WT/MIN(22)/ST/50  
12 June 2022 
(22-4487) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR SUMBUE ANTAS  
AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE  TO THE WTO  
VANUATU  
It is with much pleasure that I am able to deliver this statement at this 12th WTO Ministerial 
Conference. Vanuatu became a member of the WTO in 2012 and we see that a successful WTO 
Ministerial Conference in Geneva in 2022 as cementing its place in history as that rules -based 
multilateral organisation as a force for good that would help all of us to use trade to alleviate poverty 
and attain econom ic development. Vanuatu, a small country believes then and to this day, remains 
convinced that the WTO, has to take decisions that are responsible and responsive to the aspirations 
of all including for small and vulnerable economies and least -developed cou ntries. A recommitment 
to the development dimension for growing economies has to be stated this week, to allow for the 
WTO to gain a good reputation and elevate its global standing.   
Leading up to this MC12 and today, we as a member of the trading nations,  will continue the call to 
ensure that MC12 is a success and stress on everyone to exercise restraint and flexibility and agree 
the issues so as to reach a concrete, balanced and a focussed Ministerial outcome.  
The Vanuatu Sustainable Development Plan com mits Vanuatu to ensuring a Vanuatu Economy based 
on equitable growth that creates jobs and income opportunities accessible to all people in rural and 
urban areas. Our plans and activities, like many others, have to be reflected in any outcomes of 
MC12.   
The Ministerial Conference here in Geneva holds a special significance for Vanuatu as we face unique 
challenges of a small island nation surrounded by huge seas, our geographical isolation and the vast 
distances from major markets, environmental challenges f rom climate change and rising sea levels. 
The sea and ocean that surround Vanuatu and the Pacific Islands teem with fisheries resources that 
we consume and trade. But like our countries which face the negative effects of climate change, our 
fisheries resou rces are also at risk with illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; bigger countries 
who overfish in our waters and larger countries who come into our seas and ocean with fishing 
vessels with large capacity that pose unsustainable harvest of our fishe s. Vanuatu supports all efforts 
to reach agreement on the long over -due fisheries subsidies disciplines and we call on all WTO 
members to do so.  
We support the desire for all of us to see WTO reforms aimed at improving how we conduct business 
at the WTO as  well as strengthening the three pillars being on trade negotiations, monitoring trade 
policies as well as on the dispute settlement mechanism.  
Members must continue to support for a Work Programme on e -commerce that addresses the 
particular structural di sadvantages and inherent vulnerabilities of SVEs and LDCs in a holistic 
manner. Any commitments that would emerge from the discussions this week will be crucial in 
determining whether or not we should continue to place our confidence in the multilateral tr ading 
system so as not to cause more reputational harm to the WTO.  
Vanuatu took the bold step and graduated from the LDC category in December 2020 (at the height 
of the global pandemic) and we continue to celebrate that achievement.  The international suppo rt 
measures for the graduated countries like Vanuatu will continue in the future and members are 
called to support the efforts and proposals by LDCs and some developing countries to take special WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 50 
 
- 2 - 
 
  consideration of extending the transition period for LDCs reg arding their Special and Differential 
Treatment under the WTO rules.  
In so doing we reaffirm the importance of Aid for Trade, and more particularly, the Enhanced 
Integrated Framework (EIF), for developing and strengthening the productive capacity and econ omic 
infrastructure of LDCs. We call on our development partners to positively support the extension of 
the trade development programme post MC12.   
Other priorities and issues that are glaring to us on the food security, the  response to the pandemic, 
MSMEs , women empowerment in trade and on the environment are supported by Vanuatu.  
Vanuatu expresses its satisfaction to the Pacific WTO members who are here this week and to also 
note our ratification of the PACER Plus trade agreement which adds a new chapter and elevates our 
trading relations with our neighbouring Pacific countries.  
The world today demands of nations the peaceful co -existence of and a supporting environment of 
balanced trade and a beneficial trade regime for all. The truth is that over human history, trade has 
not always been that way. The result we see today is that the disparities of developments between 
nations are so varied that those who are rich and powerful take it upon themselves to believe that 
they do have the best interests of the l ess powerful, the smaller, the more vulnerable and the poorer 
amongst us. We, Vanuatu, have lived through that history and continue to live with it today.  
When MC12 ends this week, what will be the strength of the message we want to deliver to our 
communit ies and to the world? We hope the message will be a powerful signal from this Conference 
that the WTO is relevant today by adopting a Geneva  agreement.   
Finally Mr Chairman, we thank Kazakhstan for chairing this MC12 and express our gratitude to 
Switzerland and to the city of Geneva for their warm hospitality and excellent organisation and 
facilitation of this Conference. We recognise other WTO Members, General Council Chairman, 
Chairpersons of WTO bodies and Madame Director General and thank them  for their engagement, 
their substantive and transparent approach and facilitation of the negotiations . 
__________