WT/MIN(22)/ST/110  
12 June 2022 
(22-4550) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY HON. MR OMAR SAID SHAABAN  
MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT  
TANZANIA  
It's my great pleasure and honor to address this Twelfth Ministerial Session of the World Trade 
Organization (WTO) which is taking place under what I call new normal ambience triggered by the 
current affairs of COVID -19 pandemic and other global crisis. I want also to convey warm greetings 
to you all from Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of the United Republic of 
Tanzania.  
 
At the outset, on behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, I would like to thank 
the Government of Republic of Kazakhstan and the Swiss Confederation for co -hosting this historic 
Ministerial Conference here in the beautiful and peacefu l diplomatic city of Geneva.  
 
Also, I would like to congratulate Dr. Ngozi Okojo -Iweala for steadfastly steering the organization 
since she undertook the office as a new Director General of WTO in March 2021, during difficult 
period at the peak of COVID -19 pandemic. I also want to commend the entire WTO Secretariat  in 
supporting Members during preparations and the organization of this important meeting.  
 
The United Republic of Tanzania, as one of the founding members of the WTO, supports the 
multilateral t rading system. We have no doubt that the existing and future multilateral trade rules 
will continue to deliver for all, and will press a particular attention to the most in need, the LDCs.   
 
Admittedly, there are challenges facing the multilateral trading system and the WTO as an 
Organization. Despite the challenges, the United Republic of Tanzania will continue to support and 
work together with other WTO Members in the on -going discussions of WTO reforms for better 
functioning of the organization and a sta ble multilateral trading system.  
 
Reforms are important for any organization to evolve and adapt to the contemporary global political, 
social and economic dynamics. The United Republic of Tanzania will support reforms that ensure 
balanced interest of Membe rs and with particular attention to developing counties and LDCs with a 
view to achieve the broad objective of raising global living standards and employment and promoting 
sustainable development as enshrined in the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO . Therefore, 
we would like to insist that any reform to be undertaken in this regard, should be member -driven, 
inclusive and transparent throughout the whole process.   
 
While reform will focus to address the institutional and functional setup of the organization, 
development should remain at the heart and centre of the organization for WTO to remain relevant 
to developing members and LDCs. It must secure the needed policy space for developing countries 
and LDC to industrialize.  
 
In relation to the Doh a Development Round, as we clearly stated during MC11 in Buenos Aires, 
Argentina, the United Republic of Tanzania reiterates the significance of addressing the long -standing 
issues of Doha Development Agenda (DDA) which are of great interest to majority of  WTO Members.  
 
We are cognizant of the new global dynamics and paradigm shift influenced by the current global 
affairs particularly COVID -19 pandemic and other crises, however, that should not trigger the 
infringement of rights and obligations of members a nd override the existing multilateral trading 
principles enshrined in the WTO Agreements, decisions and declarations.  WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 110 
 
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We all have the responsibility to make MC12 a success and meaningful by bringing new hope of 
progress especially on critical issues such as the Fisheries Agreement and TRIPS Waiver to address 
COVID -19 pandemic. Other important issues that need our immediate attention should be to address 
the long -standing issues particularly in the area of Agriculture such as Public Stockholding; Special 
Safeguard Mechanism (SSM); and reduction of Domestic Support.  
 
As regards to the TRIPS Waiver for COVID -19, the United Republic of Tanzania thanks the Director 
General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala for her tireless efforts and the initiative of Quadrilateral proce ss 
that produced an outcome document IP/C/W/688, an anchoring text in the text -based negotiations 
process. We also thank the Ministers from Quad members who were extensively involved in the 
consultations to produce the draft document.  
 
The United Republic of Tanzania like many other developing members and LDCs, is looking forward 
to a meaningful decision which will assist members to ramp up and diversify production and supply 
of COVID -19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. The decision should provide fl exibilities in 
additional to the ones contained in the WTO TRIPS Agreement and the Doha Ministerial Declaration 
on TRIPS and Public Health . 
 
On Public Stockholding, Tanzania is looking forward for the best modality that will allow food 
stockpiling programm es at administered prices for all developing countries and LDCs for food security 
purposes. Unlike the temporary solution attained in Bali, Indonesia during MC9, the outcome sought 
should cover both existing and new programmes with less onerous and simple for members to 
invoke. The current affairs of COVID -19 pandemic and other crises have taught us a tough lesson 
on food security. This calls for an urgent and permanent solution on public stockholding.  
 
On Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM), we may recall th at most of Developing Members and LDCs 
are not entitled to Special Safeguard (SSG) as enshrined in the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. Even 
those few Developing Members with SSG entitlements, have found it onerous to use this policy 
instrument. Therefore, th ere is a need for simple SSM as the only rebut for members to address 
surge of imports of agricultural products suppressing domestic prices and production.   
 
For domestic support, the United Republic of Tanzania is deeply concerned with the long stalemate 
and lack of progress on this pillar and therefore is looking forward to a work program that will lead 
to a meaningful reduction of subsidies for members with higher entitlements, to bring them to the 
level playing field.   
 
On Fisheries Subsidies,  the United Republic of Tanzania commends the efforts made by the Chair of 
the Negotiating Group on Rules H.E Santiago Wills, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of 
Colombia to the WTO, for leading negotiations on fisheries subsidies, a complex file wi th intense and 
diverse members ' interest. Fisheries Subsidies prohibition is one of the UN SDGs Targets (14.6) and 
is long overdue as it was expected to be concluded by 2020. The failure to conclude negotiations on 
time has allowed overfishing and other un sustainable fishing practices fuelled by continuation of 
Government subsidies.  
 
The United Republic of Tanzania considers MC12 as an opportune time for conclusion of this 
important agreement to eliminate subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (I UU) and to 
prohibit certain harmful fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity leading to overfishing. We 
fully subscribe to broader objective of fisheries subsidies outcome, nevertheless the commitments, 
must follow the principle of common but di fferentiated responsibilities.  
 
It is a fact that majority of developing countries and LDCs are not subsidizing fisheries sector and 
as a result their fisheries sector is underdeveloped for which they should be given an equal 
opportunity to develop it. The  United Republic of Tanzania, being a country endowed  with a long 
coastline, fisheries sector has a great potential to contribute in the economic growth, employment 
and better lives for the people. Therefore, the agreement to be concluded should exempt LDC s and 
provide significant policy space to resource poor developing countries fully exploit their marine 
resources lying along their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).   
 
As countries are recovering from COVID -19 pandemic, LDCs and resource poor developing memb ers, 
are facing critical challenges due to their economic fragility and vulnerability which was hard hit by 
COVID -19. The 2020 UNCTAD report indicates that the impact of COVID -19 to LDCs will long persist. WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 110 
 
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  This situation calls for WTO to devise efficient a nd meaningful ways to support LDCs in their recovery 
endeavor while building back better and leaving no one behind. It is important to ensure previous 
WTO decisions in favour of LDCs such as the Services Waiver and Preferential Rules of Origin are full 
implemented. Also, LDCs should be considered for a meaningful transition period after graduation 
for soft landing.  
 
While concluding, I would like to associate with the statements of LDCs Group, African Group, G33 
and ACP Group and we would like to assure mem bers our commitment to work in solidarity for 
meaningful outcomes in this conference.  
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