WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 131 
14 June 2022 
(22-4618) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY HON. DR. THABISO MOLAPO  
MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY  
  LESOTHO  
This Ministerial Conference is taking place at a critical time when the whole world is reeling from a 
devastating socio -economic effects of  the Covid -19 pandemic. The pandemic has disrupted the 
upward global economic trends, particularly for developing countries; from demand shocks to supply 
chains and significantly reduced income from exports and remittances; the situation is indeed grim 
for small, landlo cked and least developed economies like Lesotho.  
Lesotho already has structural, macroeconomic and social challenges which have been exacerbated 
over time by environment -related shocks that decelerated economic growth. We reaffirm our 
commitment to multila teralism as a way to promote equitable development growth and prosperity 
for all WTO Members in mitigating these negative effects of the pandemic to at least return to the 
pre-pandemic levels as we prepare for growth.  
To this effect, we urge WTO to adhere  to its basic principles of multilateralism by allowing and giving 
privilege to policy space for developing countries to create opportunities for industrialization and 
diversification of their economies. We have a firm belief that without the application o f 
multilateralism, it will be difficult to bridge the development gap between WTO Members. Lesotho 
therefore fully supports maintenance of the Special and Differential Treatment principle which is at 
the center of the Doha Development Agenda for inclusive growth.  
Agriculture features as a central sector in Lesotho`s economic efforts, with 70% of our population 
deriving their livelihoods from agriculture, hence Food and Agriculture is a core priority in WTO 
negotiations for Lesotho. Therefore, rules set at a  multilateral level should be capable of creating 
opportunities for our communities to alleviate poverty. As a result, Lesotho supports reduction of 
trade distorting domestic support and urges necessary policy space flexibilities particularly for Net 
Food Importing Developing Countries like Lesotho. Lesotho is amongst countries that are extremely 
vulnerable to and negatively affected by climate change and therefore, we support the call for 
developing countries to be accorded flexibility to support public st ockholdings for food security 
purposes.  
We further call on Members not to impose export restrictions or prohibitions on food stuff purchased 
for non -commercial purposes by World Food Program.  
Lesotho strongly supports South Africa and India proposal seeki ng a temporary waiver on WTO 
Intellectual Property Rights for COVID19 medical products including vaccines, therapeutics and 
diagnostics. We believe this will allow transfer of skills and requisite technology and ultimately, the 
capacity to produce relevant  medical products in order to cope with the Covid -19 and other 
pandemics. In this regard, Lesotho aligns itself with the position of the African Group by supporting 
the original textual formulation contained in the Quad document.  
On WTO reform Lesotho supp ort the commencement of a review in the General Council to identify 
the institutional challenges facing the multilateral trading system on the basis of written submissions 
by Members.  WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 131 
 
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  Lesotho  values the positive impact of the technical cooperation and the  capacity building 
programmes of the Aid for Trade initiatives and hopes that such programmes will continue to help 
developing countries including the LDCs integrate into multilateral trading system. At this point I 
would like to express my sincere appreci ation to the Enhanced Integrated Framework, for their 
unwavering support in terms of building the productive capacities of our SMEs and call for continuity 
of support in this regard.  
Lesotho remains committed to finding a solution under the work program on  e-commerce. In this 
regard we call upon WTO Members to take into account LDCs challenges in the utilisation of 
ecommerce.  
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