WT/MIN(22)/ST/120  
12 June 2022 
(22-4560) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E.  MR. FEDERICO ALFARO BOYD  
MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY  
OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA  
PANAMA  
The world is once again watching  the World Trade Organization (WTO), with the expectation that its 
Members will be able to deliver, if only in small part, on the significant outcomes we set out to 
achieve in the Agreements and at previous Ministerial Conferences . We therefore need to ensure 
there is a dynamic system of multilateral rules that promotes  developme nt, that moves with the 
times  and is in keeping with Members' current and future needs.  
The COVID -19 pandemic has highlighted the vital role that open markets and supply chains play in 
the shared success of our public health policies and actions . In view o f this reality , Panama reaffirms 
its commitment to the multilateral trading system , as the driver and guardian  of balanced trade 
flows.  
Panama is a small country and a small market that relies on economic activities linked to services 
and international mar kets. We are concerned that we have not met the negotiating objectives of the 
built-in agenda on services and agriculture . Furthermore, we have not delivered on the development 
objectives agreed at the Doha  Ministerial Conference, to which Panama remains committed.  
In the area of services negotiations, Panama is focused on seeing substantial progress that goes 
beyond regulatory issues.  
In the agriculture negotiations, we call for the needs of small and vulnerable economies to be 
recognized and food  security  to be promoted . We believe it is necessary to have more comprehensive 
disciplines on subsidies that distort agricultural production . For Panama, it is vital to preserve the 
policy  space provided to us by Article 6.2 of the Agreement on Agricultur e. My country attaches 
great importance to the special safeguard mechanism, an important instrument that would protect 
developing countries like mine in the event of price falls or a sudden increase in imports . We 
therefore consider that the draft decision  on agriculture is a good basis for further negotiations on 
agriculture.  
Panama hopes that this meeting will enable us to conclude the negotiations on fisheries subsidies . 
Panama has taken a proactive role in securing  a fair, effective and transparent inst rument that will 
apply disciplines on subsidies that are particularly harmful to the marine ecosystem . We would like 
to acknowledge the role of the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Colombia, 
Mr Santiago  Wills, who is chairing these important nego tiations.  
The Chair's text contains elements that may represent landing zones in our negotiations . In 
Article  5.3, on subsidies for vessels not flying the flag of the subsidizing member, Panama , together 
with several proponent Members of this topic and oth er interested Members, have proposed 
appropriate wording to ensure disciplines and transparency on the measures in such cases . This 
proposal, which has been accepted by Members, resolves one of the most controversial and political 
issues in these negotiati ons. WT/MIN(22)/ST/120  
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  Panama recognizes the importance of special and differential treatment to enable developing 
countries to integrate into the international trading system . However, such treatment should not 
jeopardize the ambition and effectiveness of the resulting ins trument . We do not support flexibilities 
or exemptions for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.  
Artisanal fisheries is a critical sector for the social and economic development of communities around 
the world that depend on this activity . Neverthel ess, any special treatment given to this sector must, 
for this very reason, be environmentally sustainable . We do not support total geographical 
exemptions or flexibilities for high -seas fishing.  
We would like to underline the importance of other decisions  that we must take at this conference, 
such as ensuring that significant breakthroughs are made in the work on e -commerce . The digital 
economy has proved to be essential, during and after the pandemic, in strengthening global trade 
ties and placing our eco nomies on a solid footing . It creates jobs and fosters the development of 
businesses, in particular micro, small and medium -sized enterprises  (MSMEs) . 
Panama advocates maintaining the current practice of not imposing tariffs on electronic 
transmissions , pending  a substantive review of the matter . We welcome the decision we will take on 
the Work Programme on Small Economies.  
It is essential that, as an Organization, we can develop a coherent response with immediate and 
future actions to addr ess the grave socioeconomic consequences of public health crises such as the 
current one . As part of those efforts, we call upon Members to come together  on the decision on the 
limited exemption to the TRIPS Agreement, as well as the document on the WTO's response to the 
pandemic and other WTO instruments, such as the amendment to the TRIPS Agreement on public 
health.  
Panama believes that it is essential to ensure that all Members fully implement and comply with the 
WTO rules . In this regard, the WTO disput e settlement system has demonstrated its full validity  and 
soundness , even in recent years in which the functioning of the Appellate Body has gradually  ground  
to a halt . We shall continue to support efforts by the Director -General and Members to bolster th e 
dispute settlement system and ensure that it operates effectively and efficiently.  
We support the review of the functioning of the WTO and the adoption of the necessary reforms . In 
our view, however, rather than waiting for more results, we must immediat ely prioritize restoring 
an independent and binding two -tiered dispute settlement system that provides certainty  and 
predictability to the rules of the multilateral trading system.  
Panama welcomes with particular interest programmes and initiatives designe d to strengthen 
women's entrepreneurship and the essential role of women in our socio -economic development , and 
to promote their integration in to all areas of world trade . We will continue to participate in discussions 
of the various joint initiatives on g ender and trade, as well as in dialogues and initiatives on topics 
of global relevance such as environmental sustainability, investment facilitation for development and 
e-commerce.  
As in any WTO trade negotiations, to ensure a level playing field for trade relations, we call upon the 
original WTO Members to move towards the greater  commitments undertaken by Article XII 
Members such as Panama . We will also support the accession of new  WTO members to make 
accession processes more agile and to facilitate these accession processes, in particular for the least 
developed countries.  
Lastly , we would like to express our willingness and our high expectations that we will deliver 
meaningful res ults at this Ministerial Conference, enabling us to have a positive  and reinvigorating  
impact on world trade, to strengthen the multilateral system, and to ensure that its benefits foster 
sustainable and inclusive development for all our citizens around th e world.  
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