WT/MIN(22)/ST/ 22 
12 June 2022 
(22-4458) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR  VALDIS DOMBROVSKIS  
EXECUTIVE VICE -PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION  
EUROPEAN UNION 
This WTO Ministerial comes at a critical moment, when the world is facing huge economic and 
geopolitical challenges.  
 
The WTO can, and must, play a central role in the global response.  
 
We are still dealing with the consequences of the pandemic.  
 
And now, we face a second global crisis: Russia’s brutal and illegal aggression against Ukraine.  
 
This war has brought catastrophic los s of life and human suffering to Ukraine.  
  
It poses a fundamental challenge to the rules -based international order.  
 
This is why we are working with our partners to ensure that support for Ukraine features prominently 
at MC12.  
 
More broadly, the destabilizing impact on the global economy is clear. Inflation is surging. Energy 
and food prices are spiking. The developing world in particular faces worrying food security 
challenges caused by the Russian blockade of Ukrainian grain exports.  
 
The multil ateral trading system is the best way forward. However, this system - with the WTO at its 
centre - lacks the appropriate rules and tools to take action.  
 
So, we urgently need to take the WTO rulebook into the 21st century. The European Union is the 
stronge st advocate for root -and-branch reform. This reform should focus principally on dispute 
settlement, but also on negotiating and monitoring functions.  
 
We want to equip the Organization with tools to deal with evolving challenges. This applies to the 
global  economy and supply chains. But equally, it applies to food security, pandemics, and 
sustainability issues.  
 
On trade and health, the WTO has been working on its response to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
 
The EU has been engaging tirelessly in these discussions f or many months now. We have worked 
extremely hard with India, South Africa and the U.S. to find solutions on intellectual property in the 
so-called Quad format.  
 
In our view, the only meaningful solution will support the manufacturing of vaccines, while 
preserving an effective intellectual property system for the future. We hope that the Quad outcome 
will obtain the support of all WTO Members.  
 
The global trading system must also play its part to protect our planet. Of course, the WTO will not 
solve all the  problems linked to sustainability and climate change.  
 
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  But it must certainly do more. Progress on sustainability is within reach in the fisheries subsidies 
negotiations. Here, the EU is pushing for a robust agreement.  
 
Failure to achieve this would repre sent a blow to WTO multilateral negotiations and sustainability 
issues.  
 
Finally, the EU wants to work with other Members on a reform process in agriculture.  
 
We have invested a big effort to address harmful trade -distorting policies. And, we want others t o 
move in the same direction.  
 
We firmly believe that MC12 should launch work programmes on the entire agricultural agenda. 
A particular focus should be placed on trade -distorting support, transparency and public 
stockholding.  
 
We also need a credible WTO response to the emerging food security crisis. The EU attaches great 
importance to this issue. This is why we will work towards a multilateral food security package at 
MC12.  
 
The world we live in today is a digital world. Every single WTO Memb er is undertaking a digital 
transition of its economy and society.  
 
The WTO rulebook needs to catch up to this reality. Therefore, at MC12, we should extend the 
e-commerce moratorium. This is critical for businesses around the globe and it would show that the 
WTO can make a difference in the digital arena.  
 
Failure to do so would be a major step backwards.  
 
To conclude, MC12 offers a huge opportunity.  
 
Now is the time for the WTO membership to display courage, vision, and vitality. In such testing 
times, th e multilateral response is the best way forward.  
 
So, let us not miss this chance.  
 
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