WT/MIN(24)/ST/101  
26 February  2024 
(24-1636) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR STEFAN -RADU OPREA  
MINISTER OF ECONOMY,  ENTREPRENEURSHIP  AND TOURISM  
ROMANIA  
Please allow me to  express my appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates 
and to the World Trade Organization (WTO)  for the impressive efforts invested in hosting and 
organizing this significant event. It is with great honour and a sense of duty that I am joining  
you in the ongoing efforts to address the highly complex issues facing the current world trade 
system.  
This Ministerial Conference is an important milestone  and, together, we must deliver a 
meaningful package of outcomes  that will consolidate the relevance of the WTO in the world 
economy and as the forum for discussing current global challenges that put a strai n on the trading 
system.   
We have to once again demonstrate that the success of MC12 was not incidental ; quite the 
opposite, in 2022, WTO Members laid the foundation for a comprehensive reform and now we 
observe the initial results materializing.  
There is still tremendous work to be done, but I am convinced that we are on the right track. With 
an open mind and a flexible approach, we can find creative ways of pressing on, mitigating 
divergences and finding solutions in areas of fundamental importance to a s izeable portion of the 
Membership.  
A sound multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, is the ultimate guardrail in an 
increasingly turbulent world economy. If international trade is not governed by rules, then we might 
be faced with a world tha t is defined by a power -based global order. Against this background, we 
must show that reaching agreements on trade matters is indeed attainable for the WTO.  
In 2019, during the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we placed a strong 
emphasis on the reform of the WTO  as a key priority within the pillar of trade. We continue to 
argue in favour of a broad review of the Organization's activities, with the main priority of a functional 
dispute settlement system that preserves the core feat ures, including the appeal mechanism. Thus, 
we are entrusted that the WTO should remain the place where trade policy issues are addressed, 
disputes arbitrated, legal frameworks derived and enforced.  
On agricultural issues, we emphasize the need for enhanc ed transparency as part of a 
comprehensive solution to current food security challenges. We advocate for agricultural reform  
while addressing the issue of distorting domestic support and identifying a permanent solution to 
the establishment of public stock s for food security reasons.  
Recognizing the benefits of electronic commerce  for the global economy, Romania strongly 
supports the Moratorium on the imposition of customs duties on electronic transmissions. As the 
majority of the WTO Members argued, the Moratorium plays a pivotal role in fostering a stable, 
predictable, and duty -free environment for cross -border digital trade development – which is of 
outmost importance for the future of trade.  WT/MIN(24)/ST/101  
 
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  We also support the conclusion of a pluril ateral WTO agreement on electronic commerce , involving 
all relevant stakeholders, including developing and least developed countries. This agreement should 
include the future standards regarding data flows, while ensuring high levels of consumer protection  
and privacy.  
Furthermore, we support the implementation of the outcomes of negotiations on investment 
facilitation for development  and domestic regulations on trade in services . Similarly, 
plurilateral solutions might be explored in situations where debat es held at multilateral level have 
shown limited progress over decades.  
As for the future work beyond MC13, we believe that a deeper level of engagement is needed to 
discuss the current global challenges affecting the trading system – such as the link betw een trade 
and industrial policy , trade and global environmental challenges , trade and inclusiveness – 
as well as making progress on negotiations in the area of agriculture.  
In line with our commitment to sustainable fishing practices, we aim to conclude ne gotiations on 
fisheries subsidies  in accordance with the SDG 14.6 for ensuring sustainable fishing. This includes 
finding a compromising solution for the second part of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.  
Romania remains committed to advancing an inclusive, transparent, and rules -based 
international trading system.  Through active engagement and cooperation, we can address the 
dynamic challenges ahead and create a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.  
To conclude, I would like to stress ou r determination for constructive engagement, as well as our 
hope that a collective endeavour at this Ministerial Conference will strengthen the multilateral trading 
system upon which we all rely.  
We are looking forward to working together in order to achie ve meaningful outcomes of great value 
for trade, growth and development that will decisively influence our public policies and business 
realities . 
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