WT/MIN(22)/ST/136  
12 June 2022  
(22-4681) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: Spanish  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR ROBERTO SÁNCHEZ PALOMINO  
MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE AND TOURISM  
PERU 
I wish to begin by expressing how enthusiastic Peru is to be participat ing, once again , in a 
WTO Ministerial Conference, where I am sure we will achieve significant outcomes  that will contribute 
to a rapid and robust post -pandemic recovery.  
Over the past few decades, Peru has been implement ing a policy to open markets, which has entailed 
not only the negotiation of bilateral and regional trade agreements, but also significant unilateral 
actions, such as tariff reduction and the elimination of non -tariff barriers. This openness has proven 
successful in our country, generating benefits that have boosted economic growth and brought the 
poverty rate down significantly in recent years. Moreover , thanks to  the consolidation of Peru's 
export able supply, the implementation of trade facilitation measures to reduce the costs associated 
with foreign trade transact ions, as well as capacity -building initiatives, a growing number of 
companies, especially micro and small enterprises, have been able to access  international markets.  
However, in recent years, growth has been undermined  worldwide by the health crisis. As y ou know, 
Peru is one of the countries that ha ve been hardest hit by the COVID -19 pandemic, which has created 
tremendous health, social and economic challenges. Like many countries, we had to take drastic 
isolation measures that had serious economic repercu ssions and have required, after the gradual 
opening of the economy, implementing  stimulus measures that are  not only  aimed at recove ry from 
the recessionary effects of the pandemic, but also encourag ing further growth in the future. This will 
require not o nly national efforts, but also regional and multilateral initiatives that will have an impact 
on recovery and support for those most in need.  
My country is committed to the multilateral trading system and is firmly convinced of the importance, 
value and us efulness of the WTO, particularly at the present juncture, whe n collaboration and joint 
work at the multilateral level is needed to boost global economic recovery. We recognize the validity 
of the Organization's objectives, which form the basis for interna tional trade relations , and therefore 
stress the importance of achieving concrete results at this Ministerial Conference and setting specific 
objectives to guide our work in the coming years.  
Peru has been striving for results in the area of fisheries subs idies since the negotiations began, 
more than two decades ago. We welcome the hard work of WTO Members, who have made 
significant headway in the discussions and negotiations on fisheries subsidies in recent weeks, 
allowing us to come close to completing  this outstanding task, to fulfil the 2017 Buenos Aires 
mandate and to contribute concretely to the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 
2030 Agenda.  
Peru reiterates the importance of continuing the reform process envisaged in A rticle 20 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture. Recent experience has shown that measures that restrict and distort 
trade and agricultural production do not help to increase productivity or enhance the competitiveness 
of our exports. On the contrary, they signi ficantly affect global food supply chains and have a 
negative impact on food security. Therefore, at the multilateral level , and at the present juncture , 
Peru reiterates the importance of keeping markets and agricultural trade open and predictable, and 
avoiding the imposition of unjustified trade barriers and restrictions, in order to ensure the 
continuous flow of food and essential inputs for agricultural production. We will continue to actively WT/MIN(22)/ST/136  
 
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  participate in the multilateral discussions in order  to achie ve concrete results on agricultural agenda 
issues.  
In addition, Peru welcomes the progress made in the text -based discussions and negotiations related 
to the temporary patent waiver for COVID -19 vaccines. As you know, in Peru's view, access to 
COVID -19 vac cines must be universal, timely and equitable, and is a crucial step towards achieving 
the common objective of increasing vaccine production and tackling the pandemic in an effective 
way. We also support the progress  made in the discussions on the WTO resp onse to the pandemic, 
recogniz ing our responsibility as WTO Members to propose, draw up  and implement a joint and 
solidarity -based response to this grave crisis.  
With regard to trade in services, Peru has been participating in the joint initiatives on dome stic 
regulation and e -commerce in recent years. We welcome the conclusion, in 2021, of the negotiations 
on domestic regulation, which will ensure clarity, predictability and transparency of regulatory 
practices on licensing procedures, thereby facilitating  access to these markets. As to e -commerce, 
we have been involved in the negotiations from the outset, and are confident that we will be able to 
bridge differences and achieve concrete results in the near future. In this regard, and in order to 
facilitate the discussions on the matter, we support the extension of the moratorium on the 
imposition of customs duties on electronic transmissions.  
These initiatives will allow us to provide important tools for Peruvian micro, small and medium -sized 
enterprises, en abling them to internationalize their supply of goods and services by electronic 
means.  
Last but not least, in the coming years, Peru hopes to make progress in the joint efforts to advance 
discussions on WTO reform. In particular, we hope to be able to bui ld consensus that will allow the 
Appellate Body of the dispute settlement mechanism to become operational again, once again 
providing a second instance procedure to settle trade disputes in a legal manner, at the present  
juncture. We also  welcome initiativ es to generate dialogue among WTO Members and to propose 
initiatives to strengthen the various pillars of the Organization, enabling it to address current issues 
and challenges.  
We recognize the significant changes in international trade in recent decades,  accentuated by the 
current circumstances, and the challenges facing  economic recovery. Peru is committed to making 
every effort to achieve consensus in order to strengthen, improve and update the multilateral trading 
system, pushing  our Organization towar ds a new phase of greater openness and further  
commitments in world trade , for the benefit of all, especially those  who are  most in need. I therefore 
reiterate our desire to see this Ministerial Conference succeed and our firm commitment to ensuring 
it doe s so. 
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