WT/MIN(24)/23  
 
27 February 2024  
(24-1806) Page: 1/4 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
COMMUNIQUÉ  - ARAB MINISTERIAL MEETING  
ABU DHABI, 25 FEBRUARY 2024  
The following communication, dated  25 February 2024 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Arab Group .  
 
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1. We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegations of the Arab Countries, have met on 
25 February  2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates  on the margins of the 13th Ministerial 
Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC13).  
2. We express  our sincere thanks to the Government and people of United Arab Emirates (UAE) 
for their warm welcome, gracious hospitality and excellent work in hosting this Conference.  
3. We confirm  our commitment to active participation in MC13, to ensure its success and reach 
meaningful and balanced outcomes that will serve the special needs of Developing and 
Least -Developed Members, including those of the Arab countries. We also encourage a ll WTO 
members to work together to ensure a successful MC13.  
4. We recognize  that this Ministerial Conference is taking place amidst a backdrop of mounting 
challenges in the global economy, inter alia , food insecurity, pandemics, climate change and 
geopolitic al tensions especially in the Arab region. As such, we emphasize the vital role that the 
World Trade Organization (WTO) must play in these difficult times to foster trade and facilitate 
global growth in an inclusive and equitable manner.  
5. We reaffirm  the pr inciples and objectives set out in the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the 
WTO, and underline the critical importance of the rules -based, non -discriminatory, open, fair, 
inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. We 
also recall the Declarations and Decisions adopted at the previous WTO Ministerial Conferences 
that have been held since then and reaffirm our full commitment to give effect to them. In this 
regard, we reiterate our commitment to the Doha Developm ent Agenda, as well as to the regular 
work of the WTO.  
6. We stress  the centrality of the development dimension to the multilateral trading system, with 
the WTO at its core. The system must be responsive to the needs and realities of Developing 
and Least -Developed Members. We underscore the importance of Special and Differential 
Treatment (S&DT) provisions as an integral part in the WTO agreements, and agree that all 
S&DT provisions have to be reviewed with a view to strengthen and make them more precise, 
effective, and operational.  
7. We underscore the critical role the WTO can play in promoting inclusive growth including 
industrialization, development, and resilience.  In this regard, we call for addressing all 
constraints contained in WTO agreements that lim it the policy space available to developing 
countries, including LDCs, to promote industrialization, economic diversification and structural 
transformation in these countries.  
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  8. We emphasize  the importance of technical assistance and capacity building in en abling 
Developing and Least -Developed Members to engage effectively in the multilateral trading 
system and the global economy.  
9. We recognize  the need to establish an effective procedure supporting the smooth transition of 
graduated LDCs towards their new st atus, through extending the LDC -specific trade -related 
support measures over a reasonable period of time. We welcome the progress achieved as 
reflected in the Decision adopted by the General Council in WT/L/1172.  
10. We understand  that financing is a vital too l for development and emphasize the importance of 
mobilizing domestic and international resources to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable 
Development Goals in a timely manner. We recognize the essential role of the WTO and its 
technical assistance t o member states especially developing countries and LDCs on debt issues, 
and call for further cooperation between the WTO and the World Bank, the International 
Monetary Fund and other stakeholders . 
11. We recall  the guidance of the MC12 Outcome Document, including on the need to pursue WTO 
reform through a member -driven, open, inclusive and transparent process that must address 
the interests of all its members, including on development issues. We commit to work towards 
necessary reform of the WTO , while reaffirming the foundational principles of the WTO.  
12. We acknowledge  the challenges and concerns with respect to the dispute settlement system 
including those related to the Appellate Body, recognize the importance and urgency of 
addressing those cha llenges and concerns, and remain committed to engage constructively in 
discussions with the view to having a fully and well -functioning dispute settlement system 
accessible to all Members by MC14.  
13. We underline the importance of ensuring the continued flow of food and inputs essential for 
agricultural and food production and supply chains. In this context, we call on WTO Members,  in 
particular those that are significant exporters of main agricultural products,  not to impose 
agriculture export restrictions an d refrain from implementing unjustified trade barriers on 
agriculture and agri -food products and key agricultural production inputs, considering the needs 
of developing countries, especially NFIDCs and LDCs to restrict exports of food products as they 
deem  necessary for food security purposes. Furthermore, we call on WTO Members and in 
accordance with relevant WTO decisions, not to impose restrictions on foodstuffs purchased for 
non-commercial humanitarian purposes by the World Food Programme.  
14. We underscore  the need for additional flexibilities to allow developing countries, in particular 
Net-Food Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs) and  Least -Developed Countries  (LDCs), to 
enhance their agricultural productive capacities and agricultural regimes.  We affi rm the need to 
adopt and implement the proper policy tools and instruments as contained in the WTO 
agreements that support production expansion, diversification and technology transfer as means 
to raise living standards, achieve socio -economic development and increase the share of 
developing countries and LDCs in global trade.  
15. We stress  the need for WTO Ministers to use MC13 as an opportunity to adopt concrete 
decisions in support of effective responses to mitigate food insecurity risks in situations of glo bal 
food market price hikes and volatility.  
16. We underline  the importance of reaching an effective solution to address the imbalance in the 
Agreement on Agriculture and the food security needs of Developing  and Least -Developed 
Members. We also emphasize the need for addressing all outstanding issues in Agriculture 
negotiations, particularly those of critical importance to Developing and Least -Developed 
Members, such as Trade -Distorting Domestic Support, Public Stockholding for Food Security 
Purposes (PSH), an d the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM). Accordingly, we urge Members 
to make all concerted efforts towards achieving tangible progress and balanced outcomes across 
topics in the negotiations by the Fourteenth Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14).  
17. We acknowledge  the difficulties that developing countries,  in particular Net -Food Importing 
Developing Countries (NFIDCs) and LDCs continue to face since the Uruguay Round, and we 
stress on the importance of according them specific measures and flexibilities in all agriculture WT/MIN(24)/23  
 
