WT/MIN(24)/ST/45  
26 February  2024 
(24-1519) Page: 1/1 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY MR ZDENKO LUCIĆ  
STATE SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN TRADE AND  
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION  
CROATIA  
First, I would like to thank the Government of the of the United Arab Emirates, city of Abu Dhabi, 
for hosting this MC13. Of course, I would also like to thank Dr. Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala and WTO staff 
for their efforts in organizing this meeting.  
 
This Ministerial Conference unfortunately takes place in even more difficult circumstances then the 
last one; marked by conflict, geopolitical tensions, pressures for global economic fragmentation and 
the impacts of climate change. While we can spend time despairing  over remaining divergent 
positions in certain aspects, it is easy to overlook that the WTO still stands as a pillar of global trade 
system. The WTO, as a Member -driven, consensus -based Organization, remains indispensable as a 
key global forum for trade ne gotiations and establishing global workable trade rules. And at this time 
of multiple geopolitical crises, multilateralism matters more than ever.  
 
This MC13 should be a real reform conference. It should demonstrate progress in terms of the 
commitments and  outcomes of MC12, modernize the Organization, but also adequately address the 
numerous challenges facing the multilateral trading system today.   
 
It's important to deliver outcomes on dispute settlement reform or, at the very least, offer a clear 
perspect ive on finding a solution, with the emphasis on a critical importance to preserve the right to 
appeal for legal errors before a standing adjudicative body. Regarding fishing subsidies, it is 
extremely important to achieve a balanced outcome by ratifying the MC12 Fishing Subsidies 
Agreement, i.e. phase 1, and completion of negotiations within phase 2. The extension of the 
e-commerce moratorium at MC12 was a key outcome, as it should be at MC13 also, in the form of 
a political decision on the progress achieve d so far. One must take particular note on the objective 
to formally conclude the negotiations on the Investment Facilitation for Development Joint 
Statement Initiative (JSI) by publishing the text of the future agreement and to advance discussions 
on the legal incorporation of the agreement into the WTO rulebook.   
 
Current divisions between Members should not stop us from discussing and finding new flexibilities 
and new work modalities. This is a moment where we can stop and assess how we can respond to 
global challenges in a pragmatic, flexible and balanced manner. Surely, the list of challenges is 
impressive: food security, climate change, pandemics, digital economy, industrial policy, 
development and gender are but a few.  
 
We hope that MC13 will be the b eginning of a new page, with a balanced set of meaningful outcomes 
that sets us up well for further results and reforms at MC14, and prepare the ground for quality work 
between now and MC14. Not because we agree on everything – that is far for true – but b ecause 
we are ready to listen to each other and engage in a serious manner to find common solutions.  
 
Thus, we encourage the Director -General and Member states to step up their efforts in exploring 
new ways for possible tangible deliverables of this Minist erial Conference.  
 
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