WT/MIN(24)/ST/26  
26 February  2024 
(24-1500) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY HON. MR HUGH TODD, M.P.  
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND  INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION  
ON BEHALF OF GUYANA AND CARICOM  
In this 30th year of the founding of the WTO at Marrakesh, it is an honour for me to deliver this 
statement on behalf of the Member states of the Caribbean Community, which is celebrating its 
50th year as an integration movement for which trade remains one of its most  important dimensions. 
We congratulate the Government and people of the United Arab Emirates for their hosting of this 
Conference and the hospitality extended to us.  
Many of the extraordinary circumstances so prominent when we last met are still evident tw o years 
later. The global economy continues to feel the effects of the polycrisis arising from the COVID -19 
pandemic, devastating armed conflicts, and the existential challenges of climate change that is 
rapidly approaching a tipping point.  
As we declared at MC12, we as small, vulnerable, developing economies, buffeted more than most 
by these catastrophes not of our making, implore the WTO to amplify the development dimension 
of its work, as set out in the Marrakesh Agreement and in various WTO Ministerial decisions and 
declarations and to enable states to address critical issues such as those pertaining to public health. 
We continue to recognise the value of, and commit ourselves to, an open, transparent, equitable 
and inclusive rules -based multilateral tra ding system under the WTO, which effectively and 
appropriately accommodates the differences in capacity that differentiate us.  
The Member States of the Caribbean Community remain fully supportive of a Small Economies Work 
Programme that affords small vulne rable economies flexibilities in the WTO and addresses the 
trade -related economic and environmental concerns raised by our countries as we strive to integrate 
into the global economy.  
For us as small, vulnerable economies, just as it was important for us t o address subsidies to illegal, 
unreported and unregulated fishing, it is also important that we conclude an Agreement on Fisheries 
Subsidies which disciplines harmful subsides provided by countries with large distant -water fleets 
that lead to the depletio n of global fish stocks. Like the effects of climate change on the global 
environment, we have not contributed to the problem of overcapacity and overfishing, and so should 
not be required to eliminate the support required to develop meaningfully our alrea dy small sectors 
and our blue economies. Concluding an appropriate fisheries subsidies agreement at MC13 would 
show that the WTO supports both the sustainability of our fish stocks and the food and livelihood 
security of our people.  
The same holds for the future Work Programme for negotiations on Agriculture. The reform 
programme should address the imbalances in the Agreement on Agriculture, especially those aspects 
of the Agreement that foster trade -distorting domestic support. It must safeguard the flexib ilities 
which allow small, vulnerable economies and Least Developed Members domestic support 
entitlements that enhance our food security and income generation without having to reduce our 
bound tariffs.  WT/MIN(24)/ST/26  
 
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  With respect to WTO reform, CARICOM commends a proce ss that is open, transparent and inclusive 
to ensure that it addresses the interests of all Members. We need a deliberative function that allows 
Members to engage meaningfully on contemporary and emerging issues. In this regard, we should 
continue to consi der the interface between trade, climate and sustainability, while recognising the 
need for flexibilities and tools to help our micro, small and medium sized enterprises and our people 
embrace the green transition and become more competitive. But more impo rtantly, we need a 
reformed dispute settlement system that is more accessible to small States and does not 
disadvantage them in the final resolution of the cases it hears. And, of course, we must ensure that 
reform of the WTO does not undermine the value o f the requisite special and differential treatment 
built into the WTO framework.  
Importantly, Members must direct concerted focus towards fulfilling the promise of Doha to make 
existing special and differential treatment provisions more precise, effective and operational. We 
commend the reinvigoration of the process to consider the Agreement Specific Proposals on special 
and differential treatment and implore all Members to intensify their engagement with a view to 
achieving a meaningful outcome.  
We furthe r recognize that our work must support and respond to the needs of the most vulnerable 
amongst us. Therefore, it is essential that we adopt the remaining measures that would support the 
transition of Members which are graduating from the Least Developed Co untry category.  
We attach importance to the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and applaud the 
reinvigorated collective engagement that has taken place since MC12.  We therefore support the 
meaningful continuation of deepened discussion on e -commerce tra de related issues that would help 
Members to collectively address the constraints to our effective participation in global markets 
through e -commerce. In this vein, we also support continuing the moratorium on the application of 
customs duties on electroni c transmissions as we continue our discussion about its impact and utility 
for all Members.  
In closing, we wish to underscore the importance of an international environment of peace and 
security to enable sustainable development and the thriving of interna tional trade as an engine in 
that regard.  
Finally, CARICOM commends the Director -General for her inclusive leadership and reiterates its 
support for the shared vision of ensuring that the WTO works collectively for all its Members, 
whatever the size of their economy or their level of development.  
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