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  negotiations. We recall paragraph 8 of the Ministerial Declaration on the Emergency Response 
to Food Insecurity and we urge members to reach a consensus on the flexibilities required for 
Least -Developed Countries (LDCs) and Net Food Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs) to 
address food ins ecurity in emergency situations, and we stress the importance of adoption the 
report of the Committee on Agriculture (COA) working group in this regard.  
18. We welcome the adoption of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies at the 12th Ministerial 
Conference which represents a historical achievement as the first SDG target to be met through 
a multilateral agreement, and we remain firmly committed to its prompt entry into force. We 
acknowledge the continued commitment of Members to conclude the second wave of 
negotiations on fisheries subsidies to reach an agreement in the ongoing Thirteenth WTO 
Ministerial Conference (MC13). We look forward to have effective disciplines addressing the 
reasons behind overcapacity and overfishing, and we emphasize that, fisheries  negotiations 
should take into account the provisions of special and differential treatment (SDT) with a view 
to reaching a balanced and mutually acceptable outcome, that contributes to poverty 
eradication, livelihood and food security and serve the develo pment needs of the WTO Members 
and in particular developing countries and LDCs . 
19. We highlight  the necessity of working towards enhancing timely, equitable and global access 
to safe, affordable and effective vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other esse ntial medical 
goods. We recognize the important role of the multilateral trading system in supporting the 
expansion and diversification of production of essential goods and related services needed in the 
fight against COVID -19 and future pandemics, including through identifying opportunities and 
addressing obstacles and barriers.  In this regard, we recall the Ministerial Decision on the 
TRIPS  Agreement on COVID -19 vaccines, and stress on the imp ortance of extending the IP 
waiver to cover the producti on and supply of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics in response 
to future pandemics.  
20. We recognize  the importance of  reinvigorating the discussions on the Work Programme on 
electronic commerce, taking into account the development dimension.  We also agree to maintain 
the current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until the 
14th Ministerial Conference and to hold further deliberations on the scope, definition, and impact 
of the moratorium,  including through the continue d examination of empirical  evidence.  
21. We take note of  the progress achieved in some important trade related areas such as 
Investment facilitation for development, digital trade and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 
MSMEs. We also take note of the conclusi on of the negotiations on an agreement on Investment 
Facilitation for development and recognize  the importance of investment in the promotion of 
sustainable development, economic growth, poverty reduction, job creation, technology 
transfer, the expansion a nd diversification of productive capacity and trade.  
22. We recognize  the extensive commitments made by Article XII Members during their respective 
accessions, and the need to give full recognition and proper consideration to their special 
situation in the ne gotiations.  
23. We acknowledge  that accession to the WTO is a crucial step for countries striving for 
development and integration into the multilateral trading system. Therefore, we call upon all 
WTO Members to facilitate and accelerate the accession of Developing and Least -Developed 
Countries including Arab Countries and extend all possible assistance for a smooth and 
successful accession process.  
24. We warmly welcome the accession of the Union of the Comoros to the WTO, which strengthens 
the Arab presence within this Organization, since this accession brings the number of 
Arab members of the Organization to 14.  We also welcome the accession of Timor -Leste and 
consider that each successful accession advances the truly global nature of the WTO and results 
in actual benefits for all the memb ership.  We reaffirm our commitments made at MC12 to 
facilitate the conclusion of ongoing accessions, especially for the LDCs.  
25. We affirm  the importance of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) and welcome the 
conclusions of the 7th Appraisal of the TPRM.  Transparency is a key feature of the multilateral 
trading system since trade policy reviews and other transparency provisions of the WT/MIN(24)/23  
 
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  WTO Agreements assist Members in regularly reviewing and improving their trade policies and 
measures.  However, the di scussions on transparency should take into account the capacity 
constraints of Developing and Least -Developed Members including the Arab countries, and must 
not add new obligations to Members that are not within the scope of the existing agreements.  
26. We rei terate  the importance of recognizing the Arabic language as one of the official working 
languages in the WTO and the need to strive towards its inclusion in the WTO, as it is the case 
in the United Nations Organizations. Arabic is one of the most spoken na tive languages in the 
world; accordingly, the recognition of Arabic as a WTO working language would facilitate active 
participation and enhance integration of Arab States in the multilateral trading system.  
27. We reaffirm the support to the League of Arab Sta tes' request for observer status in the 
Ministerial Conferences, councils, bodies and committees of the World Trade Organization.  
28. We underscore  the real need to ensure that any request by an Intergovernmental Organization 
(IGO) to acquire a permanent and/o r ad hoc Observer Status in the WTO should be based on 
the technical merits of such request. We also believe that all Intergovernmental Organizations 
(IGOs) should be treated on an equal footing, and that the process of considering their 
participation in M inisterial Conferences should remain technical, transparent and objective, as 
well as the screening process shall be undertaken on the basis of Annex III of the rules of 
procedure of the Ministerial Conference.  
29. We assert  our continued and unwavering suppor t for the State of Palestine's request for 
observer status in the General Council and its subsidiary bodies. While being mindful of the fact 
that the Government of Palestine practices trade regulations in all areas covered by WTO law. 
Members are encourage d to provide a favorable consideration to Palestine's request for observer 
status at the General Council. In order to enhance the inclusive nature of the WTO, we are of 
the view that request for observer status cannot be denied on the basis of political 
considerations.  
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