WT/MIN(24)/ST/13  
26 February  2024 
(24-1433) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February  2024  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR  ALBERTO VAN KLAVEREN  
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS  
CHILE 
It is an honour to address you on the occasion of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the 
World  Trade  Organization.  
 
I should like to start by extending our special appreciation to His  Excellency, 
Dr Thani  bin Ahmed  Al Zeyoudi, Minister for Foreign T rade of the United Arab Emirates, who is 
hosting us in Abu  Dhabi, and to WTO  Director -General, Ms  Ngozi  Okonjo -Iweala, for her leadership 
in building a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable multilateral trading system.  
 
This Conference is an opportuni ty to reaffirm Chile's solid commitment to the multilateral trading 
system, with the WTO at its centre.  
 
Multilateralism , in Chile's view, is  not merely an option, but a necessity to address challenges whose  
solutions demand joint action by our countries.   
 
International trade has undoubtedly made positive contributions to our societies. However, we 
cannot ignore the growing challenges we must address in this regard:  
 
• the triple planetary crisis,  
• food insecurity,  
• technological and digital gaps,  
• the low participation of certain groups in international trade, and  
• protectionism and trade tensions.  
 
To that end, Chile is committed to continue supporting and working constructively on reform across 
the WTO's three pil lars. These efforts will allow the WTO to develop proposals. Responding to these 
issues requires urgent attention and action.  
 
In this connection, we welcome the initiative to hold a discussion at ministerial level on climate 
change, inclusion and product ivity on the first day of the Conference. We recognize the 
interconnected  nature  of these issues and the need to address them together.  
 
We have high expectations for the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference, and we hope that it results in 
concrete and meani ngful solutions and achievements.  
 
Most notably, we believe it is important to incorporate the Agreement on Investment Facilitation for 
Development into the WTO architecture. Such a step is crucial for ensuring that developing and 
least-developed countrie s are able to attract not only more, but also better investment that improve s 
people's living conditions.  
 
Similarly, we call for the conclusion of the second wave of negotiations on fisheries subsidies , the 
aim being  to achieve high environmental standards that will ensure the conservation of marine 
resources and the long -term viability of this productive sector, while safeguarding artisanal fishing 
in our countries.  
 WT/MIN(24)/ST/13  
 
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  We support significant and balanced reform of the Agreement on Agriculture, while fulfilling 
outstanding commitments from the Uruguay Round.  
 
Similarly, the extension of the moratorium on electronic transmissions is essential for maintaining a 
dynamic and reliable digital environment. It is our duty to facilitate the integrat ion of  women and 
MSMEs into global value chains.  
 
Lastly, it is imperative to overcome the current impasse and reinforce the WTO dispute settlement 
mechanism, in line with the mandate given by the WTO's Twelfth Ministerial Conference .  
 
All these initiatives and objectives reflect our continued commitment to a multilateral trading system 
that is effective, inclusive and sustainable. At this Thirteenth Ministerial Conference, WTO Members 
must work together to deliver tangible progress to improve the living conditions of our citizens.  
 
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