WT/MIN(24)/ST/72  
26 February  2024 
(24-1565) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original:  French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR  ABDOU KARIM FOFANA  
MINISTER OF TRADE, CONSUMPTION AND SMES  
SENEGAL  
From the outset, I should like  to thank the United Arab Emirates and the WTO Secretariat for the 
outstanding organization of th e Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference.  
I should also like to congratulate Comoros and Timor -Leste on their accession to the WTO, after 
many years of negotiation s. 
This Ministerial Conference is taking place against the backdrop of  the multilateral trade system 
grappling with the continuing effects of the health crisis, climate change and trade inequalities that 
are widening disparities between countries.  
To addre ss these multifaceted challenges, it is imperative that the WTO tackle existing imbalances 
in the various trade agreements among its Members.  
It is for this reason that Senegal supports a reform of the Agreement on Agriculture to reduce 
existing asymmetri es, by priorit izing issues relat ed to food security and resilience. Such issues 
include trade -distorting domestic support for inter alia  cotton, the special safeguard mechanism, 
public stockholding for food security purposes, and export prohibitions and re strictions.  
With respect to the second wave of negotiations on subsidies contributing to overcapacity and 
overfishing, Senegal recalls that  the disciplines must be based on the principle of common but 
differentiated responsibility.  
In this connection, it i s important to exclude small -scale and artisanal fishing from the scope of the 
Agreement, so that developing countries have sufficient policy space to support this sector which is 
vital to their economies.  
Furthermore, the Agreement should not challenge th e sovereignty of Members in their own exclusive 
economic zones (EEZ).  
Lastly, in line with target 14.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals, special and differential 
treatment must be an integral part of the disciplines.  
With respect to the negotiations to obtain a set of measures for the  smooth transition of graduated 
LDCs, my delegation welcomes the General Council's adoption of Annex  1 containing the draft 
decision from the LDC  Group on the extension , by preference -granting Members, of unilateral 
preferential measures to LDCs for an appropriate period of time after graduation  from the LDC 
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  The adoption of the Annex 21 draft decision would also allow graduated LDCs to continue to benefit 
from the international support measure s provided for in various WTO legal instruments after 
graduation and to consolidate their economic performance.  
In addition to LDCs, developing countries need sufficient room for manoeuvre to promote their 
industrial development. That is why  all special and differentia l treatment provisions adopted in their 
favour must not only be applied effectively but also be strengthened .  
In this context, I urge Members to engage constructively to find pragmatic s olutions to the 10 G90 
agreement -specific proposals on special and differential treatment.  
On the matter of  WTO reform, this must follow an inclusive and transparent process , and take into 
account the capacity constraints of developing countries and LDCs.  
Moreover, Appellate Body judges must be appointed  as soon as possible so that  the WTO will, once 
again, have  a fully functioning dispute settlement body.  
Similarly, environmental sustainability must be a key concern in all our trade transactions. By 
encouraging environmentally sound practices, promoting renewable energy and integrating 
ecological criteria into our trade agreements, we can build a future where trade does not compromise 
the health of our planet.  
However, the fight against climate change mus t not be used as a pretext to prevent developing 
countries from using their fossil energy sources to promote their industrial development. Not must 
it be used to erect non-tariff barriers against developing countries' exports.  
With respect to the moratori um on electronic transmissions, Senegal considers customs duties to be 
an important trade policy instrument for a State, and that customs revenues account for a significant 
share of the budget of developing countries.  
It is f or this reason  that, even thou gh my delegation is in favour of extending the moratorium, we 
are of the view that, after 26  years of its implementation and in view of the continuing growth of 
e-commerce,  it is important to assess  the impact of the moratorium on customs revenues, and  to 
clarify  the definition and scope of electronic transmissions.  
To conclude, Senegal supports the statements made on behalf of the African  Group , the ACP Group , 
the LDC Group , the G33 and the G90, as well as WAEMU  member States, and wishes the Conference 
every success in its work.  
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1 This Annex covers smooth transition support measures in favour of  countries graduat ed from the LDC 
category , in the form of technical assistance and special and differential treatment.