WT/MIN(22)/ST/23  
12 June 2022 
(22-4459) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEME NT BY H.E. MR  OHAD COHEN  
TRADE COMMISSIONER , MINISTRY OF  
ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY  
ISRAEL 
On behalf of the government of Israel, I would like to express our appreciation to Kazakhstan, 
Switzerland, and the WTO Secretariat for their excellent work in organizing this Ministerial.  
 
It is clear that our world continues to grapple with the far -reach ing consequences of the pandemic 
as well as the conflict in Ukraine.  
 
Israel shares the concerns of many other Members over the trade disruptions, record prices and 
excessive volatility of food and agricultural supplies, which could undermine the food secu rity of 
Members, particularly net food -importing countries and LDCs. We also express our solidarity with 
the global efforts to make vaccines, medicines and medical equipment accessible to all. Since trade 
is at the heart of the global economic recovery and  ensuring food security, we would welcome 
meaningful outcomes.  
 
A meaningful outcome in the response to the pandemic is necessary and we are strong supporters 
of including language relating to transparency and export restrictions. Although the WTO has 
monitored trade restrictions during the pandemic, we need to look to areas where improvements 
can be done that can help during the current, as well as in future pandemics.  
 
Israel is a strong supporter of the WTO since its inception and we reaffirm our commit ment to the 
core principles of the multilateral, rules -based trading system, namely: non -discrimination, 
transparency, and consensus -building. In the context of transparency, Israel is a keen supporter of 
the initiative to improve notifications and enhance  transparency, which has gained strong 
momentum during the last few weeks. We urge other Members to join it.  
 
We also attach great importance to a calibrated Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) for 
Developing Countries and in particular for LDCs, as a means to find a balance between rights and 
obligations and to foster sustainable development.    
 
We are of the view that the WTO is in need of some revitalization and modernization, to make it 
more responsive to changing circumstances in world trade. This includes strengthening the WTO 's 
negotiating arm and restoring a fully operational dispute settlement mechanism. We are encouraged 
to see that an effort to address dispute settlement seems to be underway.  
 
Israel strongly supports and prefers the multilateral approach. However, we welcome pragmatic 
solutions to keep negotiations closer to international trade realities. Plurilateral initiatives are a tool 
to generate tangible results where multilateral progress has stalled. It is in this context  that Israel 
has joined initiatives such as the E -commerce JSI, made new commitments in Domestic Services 
Regulation, and joined the declaration on MSMEs. We support the extension of the moratorium on 
e-commerce and the Work Program.  
 
Another challenge we face is climate change, and Israel has joined the TESSD initiative. These 
discussions support the work of the Committee on Trade and Environment and we look forward to 
making inroads in tackling environmental challenges, consistent with WTO rules.   
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The o ngoing Fisheries Subsidies negotiations are also important in this regard. Much progress has 
been made on this issue in the last few months. Although crucial points require further work, we are 
closer than ever before to reaching an outcome.  
 
Israel suppor ts a balanced outcome in Agriculture across the negotiating topics that must also 
include non -trade concerns, along with a meaningful outcome in exempting deliveries to the World 
Food Programme from any export -restrictive measures, as well as horizontal tr ansparency elements 
in all negotiating topics.  
 
Although the outcomes on Food Security and Agriculture are separate for the purposes of MC12, our 
deliberations are inextricably linked. As a net -food importing country, Food Security has always been 
a top p riority for Israel. Less than 20% of our land area is naturally arable. But like Members have 
realized over the past two and a half years, countries need to be in a position to produce a 
considerable percentage of their own food requirements.  
 
Furthermore , the detrimental effect export restrictions can have on the food security of importing 
countries is obvious. We have always been against imposing unjustified, unpredictable and 
non-transparent export restrictions and prohibitions. Together with other Memb ers, we have 
submitted a technical analysis as well as concrete negotiation proposals over the past years in order 
to guide discussions. Now more than ever, Israel, as a net food importing country, is concerned 
about the negative impact of the conflict in Ukraine and export restrictive measures on prices and 
availability of products on international markets. We remain in favor of more stringent rules and 
disciplines in order to limit negative consequences of such measures.  
 
In addition, we believe that the multilateral trading system and the fundamental rules that support 
it, are crucial elements in ensuring open global supply chains and a smooth and predictable trade 
flow. 
 
Finally, Israel would like to express its sympathy with the suffering of the people of Ukraine and 
hopes for a rather soon end of hostilities in Ukraine.  
 
Mr. Chairman, together we have to navigate the bumpy terrain ahead.  
 
Israel stands ready to work towards delivering successful outcomes that have a meaningful impact 
on individual lives around the world . 
 
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