WT/MIN(24)/ST/124  
26 February 2024  
(24-1689) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth  Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: French  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR JEAN -LUCIEN BUSSA TONGBA  
MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE  
DEMOCRATIC  REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 
The Director -General of the WTO and all the distinguished colleagues who have preceded me have 
described, fairly comprehensively, the particular context in which this Conference is taking place, 
including the ongoing war in Ukraine and , I would  add, Rwanda's rapacious war against the 
Democratic  Republic of the Congo, as well as the resurgence of conflicts that are im peding 
international, regional and even bilateral trade, lowering the global trade growth forecast for this 
year. 
 
They have also given their opinions on the various issues that are of concern to us, with significant 
progress having been made on some of th ose issues. However, efforts must be made on other 
matters to ensure that consensual proposals are put forward at this Conference for the benefit of 
all. 
 
Hence why it is important to reach a consensus between developed and developing countries, 
particular ly the least developed countries  (LDCs) , on several areas of negotiation, namely: 
(i) dispute settlement reform; (ii) WTO reform related to trade and industrial policy; (iii) global 
industrial and supply chains; (iv) trade and environmental sustainability reforms; (v) trade and 
development, including issues related to developing countries in all their diversity; (iv) agriculture 
and food security; (v) fisheries subsidies; and (vi) the Investment Facilitation for Development 
Agreement.  
 
As far as the Democra tic Republic of the Congo is concerned, its positions are those it has hammered 
out with the negotiating groups to which it belongs, namely the African, ACP and LDC Groups. The 
Democratic Republic of the Congo would, however, like to draw attention to a fe w issues it is 
concerned about, including investment , which is a critical issue for LDCs. The Investment 
Facilitation for Development Agreement should, therefore, provide for simple, adaptable, flexible 
and transparent mechanisms to access capital that cou ld boost trade and development.  
 
With regard to fisheries subsidies , the Democratic Republic of the Congo supports the ongoing 
negotiations on overfishing and overcapacity. It also calls for  the establishment of a cooperation 
mechanism to prevent illegal f ishing , and the boarding and inspection of fishing vessels in territorial 
waters between neighbouring countries.  
 
Allow me turn to other equally important issues, which I believe also need to be addressed by the 
rules and disciplines of the multilateral tr ading system. This is the case, in particular, of minerals or 
any other product that can rightly be described as " blood ", since they are extracted and exploited 
with little regard for human life. It is incomprehensible that products , particularly blood min erals , 
should be able to move freely until they appear in the export statistics of countries which have no 
related natural reserves.  
 
This is the case for ores extracted from the Democratic Republic of the Congo following the rapacious 
war waged by Rwanda,  which is exporting these products to WTO Member countries without 
restriction.  
 
Trade is an undeniable pillar of growth and sustainable development.  
 WT/MIN(24)/ST/124  
 
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  As trade is an undeniable pillar of growth and sustainable development, I believe that the 
Thirteenth  WTO Ministerial Conference will provide an opportunity for LDCs, including the 
Democratic  Republic of the Congo, to explore with other Members how to make special and 
differential treatment effective in order to achieve the expected outcomes , and to help LDCs to be 
reclassified and graduate from this category of vulnerable economies.  
 
Trade is vital for all nations. However, enhancing the rules governing trade becomes imperative if 
that ideal is to be achieved and each actor is to benefit equitab ly from it. The Democratic Republic 
of the Congo therefore stresses that it endorses the Conference in Abu Dhabi and hopes it will 
achieve the desired outcomes to effectively improve the multilateral trading system . 
 
We wish MC13 every success in its delib erations.  
 
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