WT/GC/203  
 
10 December 2019  
(19-8516) Page: 1/1 
General Council  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT  OF THE RULES -BASED MULTILATERAL TRADING  SYSTEM  
COMMUNICATION FROM A FGHANISTAN; ARGENTIN A; AUSTRALIA; BANGLADESH;  BENIN; 
BRAZIL; BRUNEI DARUS SALAM; BURUNDI; CAMB ODIA; CAMEROON; CANA DA; CHAD; CHILE; 
COLOMBIA; COSTA RICA ; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ; EGYPT; EL SALVADOR ; GRENADA; GUATEMALA ; 
GUYANA; HONG KONG, C HINA; ICELAND; JAMAI CA; KENYA; REPUBLIC OF KOREA;  
THE STATE OF KUWAIT ; LAO PEOPLE 'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLI C; LIECHTENSTEIN; MA LAWI; 
MALAYSIA; MALI; MAUR ITANIA; MEXICO; REPU BLIC OF MOLDOVA; MON GOLIA;  
MONTENEGRO; MYANMAR;  NEW ZEALAND; NIGERI A; NORTH MACEDONIA;  
NORWAY; PAKISTAN, PA NAMA; PARAGUAY; PERU ; QATAR; SAINT KITTS  AND NEVIS ; 
SAINT LUCIA; SAINT V INCENT AND THE GRENA DINES; SENEGAL; SING APORE; SWITZERLAND; 
THAILAND; TRINIDAD A ND TOBAGO; TURKEY; U KRAINE; URUGUAY; VAN UATU AND VIET NAM  
10 December 2019  
The following statement, dated 10 December 2019, is being circulated at the req uest of the 
delegation of Switzerland.  
 
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1.1.  We, a group of 60 of developing and developed Members, are concerned about the challenges 
that the WTO is facing.  
1.2.  We greatly value the WTO and reaffirm the central and indispensable role of the ins titution 
within the rules -based multilateral trading system. We remain committed to full participation in the 
important ongoing, regular work of the WTO. We will continue working together with all Members 
towards delivering meaningful outcomes, including t hrough the WTO 's negotiating function. We will 
intensify our efforts to ensure that the 12th Ministerial Conference is a success.  
1.3.  We reaffirm our commitment to abide by the WTO 's binding rules in the conduct of our trade 
relations, which has helped to fost er international trade and development, provided predictability, 
facilitated the effective settlement of trade disputes, and served as a bulwark against protectionism. 
This has contributed to the strength and stability of the global economy.  
1.4.  The dispute s ettlement system of the WTO is a central element in providing security and 
predictability to the multilateral trading system. We therefore deeply regret that as of 
11 December  2019, the Appellate Body is no longer able to perform its full functions.  
1.5.  We re affirm our strong commitment to the fundamental principles of the WTO dispute 
settlement system, notably the adoption of reports by negative consensus and the two -tier nature 
of the system. We note that the WTO 's dispute settlement system continues to offe r mechanisms 
for the settlement of disputes among Members. We reaffirm our commitment to resolve our trade 
disputes in accordance with the Dispute Settlement Understanding. We call on all Members to engage 
in dispute settlement proceedings in good faith an d to act in a manner conducive to the prompt and 
final settlement of disputes.   
1.6.  We recall our strong  resolve to finding concrete solutions, to identified concerns, under the 
auspices of the WTO 's General Council and stress the urgency of filling all curren t vacancies on the 
Appellate  Body.  
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