WT/MIN(22)/ST/111  
12 June 2022 
(22-4551) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial  Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva , 12-15 June  2022  Original: Spanish  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. AMBASSADOR  ROSALIA BOHORQUEZ PALACIOS  
NICARAGUA  
On behalf of the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity of Nicaragua, I would like to 
express our sincere and fraternal gratitude to the Governments of Switzerland and Kazakhstan for 
co-hosting the WTO Twelfth Ministerial Conference, which is taking place against a very specific 
backdrop of post -COVID -19 economic recovery , and almost five years after the last Ministerial 
Conference in Buenos Aires, Argent ina, in 2017 . 
 
Nicaragua, as a Member of the WTO -GATT since 1949, reaffirms its commitment to upholding the 
multilateral trading system and multilateralism, given the importance of these rules, which provide 
for the stability of international trade, a key matter for developing countries . 
 
In July  1979, my country initiated a process of transformations. Its foreign trade policy reflects a 
commitment to strengthen ing the multilateral trading system. Our Government of Reconciliation and 
National Unity, led by Commander Daniel Ortega Saavedra and Commander  Rosario Murillo, is 
convinced that the multilateral trading system is the counterpart to the domestic efforts to bring 
about socioeconomic and productive transformation.  
 
The whole of Nicaragua is committed t o ensuring this transformation, the main purpose of which is 
to lift Nicaraguans out of poverty and restore their rights.  
 
We welcome the results achieved thus far in the multilateral trade negotiations, which we hope will 
be fair and balanced for approval  at this Ministerial Conference.  
 
We urge Members to reinvigorate the negotiations in this Organization, with a solidarity -based, 
flexible and balanced approach, in order to deliver on the negotiating mandates contained in the 
WTO Agreement and its Annexes , and the Ministerial decisions adopted.  
 
We underscore the importance of achieving  tangible results at this Ministerial Conference , in line 
with the needs of WTO Members and with the Sustainable Development Goals.  
 
We call for the  implement ation of  a reform process in this Organization to improve its functions in a 
manner consistent with the principles and objectives of the multilateral trading system contained in 
the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO and its Annexes. This reform must be trans parent 
and inclusive in response to the needs of developing countries, and must guarantee them special 
and differential treatment which addresses their technical and financial constraints.  
  
We particularly expect robust results in the negotiations on agriculture , which will make it possible  
to step up the pace for the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference. Nicaragua  is closely following this 
process in coordination with the G3 3, with which we share common needs and interests.  
 
This Ministerial Conference is th e sole opportunity for Members to demonstrate genuine political will 
to pursue  the negotiations, in a sincere and effective manner . This would reaffirm the negotiating 
function and relevance of the WTO , in a way that would guarantee transparent and predict able 
openness to trade , and promote economic growth and the full and equitable participation of 
countries.  
 WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 111 
 
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  This would help small economies to integrate more effectively into world trade in line with 
their economic development needs, and to achieve a better standard of living for their peoples.  
 
Nicaragua reaffirms its commitment  to complying with international trade rules. It therefore also 
reiterates its position not to include in  WTO discussions , biased political issues which are unrelated 
to trade  and devoid of any legal justification under the WTO, and  which  enjoy no consensus.   
 
On behalf of our Government, we hope for the greatest success in terms of the decisions adopted at 
this Ministerial Conference to ensure the best performance of internatio nal trade for the benefit of 
our peoples . 
 
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