WT/MIN(22)/ST/46  
12 June 2022 
(22-4483) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. SENATOR  MANQOBA KHUMALO  
MINISTER OF COMMERCE , INDUSTRY AND TRADE  
ESWATINI  
My delegation shares the observation made by others that our Ministerial Conference is happening 
at a critical time, with global challenges that are threating our survival and livelihood as humanity.  
We are interconnected with one another, by systems we have collectively and steadfastly created 
for many years, including the multilateral trading system of the WTO.  These challenges ca ll for an 
effective and a pragmatic response as well as a demonstration of a sound leadership on our part as 
Members of the WTO.  It is in this regard, that my delegation is looking forward to an outcome 
document, reached by consensus, which will clearly se nd a strong message that the WTO is 
responding to these global challenges.   
 
My delegation would like to underscore that the proposal for a waiver on certain provisions of the 
TRIPS Agreement remains pertinent today. This is in view of the fact that when t he world a few 
months ago, appeared to be exiting the COVID -19 Pandemic, new and rapidly transmissible variants 
and diseases are emerging.  To this end, we believe that the TRIPS waiver is the most appropriate 
and effective approach to address the shortage and inequitable distribution and access to vaccines 
and other related supplies.  A favourable way forward on the waiver we are seeking, will present the 
WTO as having learned its lessons with the pandemic. In addition, the WTO will be seen as taking 
the nec essary and concrete steps towards preparing us better, for future similar crises. This will be 
made possible by providing sufficient time to enable the establishment of viable manufacturing 
capacities in developing countries.  
 
My delegation wishes to assoc iate itself with the statements made by the African and the OACP 
Groups in reaffirming the need for the WTO to be inclusive, transparent and rules -based. The WTO 
must always seek to accommodate the heterogeneity of its members in the implementation of 
existing trade agreements and the negotiations of new ones. Thus, an effective and appropriate 
special and differential treatment for developing countries is an integral part of the current and 
future WTO agreements, in line with the Marrakech Agreement.  
 
Such a special and differential treatment should be relevant to the peculiarities that are specific to 
most developing members including Eswatini. Eswatini is a small and vulnerable economy, 
landlocked, a net food importing developing county, preference depend ent, limited commodity 
exporting country and prone to the negative and devastating impact of climate change.  
 
Like in most developing members of the WTO, agriculture remains a mainstay of our economic 
activity in Eswatini.  In domestic support, we call upon  the need for developing countries to retain 
ample policy space in providing assistance to their domestic producers for crops essential for their 
national food security.  Furthermore, my delegation has an expectation that during the course of our 
deliberati ons, a decision will be made to exempt food purchases on emergency and humanitarian 
grounds by the WFP, from export restrictions.  
 
With regard to e -commerce, there is need for a structured discussion taking into account the digital 
divide and infrastructu re development among members of the WTO.  Eswatini recognizes room for a 
further and in depth reflection on the impact of the moratorium on consumers and businesses as 
well as on government revenues.  
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  In conclusion, my delegation sees MC -12 as an opportunity for us to provide practical and 
forward -looking solutions not only to the issues I have alluded to above, but a wide range of issues, 
including fisheries subsidies, dispute settlement and WTO reform.  The WTO reform should foster 
greater coheren ce between trade and development. Eswatini believes that the facilitation of 
developing countries in global value chains to boost their participation in international trade must 
be prioritized as part of the reforms.  
 
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