WT/MIN(22)/ST/47  
12 June 2022 
(22-4484) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. DR. KHAMPHENG SAYSOMPHENG  
MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE  
LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC  
First of all, please allow me to express my sincere appreciation to the organizing committee for the 
opportunity for the Lao Delegation to deliver a statement at 12th Ministerial Conference and the 
excellent arrangements made for this Conference.  
 
This Ministerial Conference comes at an unprecedented and challenging moment for the functioning 
of international cooperation and the  WTO especially the challenge of COVID 19 pandemic, global 
economic slowdown and climate change. Therefore, in order to prepare and overcome these 
challenges, we need to work together to support and restore the credibility of WTO and demonstrate 
that WTO i s the core of multilateral legal framework and that multilateralism trading system can 
take part in solving the challenges. In this regard, it is believed that the most significant aspect is 
that we send out a signal that the multilateralism system could c ome to consensus decisions on the 
pressing and urgent issues the world is now facing. Therefore, we all need to actively contribute to 
make this Conference a success through meaningful Declarations and Joint Statements that will 
come to serve the works of multilateral trade and to show that we are genuine and willing to maintain 
the relevance and legitimacy of rules -based multilateral trading system to create a world of economic 
integration that is mutually benefitted to everyone.  
 
Lao PDR is well aware th at having a consensus decision from 164 WTO Member is extremely difficult 
and complex since it is linked to a country's interests, level of development, and limitations. 
However, there are no other ways but to work together sincerely and show flexibilities  in order to 
succeed. Lao PDR believes that this Ministerial Conference can be advanced to revitalize and restore 
the trust in the multilateral system, taken into account the following issues:  
 
1. We need come into an agreement on issues that has been disc ussed for long period of time 
and issues that have been previously negotiated particularly on fisheries subsidies, response 
to the pandemic, agricultural related issues, and WTO reform for example.  
 
2. We need to make progress in negotiating issues that ar e important to most WTO members 
and in areas where new rules are needed, such as:  
 
- Agriculture and food security : Lao PDR believes that a package in agriculture 
concentrated on the issue of food security, which covers some of the main issues of these 
negotiations: Public Stock Holding; Domestic Support; Special Safeguard Measures; Export 
Restrictions; Sanitary and Phytosanitary; Technical Barriers to Trade in favour of low -income 
food insecure developing members as a first step would be both feas ible and a strong signal 
that WTO is willing and able to contribute to the achievement sustainable development goals.  
 
- Measures to ensure smooth graduation of LDCs : Graduation candidates need to 
have a roadmap to ensure quality and sustainable graduation . Certainty and predictability of 
access to the markets and the continuing support are essential. WTO is a critical function in 
providing certainty and predictability to international relations. Low -income developing 
members are entitled to have that certa inty in periods of transition.  
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  - The dispute settlement system is an essential part of WTO : We need to rapidly 
review the system to ensure that it works again efficiently. Lao PDR believes that alternative 
ways of solving conflicts should be considered fo r low-income developing members who have 
difficulties defending their interests in a formal dispute settlement procedure.  
 
3. We need to adapt the WTO rules to the new challenges of world trade. While Lao PDR would 
prefer to treat those issues in a multila teral setting, the Joint Statement Initiatives may well 
be the most realistic way of discussing those issues. Lao PDR, therefore, encourages all 
members to consider participating in those discussions on E -Commerce; Investment 
Facilitation for Development; and Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).  
 
4. We need to address the reform of WTO. The world has changed since the creation of WTO and 
so has to change the WTO. While there are many issues to be addressed, let me concentrate 
on two essential issues su ch as:  
  
- The role and meaning of Special and Differential Treatments (SDT) : All members 
of the World Trade Organization agree that special and different practices are important 
principles in the WTO. However, there are still many conflicting ideas about the content and 
who will benefit from this principle because developing member have different levels of 
economic development and different needs for special treatment. Therefore, we need to find 
innovative solutions and consider the economic disparit ies of WTO members by maintaining 
the principle that developing countries cannot be considered as developed countries.  
  
- The way we negotiate plurilateral versus multilateral : WTO has been negotiating 
multilateral trade agreement and plurilateral trade a greement. Although Lao PDR supports the 
multilateral agreement, plurilateral agreement has some advantages for all members. Lao 
PDR has decided that it is in its interest and within its ability to participate in ITA I and ITA 
Expansion. Therefore, it is es sential that plurilateral agreement in the future should take into 
account the interests of those low -income developing members and follow the principles of 
SDT. 
 
Last but not least, Lao PDR as a Least Developed Country realizes that many of the ongoing is sues 
at the WTO is still a challenge for countries with limited human resource capacity to be able to fully 
benefit from the existed Agreements and New Initiatives at the WTO; particularly on the issue of 
being able to fully contribute to the negotiation o n E-Commerce and others. Therefore, we call on 
Members that are currently negotiating on Joint Statement Initiatives to set up a specific fund to 
provide technical assistance to low -income developing countries so that they can effectively play a 
part in ne gotiations. Taking this opportunity, I would like to wish the 12th Ministerial Conference 
every success.  
 
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