WT/MIN(22)/ST/41  
12 June 2022 
(22-4479) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H ON. SENATOR  MS KEISAL PETERS  
MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS  
AND FOREIGN TRADE  
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES  ON BEHALF OF OECS   
It is with the deepest honour that I deliver this statement on behalf of the governments and people 
of the WTO Members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). At the outset, let me 
state that the OECS is aligned with the statements by the C ooperative Republic of Guyana and 
Jamaica on behalf of the CARICOM and ACP Groups respectively.  
 
The OECS takes this opportunity to renew its commitment to a more viable and durable multilateral 
trading system with the WTO at its core.  
 
As Small Island De veloping States (SIDS) and Small Vulnerable Economies (SVEs), OECS countries 
are exposed to a high degree of economic openness, often with a heavy reliance on imports, 
especially to meet our food and energy needs.  
 
Furthermore, we have narrow production s tructures, a limited range of exports of goods and 
services, and face persistent susceptibility to external shocks, such as the current global COVID -19 
pandemic, food and energy crises and supply chain challenges. These shocks tend to impact on us 
more sev erely and our recovery time tends to be much longer compared to larger and more 
advanced economies.  
 
Of course, it would be remiss of me not to mention the daily lived reality of the threat of climate 
change and natural disasters. The impact of these thre ats can, and do, bring all economic activity 
to a standstill when they occur, including our ability to trade.  
 
Even as we contend with these challenges, we have seen a reduction in trade preferences, 
concessional financing, and development assistance. Som e argue, and quite erroneously so, that 
our status as middle -to-high income countries should exclude us from having the policy space and 
tangible assistance required to pursue our development interests. These arguments do not take into 
account our inherent  vulnerabilities.  
 
It is in this context that we recall the spirit and letter of the Marrakesh Agreement which recognizes 
that, among other things, our trade and economic relations should be conducted with the objective 
of sustainable development; and tha t we must ensure that developing and least -developed country 
Members secure a share in the growth in international trade commensurate with the needs of their 
economic development.  
 
Our deliberations at MC12 and after must return to the spirit of Marrakesh. As a matter of priority, 
we have to seek to strengthen and not undermine the policy space that we need as developing 
countries to practice our development.  
 
Before I close, I want to state that the OECS looks forward to meaningful outcomes on a wide range 
of issues at MC12.  
 
After negotiating now for over twenty years, securing a meaningful agreement on fisheries subsidies 
is essential. In addition to drastically reducing harmful fisheries subsidies and practices, this 
agreement must have at its core, as per our mandate, appropriate and effective SDT for developing WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 41 
 
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  countries and least -developed countries. In this regard, a small players ' exemption and a carveout 
for artisanal fishing are critical to the retention of our policy space to further dev elop this sector.  
 
Agriculture remains central to our economies, and we are very disappointed at what appears to be 
a low level of ambition for an outcome package in this area. Nonetheless, we will contribute 
meaningfully to any future work programme acro ss the various agriculture pillars. The OECS is also 
hoping that other Ministers can join us in agreeing to a decision which exempts purchases made by 
the World Food Programme (WFP) from export restrictions.  
 
Additionally, in light of longstanding challen ges to our food security which predate both the pandemic 
and more recent disruptions to global food markets, we are also looking forward to joining a 
consensus on a food security declaration.  
 
We certainly welcome the fact that one of the early harvests f or MC12, achieved since last year, was 
a Ministerial Decision on the Work Programme on Small Economies, which contains elements geared 
towards aiding our fuller integration into the global economy.  
 
In areas such as the Intellectual Property Waiver for CO VID-19 vaccines and a WTO response to the 
pandemic, the OECS sees outcomes in these areas as key.  
 
The final point I will raise relates to the reform of the WTO. We need to strengthen the operations, 
rulemaking and negotiating functions of the WTO. In thi s vein, the OECS supports a multilateral 
reform effort which is open, inclusive and transparent. We also call for the restoration of the two -
tiered dispute settlement system and ask the Member concerned to withdraw its blockage on 
appointments to the Appel late Body.  
 
The OECS looks forward to a successful MC12 and will play a constructive role in ensuring that we 
achieve meaningful outcomes across all negotiating areas.  
 
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