WT/MIN( 22)/23 
 
15 June 2022 
(22-4677) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth  Session  
Geneva , 12-15 June  2022 Original: English  
 
 
MINISTERIAL DECLARATION ADOPTED AT THE SECOND MINISTERIAL MEETING  OF THE 
g7+ WTO ACCESSIONS GROUP  
GENEVA , SWITZERLAND , 15 JUNE 2022 
The following communication, dated 15 June 2022 , is being circulated at the request of the Ministers 
responsible for Trade and the Heads of Delegations of Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 
Lebanese Republic, Liberia,  Sierra Leone,  Somalia, South Sudan,  Sudan,  Timor -Leste and Yemen.  
___________ ____  
We, the Ministers responsible for trade  of Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo , Lebanese 
Republic, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Timor -Leste and Yemen, have met 
on 12 June 2022 on the margins of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), for the second 
Ministerial meeting of the g7+ WTO Accessions  Group . 
Recalling that the Ministers of the g7+ WTO Accessions Group first met on 10 Decembe r 2017 during 
the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference and issued a Declaration  contained in document 
WT/M IN(17)/51; and expressing our collective appreciation to Afghanistan  for the coordination of 
the Group in 2018-2020, and to Liberia and Timor -Leste since 2021;    
Welcoming  the participation and support of other Members and Observers  at this Second meeting;  
Recalling  that fragile and conflict -affected states ( FCS) remain  heavily constrained by institutional 
and social fragility and/or violent conflict and  therefore  face serious trade-related challenges, making 
them disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic and the global economic 
downturn;  
Deeply concern ed that many FCS continue to face difficulties in advancing accession negotiations or 
implement ing WTO commitments, unable to fully benefit from the multilateral trading system , which 
expose them to re -occurring risks of increased fragility a nd conflict escalation ;  
Re-iterating the Group's strong belief in the multilateral trading system which should be more 
inclusive, equitable and relevant to the realities of the present; and,  
Welcoming  the launch of the Trade for Peace Programme by the  WTO Secretariat, in response to the 
specific needs expressed by FCS; 
1. We call on the WTO to play an active role in promoting peace and stability, including through 
the Trade for Peace Programme  by the W TO Secretariat  which is aimed at enhancing partnerships 
between the trade, peace and humanitarian communities. We strongly believe in the trade-peace 
nexus and in the integration and effective participation of FCS in the multilateral trading system , 
which  could help them achieve stability  and durable peace necessary for sustainable development .  
2. We re-affirm the key role of the g7+ WTO Accession Group to serve as a platform for  
(i) facilit ating the integration of FCS in  the WTO, including through WTO accession s, and (ii) leading 
the development of the WTO Trade for Peace Programme for all FCS .  WT/MIN(22)/ 23 
 
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  3. We call for the establishment of a n action -oriented  Work Programme on Trade for Peace for 
FCS, as proposed in WT/GC/W/830.  The Work Programme shall aim at enhancing the understanding 
on the trade -peace nexus, in particular, how trade could promote and support peace  in FCS , 
including through the WTO Secretariat's Trade for Peace Programme. To start meaningful discussions 
with Members , the Group plans to su bmit a background paper on FCS to the Committee on Trade 
and Development , so that a decision can be taken on the Group's proposal at the 13th WTO Ministerial 
Conference.  
4. We welcome progress made in the accession negotiations of FCS, in particular, Como ros, 
Ethiopia,  Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Timor -Leste since our last Meeting, despite the 
challenges posed by the COVID -19 pandemic. We urge WTO Members to sustain their engagement 
with and provide necessary support to all FCSs towards expeditious conclusion  of their accessions , 
on terms designed to contribut e to their economic development, peace and stability, and taking 
account of the 2002 and 2012 LDC Accession Guidelines .1 In this regard, the Group expresses full 
support for the finalization of accession  negotiations o f Comoros and Timor -Leste, which are the 
most advanced among FCS accessions, by the end of 2022.   
5. We also welcome the participation of FCS Members  in the work of the WTO, despite the specific 
constraints faced by the m. We urge WTO Members to provide targeted support , which is sensitive 
to their fragile situation s – in particular, to Afghanistan  and Yemen  on their humanitarian  needs on 
the ground.  
6. We remain committed to continue coordinating our efforts to support WTO accessions and 
maximize the benefits of WTO membership for FCSs. We look forward to engaging with the WTO 
Membership and development partners to advance these goals.  
 
______________  
 
 
 
1 WT/L/508 and WT/L/508/Add.1 .