WT/MIN(24)/ST/41  
26 February  2024 
(24-1508) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
  
STATEMENT BY HON. MR MANEESH GOBIN  
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, REGIONAL  
INTEGRATION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE  
MAURITIUS  
I wish to thank and congratulate the Government of the United Arab Emirates for hosting the 
13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization.  Our thanks also go to the WTO 
Secretariat for its continuous efforts to support Members.   
 
In the aftermath of the Pandemic, as we still struggle to recover, we are further challenged by 
multiple interlocking cri ses, including the cascading effects of geopolitical conflicts. The increasing 
adoption of unilateral measures further constrains the trading capacity of WTO Members, posing 
direct threats to our exporting capacity.   
 
This Ministerial Conference is therefo re the opportunity for the international community to 
consolidate an inclusive Multilateral Trading System for sustainable growth. We must ensure that 
the conduct of trade adheres to a well -defined set of rules and unflinchingly upholds the credibility 
of the multilateral trading system.  Tangible outcomes at MC13 must be in this direction.   
 
As a Small Island Developing State, Mauritius faces inherent constraints such as distance from main 
markets, connectivity gaps, and high freight costs.  Climate emergenc y and recent challenges, 
including high inflation and an escalating energy crisis, further compound these difficulties.  
 
It is imperative for the WTO Membership to unite and address SIDS inherent vulnerabilities. 
A one-size-fits-all approach cannot addres s the concerns of a very diverse WTO Membership.   
 
We call on the WTO Secretariat to establish a special desk for SIDS, conducting specific analyses 
and formulating adequate responses to address our concerns. This is crucial to ensure the 
meaningful partic ipation of SIDS in the multilateral trading system. The WTO should formally 
recognize SIDS as a distinct category, acknowledge their specific vulnerabilities and ensure that 
their concerns are reflected in all WTO outcomes.   
 
Mauritius is a Net -Food Import ing Developing Country (NFIDC) isolated from its primary markets. 
We are heavily reliant on the trading system to achieve our food security. Accordingly, Agriculture 
remains a pressing concern for us, and we want to see measures adopted at MC13 to address the 
concerns of food deficit countries.   
 
This includes the exercise of flexibility so that NFIDCs are not severely impacted by export 
restrictions and finding solutions for public stockholding. It also means allowing policy space for us 
to pursue our agricultural development.   
 
Fisheries also remains an essential part of our food security concerns and is a key element for the 
development of our Ocean economy. The EEZ of the Republic of Mauritius is far more extensive than 
its land mass. Whilst this provides an economic opportunit y, we are constrained by our capacity to 
prevent and combat illegal practices and ensure the continued sustainability of our fish stocks in the 
face of overexploitation of our resources.  
 
Having commonly agreed rules on fisheries and fisheries subsidies i s of high importance to ensure 
that both our food security concerns are met and our Oceans remain sustainable.  WT/MIN(24)/ST/41  
 
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  We therefore urge the conclusion of the second part of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, focusing 
on concrete disciplines to tackle the issue o f overcapacity and overfishing which negatively impacts 
us.  
 
We look forward to effective Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) under the Fisheries Agreement 
and a specific carve -out for our small -scale fishermen and activities in our EEZ as a small is land 
developing state.   
 
We urge WTO Members to accelerate outcomes under the Work Programme for Small Economies, 
with a special focus on SIDS.  
 
In this context, flexibility is key for procuring production inputs and mitigating the high freight costs 
which small islands face because of their isolation.  
 
To further level the playing field, we call on WTO Members to extend to SIDS technology transfer 
provisions currently available to Least Developed Countries.   
 
We will continue to reiterate that Special an d Different Treatment shall remain at the core of the 
trading system and needs to be fully applied.  
 
We hope that this Ministerial Conference will launch a series of far -reaching critical reforms, including 
the management of trade and reinforce the import ant function of the dispute mechanism for enlarged 
participation from small players.   
 
The function of the Appellate Body as an integral part of the two -tiered multilateral dispute 
settlement system is important to preserve an effective multilateral tradin g system respectful of 
rules.   
 
We note that the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce has been re -invigorated with discussions 
on a large number of thematic issues including the scope, definition and impact of the Moratorium. 
Mauritius is happy to have co ntributed to this as Facilitator and we believe it is important to pursue 
this Work Programme. As an OACPS Member, we believe that the Moratorium on customs duties 
should be further extended to provide predictability to business.   
 
Though we have evolved f rom the GATT to the WTO, we have so far failed to address the issue of 
inclusiveness in trade. We recommend strongly that the issues currently under negotiations like 
trade and industrial policy, meaningful technology transfer, and new areas like cost of r emittances, 
cross border tele -medicine and trading in times of natural disasters need to be examined carefully 
to see how they can be beneficial to developing countries and in particular SIDS.   
 
Let us seize the opportunity at MC13 to reinforce and promote  the Multilateral Trading System, 
confront global challenges, and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable international trade 
landscape, leaving no one behind.   
 
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