WT/MIN(22)/ST/62  
12 June 2022 
(22-4499) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H ON. MS MARY NG  
MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE, EXPORT PROMOTION,  
SMALL BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  
CANADA  
Je suis heureuse d'être ici à Genève pour la douzième Conférence ministérielle de l'OMC – un 
événement que nous attendions depuis des années. [I am pleased to be here in Geneva at the WTO 's 
Twelfth Ministerial Conference – an event we have been anticipatin g for years.]  
 
Since we last met as a body, the world has undergone both a health crisis and an economic crisis.  
 
We are now facing another challenge - the illegal invasion of a democratic country that shook the 
international rules -based order.  
 
Russia 's unprovoked and illegal aggression against Ukraine threatens global economic recovery, 
destabilizes international supply chains and created a global food security crisis - threatening our 
ability to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and underm ines the work of the WTO. 
That should be a concern for every WTO member.  
 
Let me be clear that the international community cannot continue in a business as usual manner.  
 
Russia 's actions have consequences. Canada has implemented a number of economic and financial 
measures against Russia and calls upon others to take appropriate measures to hasten an end to 
this unjustified invasion.   
 
Canada will continue to stand firmly with Ukraine in the protection of their people and their territorial 
integrity. Once again, I urge others to do the same.  
 
It is imperative that we send the message at MC12 that we have a strong commitment to maintaining 
open and principled trade and upholding the rules -based international order.  
 
At its foundation, that is  why we are all here.   
 
I would like to commend our collective efforts to make progress on a range of important issues in 
advance of MC12.  
 
As Chair of the Ottawa Group, I can attest to the importance that Members place on multilateralism 
and rules -based trade.  
 
We remain committed to delivering a meaningful multilateral response from the WTO on the 
COVID19 pandemic. We must ensure that this body takes the hard lessons learned from this 
pandemic so that we are prepared for future health crisis.   
 
After years of negotiations, we are finally close to concluding negotiations on fisheries subsidies. I 
recognize the significant efforts undertaken, and I hope that we can all commit to delivering a 
meaningful outcome to achieve our sustainable development goals and shared environmental 
ambitions.   
 
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  We must also deliver a strong WTO response to the current global food security crisis. Work on 
agricult ure remains a priority for Canada, and I look forward to working in Geneva to set us on a 
productive path.  
 
Canada believes that the proposed work in the Ministerial Declaration on Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures would increase the predictability of g lobal trade in agriculture products, which is why I ask 
Members to adopt this Ministerial declaration at MC12.  
 
We call on Ministers to renew the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. 
Renewal as it would send the right signal to busines s and consumers and support the continued 
development of global e -commerce.  
 
Canada welcomes the positive outcome of the Joint Statement Initiatives on services domestic 
regulations and we see a foundation on which we can build for ongoing JSIs. We must co ntinue this 
plurilateral work to achieve meaningful and timely outcomes on e -commerce and investment 
facilitation.  
 
As Chair of the Ottawa Group, which was formed to collaborate on strengthening and modernizing 
the WTO, I can share that achieving meaningfu l WTO reform and promoting the value of this 
institution remains a priority.  
 
This includes engaging on a multilateral solution to the appellate body impasse, with the goal of 
creating a dispute settlement system that works for everyone. We look forward to  continued 
constructive discussions in doing so.  
 
A predictable and open international trading system that is sustainable and inclusive can support us 
in responding to global shocks while building prosperity for all Members.  
 
We must continue the work to ensure we take advantage of the tools of trade to address the 
environmental and climate crisis, to advance work on trade and gender, and to enhance micro, small 
and medium enterprises ' participation in trade.   
 
And, finally, I want to convey that Canada  is committed to collaborating and tackle the difficult issues 
we have encountered – to ensure the WTO works for and benefits all of our citizens, and to do this, 
we must continue to exercise more creativity and more political will to move forward . 
 
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