WT/MIN(24)/ST/32  
26 February 2024  
(24-1509) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR MOHAMED MOHAMED RARA  
AMBASSADOR OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC  OF MAURITANIA  
TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES  
MAURITANIA  
The multilateral trading system provides  opportunities and plays a catalytic role in addressing the 
many challenges faced by  the Members of our Organization. However, food insecurity, climate 
change, soaring prices and export restrictions  at the global level  dictate the urgency of a coordinated 
response to address these challenges  and enable  all Members to participate actively in the 
multilateral trading system and take advantage of its benefits.  
Trade should be enhanced in a transparent and effective manner. Special and differential treatment, 
an integral part of WTO texts, must be effective and appropriate in order to help the Members  
concerned enjoy  the benefits of the international trading system and meet trade and development 
needs.  
My country takes  a particular interest in the various issues being discussed at the WTO with a view 
to finding solutions in respect of  the sustainability of our oceans, the development of the agricultural 
sector, e -commerce, WTO reform and development issues.  
Mauritania h as around 800 km of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. The conservation  of mari ne 
species, through the sustainable use of fisher ies resources, therefore remains a priority for my 
country.  
We welcome d the adoption of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies at MC12 in Geneva.  
With regard to the issues that have remained , until now,  outstanding  within the context of  the second 
phase  of the negotiations  on disciplines applicable to overfishing and overcapacity, the focus must 
be on the sustainability of fisheries r esources so as  to reduce harmful subsidies and thus prevent 
the depletion of fish stocks.  
However , special and differentia l treatment must be given to developing countries and LDCs that 
are not responsible for overfishing and overcapacity, to enable them t o subsidi ze and develop their 
fleets.  
We also reiterate our position that small -scale artisanal fishing should be excluded from the scope 
of the Agreement.  
With regard to ratification, Mauritania is examining with due care the ratification process for the 
WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and will keep the WTO informed of any development s in this 
process.  
In the agriculture negotiations, we need a coordinated and urgent response to food insecurity, one 
that involves further improving the global supp ly chain and counteracting  market distortions. To this 
end, the negotiations must take into account , in a meaningful way, the concerns of LDCs and net 
food-importing developing countries (NFIDCs).  WT/MIN(24)/ST/32  
 
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  Aid for trade is important. However, technical and financia l assistance and capacity building 
programmes must  be further supported and improved to help Members implement the A greements 
and reap the benefits of international trade.  
In the trade  digitalization process , it is necessary to fill skills gap s and invest in the technological 
development of LDCs for e -commerce and innovation. This approach involves reducing the digital 
divide and the major imbalances linked to internet access. It is clear that inequalities threaten to 
widen this digital divide at a time whe n the digital economy is booming on account of, most notably,  
the growing share of trade  flows linked to mobile networks. For LDCs, accelerating digit alization is 
a categorical imperative if they are to meet the new challenges of global trade.  
We welcome the role of the EIF as an instrument that assist s LDCs' in their efforts to integrate into 
the multilateral trading system , as well as  the EIF's  substantial contribution to strengthening LDCs' 
trade capacities. We also welcome the technical and financial support provided to our country , which  
strengthen s institutional and productive capacities in line with the SDGs. We therefore very much 
apprecia te the continuation of our fruitful partnership in this area.  
The integration of the development dimension would thus be of paramount importance in any WTO 
reform process. This concept must remain  at the heart of international trade.  
With regard to graduat ion, we urge Members to allow LDCs to benefit from a period of time after 
graduation to ensure their smooth transition and help them adjust to their new status, in accordance 
with the relevant UN General Assembly resolutions.  
To conclude, we hope that this  13th Ministerial Conference will be successful, that it will enable  us to 
find the best possible way forward and be the setting for first-rate discussions on the future of 
multilateral trade.  
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