WT/MIN(22)/ST/ 6 
12 June 2022  
(22-4442) Page: 1/1 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR JEAN -LUCIEN BUSSA TONGBA  
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN TRADE  
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 
This twice-postponed session of the Ministerial Conference of the body for regulating and promoting 
international trade is taking place in an unusual context, marked by the war in Ukraine and the 
COVID -19 pandemic, which are adversely affecting international t rade. 
 
Growing protectionism and new joint initiatives developing in parallel with ongoing negotiations, in 
addition to the issues on the current negotiating agenda, requires a proactive commitment by all 
parties to overcome the impasse in seeking solution s to the main issues, which should lead to the 
elimination of global trade distortions.  
 
At this point, it is worth recalling the persistent lack of consensus in negotiations on crucial topics 
since Bali, Nairobi and Buenos Aires.  
 
Negotiations on the deve lopment of global value chains, preferential market access for least 
developed countries, the removal of non -tariff barriers in all their forms, and the elimination of 
export subsidies for agricultural and fisheries products should lead to consensus on tra de promotion 
mechanisms.  
 
The Democratic Republic of the Congo trusts that the expert  level negotiations, to be continued by 
Ministers during the present session, will lead to suitable and consensus -based solutions that 
strengthen our trad e order, in which  the practice of  free trade is guaranteed by fair, transparent, 
non-discriminatory and predictable rules, driving the growth of all economies , of developed, 
developing and least  developed countries alike.  
 
I take this opportunity to emphasize that my count ry supports the statements made by the 
representatives of the negotiating groups to which it belongs, and these statements constitute the 
positions that it defends in the negotiations.  
 
A further issue of concern to me is the negotiating capacity of Members whose development levels 
and financial means vary.  
 
For the sake of solidarity, I wonder whether now would be a good time for us to consider a solidarity 
mechanism beyond flexibilities in the rules that would facilitate the operation of permanent 
representations in Geneva and ease the contribution burden for LDCs in general, especially for those 
in Africa.  
 
Indeed, this system, which the Democratic Republic of the Congo joined as an original Member, has 
aroused and continues to arouse interest in m y country given the widely recognized advantages of 
the WTO, including: contributing to the maintenance of peace, peaceful and constructive dispute 
settlement, reducing living costs through trade liberalization, a wider product range on the market, 
increas ed income, and protect ing governments against pressure.  
 
To conclude, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is participating in the Twelfth Ministerial 
Conference  with the firm intention of contributing, alongside the other Member countries, to the 
consolid ation of the multilateral trading system and to the success of this session , with much 
stronger outcomes than previous sessions and brought to a close with  a Ministerial Declaration . 
 
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