WT/MIN(22)/14  
 
13 June 2022  
(22-4583) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 202 2 Original: English  
 
 
PACIFIC MINISTERIAL STATEMENT FOR THE WTO TWELFTH  
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE (MC12)  
12-15 JUNE 2022 
The following statement  dated , 12 June 2022, is being circulated by the delegation of Fiji on behalf 
of the Pacific Group.  
 
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We the Ministers and Heads of Delegations of the Pacific Group met in Geneva, on 11 and 12 June 
2022 in the lead -up to the WTO Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12):  
 
Recogni ze that this Ministerial Conference is taking place at a time w hen the global economy is 
slowly recovering from the COVID -19 pandemic but is facing a food crisis and rising global inflation 
as food and fuel prices soar arising from the current geopolitical situation.  These global challenges 
have not only exacerbated p re-existing challenges from climate change and natural disasters but 
has also had significant and disproportionate economic impacts on many developing countries, 
including the Pacific Group.   
 
We therefore urge Members to progress discussions on the WTO re sponse to COVID -19 to help 
combat the ongoing COVID -19, transition into a recovery mode and prepare for future pandemics. 
This response must include both trade tools and the TRIPS waiver that would enable the ramping up 
of production and distribution of va ccines and medical technology and therapeutics. We also 
encourage  Members in a position to provide adequate assistance to the Pacific Group Members to 
fulfil articles of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation that contribute to expediting and facilitating  
the flow and distribution of essential goods.  
 
We also support  a declaration on food security to respond to the looming food crisis and the rising 
food and fuel prices.  
 
Re-affirm  the importance of preserving the rules -based multilateral system of the WTO that 
provides an open, transparent, inclusive, non -discriminat ory, and predictable system that promotes 
the rights and interests of all Members, particularly the small Members, which attach great 
importance to trade as a vehicle to achieve sustainable growth and development .  
 
Acknowledge  the need to make the rules -based system more equitable and accessible for Small 
Island Developing States in order for them to fully benefit from the opportunities created by the 
multilateral trading system and to facilitate their integration into the glob al economy. The Pacific 
Group commends the ongoing work in the WTO to find solutions to the trade challenges faced by 
Small and Vulnerable Economies (SVEs) from natural disasters and in attracting investment. The 
Pacific Group therefore supports the re -invigoration of work under the mandate of paragraph 35 of 
the Doha Declaration to frame responses for the fuller integration of small economies like the Pacific 
into the multilateral trading system. Such work should focus on supporting the recovery of SVEs 
from COVID -19 and on building resilience to future economic and other shocks.   
 
Express concerns  that development, in particular, special and differential treatment (S&DT) has 
become a divisive issue.  Special and differential treatment is a fundamental pilla r of the WTO under 
Paragraph 44 of the Doha Declaration and is an integral part of the WTO negotiations. We note with WT/MIN(22)/14  
 
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  disappointment the unwillingness of some Members to engage on the G90 proposals and address 
the development concerns of developing countri es, including SVEs and LDCs. These proposals aim 
to promote economic diversification and enhance international competitiveness of developing 
countries by strengthening compliance with international standards. The Pacific Group, whose share 
of global trade averages 0.04%, remains in the margins of the global trading system and look to 
flexible and equitable rules that will enhance their trade. The Pacific Group calls on Members to 
engage constructively on these proposals to address the genuine development co ncerns of 
developing countries including SVEs and LDCs.  
 
Recogni ze the need to establish an effective procedure supporting the smooth transition of 
graduated LDCs towards their new status, through extending the LDC -specific trade -related support 
measures over a reasonable period of time.  
 
Commend  the progress on the fisheries subsidies negotiations, noting the significance of this sector 
to the food security, livelihoods and the economic development of the Pacific Group. The Pacific 
Group urges Members to bridge remaining differences to reach a comprehensive, balance d and 
meaningful agreement that would prohibit harmful subsidies to the fisheries sector and deliver the 
mandate of SDG 14.6. In this connection, the Pacific Group underlines that this agreement  must 
provide appropriate and effective special and differential treatment to enable Small Island 
Developing States to develop their fisheries resources in the future, to preserve the rights of coastal 
states to their resources , as well as to provide appro priate transition periods and implementation 
assistance.  
 
Recogni ze the opportunities created by e -commerce and support the extension and re -invigoration 
of the Work Programme on E -commerce.  The Work Programme must address the digital divide faced 
by deve loping countries including the Pacific Group.  This work should not only focus on clarifying the 
scope and definition of e -commerce but must also enhance the capacity of SVEs to increase their 
participation in e -commerce and enhance their development benefi ts. While supporting the 
extension of the moratorium on e -commerce , we also call for an analysis of the impact of the 
moratorium on revenue and the economic impact of the moratorium on developing countries.  
 
Reaffirm  that climate change remains as the sin gle greatest threat facing the Pacific and therefore 
a critical issue to take effective and concrete action on when negotiating and implementing 
multilateral trade rules , to ensure trade and environment provisions are embedded.   
 
Welcom e the progress in th e discussions on trade and environment initiatives , including plastic 
pollution and fossil fuel subsidies. These initiatives should aim to ensure that trade and environment 
policies are mutually supportive.  As small island developing states dependent on th eir natural 
environment, such initiatives can assist in facilitating the transition to cleaner and greener economies 
resulting in improving the quality of the environment and the quality of life in the Pacific.  
 
Note  the calls for WTO reforms to improve th e functioning of the WTO.  We stress that work on WTO 
reforms must be transparent, inclusive and take into account the development interests of 
developing countries.  This must include as a priority the restoration of the Appellate Body and ensure 
access to the dispute settlement system for small Members.  
 
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