) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MRS BATMUNKH BATTSETSEG  
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS  
MONGOLIA  
It is my great pleasure and honour to address this Conference on behalf of the Government of 
Mongolia.  
 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Governments of Switzerland and Kazakhstan for 
co-hosting the WTO 12th Ministerial Conference and to the Secretariat of the WTO for their 
outstanding work to convene this Conference.  
 
Mongolia is in the view that the multilateral trading system is an import ant tool to support global 
economic growth and international efforts to achieve sustainable development goals through 
liberalizing world trade and improving access to foreign markets.  
 
The COVID -19 pandemic has posed unforeseen challenges to the multilater al trading system and 
exposed many global fragilities and vulnerabilities, not only in health sector but also in the economy.  
 
LLDCs are especially in a vulnerable situation during the pandemic as border closures and social 
distancing measures imposed by g overnments across the world severely reducing their economic 
activity.  
 
In this regard, Mongolia recalls the LLDCS Ministerial Declarations adopted at the margins of the 
15th session of the Ministerial Conference of the UNCTAD and the 12th Ministerial Conf erence of the 
WTO in 2021 respectively, which recognizes the need to address the trade, investment and 
development challenges of the LLDCs.  
 
As a landlocked developing country, Mongolia attaches great importance to transport and trade 
facilitation issues and looks forward to the successful implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation 
Agreement, which contains globally binding commitments to ensure the freedom of transit and 
removal of transit transport impediments.  
 
Mongolia aligns itse lf with the positions of the group of G -33 on the issue of a permanent solution 
on public stockholding /PSH/ for food security purposes and establishment of agricultural special 
safeguard mechanism /SSM/.  
 
Mongolia also attaches great importance to grantin g special and differential treatment to developing 
countries in all areas of negotiations within the WTO, especially in agriculture issues and we fully 
support the relevant initiatives proposed on this matter by the developing Members.  
 
Mongolia supports the members ' proposal on a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS 
Agreement in relation to health products, technologies, and their methods of manufacture for the 
prevention, containment, and treatment of COVID -19. 
 
The WTO reform should be a priority  for us and  Mongolia believes that improving and reforming the 
multilateral trading system is in the interests of all Members, including large and small, developed 
and developing. Essentially, the Members are encouraged to engage in constructive and meanin gful 
discussion on further steps to restore a fully functioning Appellate body.  
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  The Members are working hard to bridge the gaps in the agricultural negotiations and build upon 
what has been achieved at Bali and Nairobi. We all have to display the spirit o f cooperation and 
maximum flexibility at this particular juncture of the multilateral trading system.  
 
Considering the emerging issues for our country, such as e -commerce, micro, small, and 
medium -size enterprises (MSME)s and investment facilitation, Mong olia has become a part of the 
joint statement initiatives on these issues and is in the process of framing its policy to better 
understand implications and opportunities for developing countries.  
 
Mongolia welcomes the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference as a n important opportunity for WTO 
Members to collectively reaffirm their commitment to fair trade and to a reliable, rules -based 
predictable, and transparent multilateral trading system.  
 
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