WT/MIN(24)/ST/20  
26 February  2024 
(24-1450) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY HON. MS MARY NG  
MINISTER OF EXPORT PROMOTION, INTERNATIONAL  
TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  
CANADA  
Je suis heureuse d 'être ici à Abu Dhabi pour la treizième Conférence ministérielle de l 'OMC.  
[I am pleased to be here in Abu Dhabi at the WTO's Thirteenth Ministerial Conference.]   
 
I'd like to thank H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi for hosting us.   
 
And welcome our newest Members, Comoros and Timor -Leste.  Congratulations on your accession to 
this important Organization!   
 
We've all faced  many challenges that destabilize international supply chains and threaten our global 
economic stability and recovery. None of us is immune to them.   
 
That's why Canada believes it is more important than ever  to invest in  and strengthen the 
multilateral ru les-based order to support our businesses, our workers, and our consumers.   
 
And it 's my job as Canada 's trade minister to advocate for stable, predictable, rules -based trade that 
creates more good jobs and economic opportunities for Canadians.  
 
This bene fits all our people.   
 
But this would not be possible without the WTO.   
 
As Members, we have a responsibility to ensure that the benefits of trade are more equitably shared 
within our own  societies.   
 
We each have key issues we 'd like to address to achieve this, so let us use MC13 as an opportunity 
to reiterate our strong commi tment to maintaining an open, fair, inclusive, sustainable and 
rules-based international trading system with a strong, responsive WTO at its core.   
 
This is the only way to ensure an inclusive, innovative, and well -functioning global trade and 
investment e nvironment.   
 
We also recognize that the WTO needs to reform and modernize to be able to address current and 
future challenges.   
 
But we must not discount all the hard work and the progress we 've made on a range of important 
issues.   
 
I can tell you that Canada has advanced specific initiatives to modernize  the WTO, to support better 
participation by Members and promote the value of this institution.   
 
And that Canada is firmly committed to working with all Members to deliver long -overdue agriculture 
reform that  supports our shared food security and sustainability objectives, reduces market 
distortions and promotes a level trade environment.   
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  Specifically, we should focus on developing a comprehensive, holistic, trade -liberalizing reform 
package on ag riculture that does not dismantle or weaken existing rules.   
 
I am encouraged by progress on ratifying the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, the renewal of the 
e-commerce moratorium and the work programme, and I hope to see positive outcomes.   
 
And we should celebrate the considerable progress we 've made on addressing the reform interests 
of Members – notably, accessibility for developing Members – and continue to engage creatively and 
constructively to resolve the remaining issues.    
 
This year, we should als o continue to work toward establishing a fully and well -functioning dispute 
settlement system accessible to all Members as soon as possible.   
 
And ensure that the WTO considers issues that will be important in years to come, like industrial 
policy, and tra de and the environment.   
 
I look forward to a very productive week during which we come together to solidify progress made 
so far.   
 
And set the stage for continued progress after we leave Abu Dhabi.   
 
I will close by reiterating Canada 's commitment to wor king collaboratively to tackle issues to ensure 
that the WTO continues to work for all Members and benefit all our workers, businesses, and 
communities.  
 
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