WT/MIN(15)/ST/68  
21 December 2015  
(15-6799)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR WINICHAI CHAEMCHAENG 
VICE-MINISTER FOR COMMERCE 
THAILAND  
Thailand would like to start off by expressing our sincere appreciation to Kenya for the warm 
hospitality provided to all of us here in Nairobi.  This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the WTO, an organization that provides both the 
fundamental and legal rules for international commerce to enhance stability, predictability, 
transparency, and inclusiveness in world trade.   
As a major trading nation, the WTO remains Thailand’s priority. It is the main forum to help 
subdue trade protectionism and the only option when it comes to promoting broad-based, inclusive development and growth through trade. 
 
That is why we continue to contribute actively in this house to ensure the constant strengthening of the multilateral trading system.  
With that in mind, Thailand has submitted our ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement 
(TFA) in October this year. We have also submitte d the notification to provide DFQF market access 
to LDC products, and only the formality of submi tting the instrument of acceptance remains with 
regard to the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement. As for the LDC Services Waiver, we are 
undertaking necessary domestic procedures to grant the preferential treatment in line with the Bali Ministerial Decision.  
 
With this being the first Ministerial Conference he ld in the African continent, we look forward to 
highlighting the importance of LDCs to the mult ilateral trading system through the delivery of 
outcomes on development and LDC issues that co ntribute to inclusive development and growth.  
 
Although these are certainly important outcomes, the delivery on Export Competition is mandatory for a successful MC 10. It would eliminate billions of dollars of Export Subsidies and disciplines on 
all export measures and will greatly benefit all members, especially developing ones.  
 In this regard, Thailand would like to urge al l members to de-link Export Competition to other 
issues, in order to reach an outcome and mark MC10 in Nairobi as a historic event. 
 Thailand also acknowledges the contribution of members on a plurilateral format and welcomes the conclusion on the schedule of concession for the ITA expansion, covering products worth 1.3 billion 
dollars in trade annually. This illustrates the gains that we can achieve with cohesion and political 
will. This also signifies another step forward in li ne with the Thai government’s goal of a digital 
economy. 
 
While there is currently no doubt regarding the importance and the centrality of the multilateral trading system, its credibility going forward is at greater risk than never before.  
 
To reinforce the credibility and prominence of the multilateral trading system, we must deliver substantially meaningful outcomes here in Nairobi, as well as to commit ourselves to a Post-Nairobi work that entails substantial agriculture reform and meaningful liberalization in NAMA with WT/MIN(15)/ST/68 
 
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  S&D for developing countries as an integral part, as the highest priority, in accordance with the 
Doha Mandate.  
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