WT/MIN(17)/ST/77  
4 January 2018  
(18-0036) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original:  French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E.  MR STEPHANE WENCESLAS SANOU  
MINISTER OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CRAFTS  
BURKINA FASO 
Burkina Faso reaffirms its commitment to a fair and inclusive multilateral trading system, based on 
rules capable of redressing the current imbalances in the multilateral trade rules and  of 
guaranteeing the prosperity and well -being of all WTO Members, in particular the developing and 
least developed countries  (LDCs) . 
Success in Buenos A ires will send an historic and decisive message to the world that the WTO 
continues to play a crucial role in strengthening the multilateral trading system.  
My country  endorses the statements already delivered and yet to be made by Mali as coordinator 
of the Co -Sponsors of the Sectoral Initiative in Favour of Cotton, by Cambodia  on behalf of the 
LDCs, by Rwanda  on behalf of the African Group  and the G -90, and by Guyana on behalf of 
the ACP countries.  
On this solemn occasion, Burkina Faso wishes  to reaffirm the importance of the Doha Round to 
cotton -producing and -exporting countries and in particular to the least developed among them.  
This is the reason why our country has been engaged since 2003 in the dedicated negotiating 
process initiated by the C4 with a view to gradually phasing out all f orms of cotton trade -distorting 
support.  
The development dimension is indeed the principal justification of this negotiating round and must 
remain so  until its conclusion . To that end , we call for improved assistance wi th a view to 
facilitating the implementation of all ministerial decisions relating to development  of the cotton 
sector , particularly in Africa, and pursuit of the reforms needed to consolidat e the gains of the 
WTO Director -General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton . 
It is universally acknowledged that trade facilitation has a positive impact  on growth and 
stimulates the world economy . Burkina Faso therefore commends the  efforts to strengthen and 
operationalize the Trade Facilitation Agreement and hopes that the Buenos Aires Conference will 
crown the efforts deployed in this regard with concrete outcomes . 
Burkina Faso likewise welcomes the entry into force of the amendment to the  WTO Agreement on 
Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  (TRIPS) , which will make it possible to 
address the health needs of the least developed countries.  
On the other hand, Burkina Faso considers that failure to resolve priority issues such as 
agriculture, cotton,  special and differential treatment and fisheries subsidies could diminish the 
gains brought by the WTO to the developing countries and LDCs in particular . We therefore believe 
that no credible outcome will be possible in Buenos Aires without positively an d effectively taking 
on board the demands  and concerns of LDCs.  
If the Eleventh Conference is to succeed, Members will have to  show the necessary flexibility in 
their positions to narrow their differences on important trade agreements that are now within 
reach.  WT/MIN(17)/ST/77  
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  Burkina Faso wishes to underline the need to think in terms of a post -Buenos  Aires agenda  that 
should cover the outstanding DDA issues , which are critically important to Africa, especially 
agriculture, cotton, special safeguard measures (SSM), specia l and differential treatment (S&D), 
services , and non -agricultural market access (NAMA).  
Burkina Faso once again calls on all Members to work together to adopt trade policies consistent 
with the WTO rules, and reaffirms its commitment and attachment to glo balization with a human 
face, globalization that is fairer and more equitable and capable of bringing inclusive  and 
sustainable development to our societies in a world based on solidarity and prosperity.  
For its part, Burkina Faso hopes that implementation  of its National Economic and 
Social  Development Plan (PNDES) will enable it to lay the foundations for sustainable 
development . This new development benchmark aims to bring about a structural transformation of 
the national  economy  by promoting  strong, resilient  and inclusive growth  that generates decent 
jobs for all,  and focuses on  institutional reform and the modernization of government, the 
development of human capital and the boosting  of key sectors of the economy . To that end , 
Burkina  Faso will need effective support from all development partners, the other international 
actors  and all initiatives such as the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) , in order  to achieve 
inclusive development pursuant to  its commitment s in favour of  a multilateral  trading system . 
 
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