WT/MIN(22)/ST/5  
12 June 2022  
(22-4441) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12-15 June  2022 Original: Spanish  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR MANUEL TOVAR  
MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE  
COSTA RICA 
I am addressing you all on behalf of my country, Costa Rica, which bears faithful witness to the 
benefits of international trade for the development of nations . Costa Rica is an example of successful 
integration into the world economy that has resulted in economic growth, development of production 
and improvement in the welfare of its citizens.  Trade paved the way for our successful integration 
in the world, thank s to a number of correct decisions on various aspects of our development . 
 
Since the creation of the WTO, our discussions have rarely been as decisive as they are today, with 
the world and the multilateral trading system experiencing one of the most comple x episodes ever. 
Precisely because of the nature of the times we are living through, I would like to remind everyone 
of the value of trade and of this Organization for the future of our planet and the wellbeing of its 
inhabitants.  
 
Trade continues to drive economic growth  and development , and is a key tool for addressing the 
current challenges. Nowadays, we share the benefits and the challenges: national problems take on 
an international dimension and regional crises are globally linked.  Indeed, the global nature of the 
difficulties we are facing  reminds us that the welfare of each one of us concerns us all, and we must 
all contribute, in a responsible fashion, to ensuring such welfare . 
 
Whether we like it or not, we are living in a technology -based and trade -driven world. Technology 
has radically changed the way in which we produce goods and services, and has been a key all y 
during the times of the pandemic. It has made it possible to red uce physical distances and, despite 
the difficult circumstances, has helped  trade to continue flowing and our economies to continue 
functioning . 
 
However, t he current  circumstances are once again testing the arguments in favour of  international 
trade.  We are living through a protracted period of trouble and uncertainty.  The COVID -19 pandemic 
took us by  surprise. As well as impacting the health and lives of millions of people, it caused 
widespread disruption to international trade, as seen in the container c risis and the disruption in 
global production chains . As soon as we began t o see the end of the pandemic, we suddenly found 
ourselves facing the war in Ukraine, which in addition to its cruel impact on human lives, has once 
again irremediably affected supp ly chains and poses a threat  to the food security  of many people, 
in particular the poorest and most in need.  
 
As crises develop, the illusion of mercantilist  nationalism has a tendency  to cloud the vision of certain 
people, and the well -established vocati on of free trade as a powerful tool for development  can be 
forgotten.  In this context, one might give into the temptation of focusing entirely on obtaining short-
term benefits at all costs.  This is contrary to the very essence of the multilateral trading system  and 
this Organization , which should be  based on a comprehensive, global, systemic and long -term 
approach.  
 
We need to reinforce the role of trade policy in the recovery  of our economie s. This Organization 
really comes into its own when dark clouds are gathering on the horizon . Its very existence upholds 
predictability and legal security in the midst of uncertainty . The answers we are seeking lie in 
decisions that lead to more trade in goods and services, more trade facilitat ion, more investment, WT/MIN(22)/ST/5  
 
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  more legal security and more innovation.  We need m ore opening up, less protectionism, fewer 
subsidies and fewer barriers  to trade . 
 
Throughout the 27 years of its existence, t he WTO has proved to be a key instrument for 
development an d must continue to play that role.  Building a global, fair and prosperous trading 
environment is an ongoing task that requires a lot of effort, flexibility and political will.  
 
The difficulties faced by the Organization in recent years have been considerab le. The crisis in the 
dispute settlement system, the COVID -19 pandemic, the little amount of progress made in the 
negotiations and the slowness to incorporate new issues at the multilateral level compared with 
regional trade agreements have made  the road t o this Ministerial Conference a rocky and difficult 
one. 
 
We cannot remain as we are. Times of crisis provide an opportunity to build consensus. No one is 
exempt from responsibility; we are all responsible for finding answers . I am confident than many of 
these answers will stem from this Ministerial Conference.  
 
The decision to make progress on longstanding issues lies in our hands; this includes on issues such 
as agriculture,  for which there should be ambitious agreements that al low for the continued reform  
of agricultural trade in the pillars of market access, domestic support and export competition. We 
must also address, from the WTO perspective, the food security of all the Organization's Members 
and undertake a clear commitmen t not to impose export bans or export restrictions on food 
purchased by the World Food Programme.  
 
Today, it is also our responsibility to ambitiously discipline the subsidies that lead to overfishing and 
the over -exploitation of marine resources, for our  own good and that of future generations.  
 
From the WTO per spective, we must deliver a response to the pandemic and ensure that the 
Organization is better prepared to deal with future crises.  
 
Lastly, it is our responsibility to launch an organizational re form, so that the Organization can 
continue to provide an effective dispute settlement mechan ism, properly fulfil its monitoring and 
surveillance duties and remain a negotiating forum in which results can be achieved. In particular, 
we need to make progres s on restoring the full powers of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, 
explore ways of facilitating the integration of the outcomes of plurilateral negotiations and improve 
compliance with transparency and notification obligations.  
 
Costa Rica recognizes the need to update the rules and the commitments of WTO Members. For this 
reason, we are enthusiastic and committed participants in the joint initiatives on investment 
facilitation, electronic commerce, and micro, small and medium -sized enterprises, and le ad the 
discussions on trade  and environmental sustainability. The conclusion of the negotiations on 
services  domestic regulation in December last year - negotiations that we also had the honour of 
leading - shows that it is possible to reach agreements if there is political will, and encourages us to 
continue seeking them in other areas.  
 
Costa Rica will do its utmost to advance  the WTO's reform agenda at this Ministerial Conference  and 
to ensure that the Organization  consolidates its role as the centre point of global international trade 
governance.  
 
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