WT/MIN(24)/ST/113  
26 February  2024 
(24-1667) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY MONSIGNOR KRYSPIN DUBIEL  
HEAD OF DELEGATION  
HOLY SEE 
(Speaking as an Observer)  
At the outset, my Delegation would like to thank the Government of the United Arab Emirates for 
hosting this Ministerial Conference and its generous hospitality.  
 
The highest body of the World Trade Organization has been reconvened amidst a troubling clim ate 
of international instability. Multiple crises and violent conflicts have disrupted global supply chains, 
with a disproportionate impact on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), threatening their ability to 
rebuild their economies and integrate into the glo bal market.  
 
In this context, the Holy See stresses that a n effective multilateral approach to international trade 
must be "sensitive to the voice of the poor and committed to including them in the building of our 
common future ".1  
 
It is therefore essen tial that the landmark agreement reached at MC12 on Fishery Subsidies enters 
into force and that process initiated in this area is followed up, taking into account the needs of 
fishermen in developing countries, as well as their capacity -constraints in imp lementing sustainable 
fisheries -related measures.   
 
E-commerce is another important issue that requires good governance to ensure the protection of 
consumers and producers through transparent rules, making trade fairer and more equitable. This 
would ultima tely promote a digital economy that supports integral development and facilitates the 
utilization of digital trade opportunities in an inclusive manner.   
 
Nonetheless, t he integration of Developing Countries and LDCs into global food value chains is 
necess ary to ensure food security and economic development in today's globalized world. The Holy 
See, thus, invites Member States to consider not imposing export restrictions on essential food 
commodities destined for food -deficit developing countries, including  net food -importing developing 
countries, and on food aid to countries in emergency situations.   
 
Finally, my Delegation welcomes the negotiations that have taken place in recent months to reach 
an effective and implementable agreement on the extension of the COVID -19 TRIPS waiver beyond 
vaccine patents. This would ensure that the principle of the universal destination of goods is fully 
guaranteed, while balancing the need to promote and protect scientific innovation.   
 
"Whether believers or not, we are agreed today that the earth is essentially a shared inheritance, 
whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone ".2 In this perspective, the greatest challenge before us 
"is to demonstrate, in thinking and behaviour, not only that traditional principles of soc ial ethics like 
transparency, honesty and responsibility cannot be ignored or attenuated, but also that in 
commercial relationships the principle of gratuitousness and the logic of gift as an expression of 
 
1 POPE FRANCIS , Message to the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund 2021 Spring Meetings , 
4 April 2021; cf. IDEM, Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti, n. 169.  
2 POPE FRANCIS , Encyclical Letter Laudato Si ', 93. WT/MIN(24)/ST/113  
 
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  fraternity can and must find their place within no rmal economic activity. This is a human demand at 
the present time, but it is also demanded by economic logic. It is a demand both of charity and of 
truth".3  
 
__________  
 
3 POPE BENEDICT XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate , 36.