WT/MIN(17)/ST/38  
 
13 December 2017 
(17-6922) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR  ABDULLA AL SALEH  
UNDERSECRETARY FOR F OREIGN TRADE AND IND USTRY  
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES  
At first, I would like to join all my colleagues Ministers and heads of delegations in extending our 
warm thanks to the people and the Government of the Republic of Argentina for hosting this 
11th Ministerial conference of the WTO, and the WTO Director General and his entire team for the 
excellent and professional organization  of this important gathering.  
We have repeated it enough, although I think it  cannot  be ever said  enough, that  the Multilateral 
Trading System (MTS) has played, and still plays, a significant role in opening up borders to 
facilitate international trade an d investment within a rule -based system, and providing a credible 
and solid mechanism to settle trade disputes. So why, the UAE would like to reiterate, from this 
podium, that its commitment and support to the WTO is strong and unwavering.   
Concomitantly,  we should continue to place the development dimension at the core of our 
negotiations programme. Without this dimension, the WTO would not be able to deliver on the 
many topics incorporated into its agenda and the shifting of trade negotiations to other s pheres 
and fora will become an ever great risk for all of us.  
The UAE shares the widely accepted view that the 11th Ministerial Conference should constitute an 
occasion to keep momentum of the achievements realized so far in the WTO, while maintaining a 
realistic forward -looking will to agree on further topics here in Buenos Aires.  
In this respect, allow me to summarize the position of the United Arab Emirates on some of the 
main issues tabled for negotiation.  
Regarding Public Stockholding for food securit y purposes, the UAE support the option to broaden 
the Bali Decision on Public stockholding to include all developing country members. We see this 
option gives much policy space while maintaining assurance for others that the programme will not 
undermine do mestic support disciplines.  
Concerning Export restriction, the UAE call for more transparency in the use of agricultural export 
prohibitions or restrictions. Consumers in food -importing countries, such as the UAE, can be 
adversely affected by these measure s, especially at times of sudden spikes in the international 
prices for food and agricultural goods.  
About Fisheries subsides, the UAE want to emphasize the need to provide for policy space for 
developing countries such as my country to enhance the develo pment of their fisheries sector, 
while promoting the development of sustainable fishing resources.  
As regards NAMA, the UAE see that this Conference should deliver as a realistic outcome a work 
programme for the continuation of the reform process in this a rea. 
In respect of Services, the UAE considers that it is for each government to decide on the level of 
liberalization proportionate with its level of development. Regarding domestic regulation 
negotiations, the UAE emphasize that developing country member s should keep their right to 
regulate in accordance with their development policy objectives. Concerning trade facilitation in WT/MIN(17)/ST/38  
 
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  services; we see that we can move forward on the negotiation track of provisions regulating such 
topic.  
With regards to Electroni c Commerce and Investment facilitation, the UAE believe that at this 
stage we cannot engage in discussions with negotiation perspective, and priority should be given 
to identifying and defining what topics and parameters should be covered by these concepts . 
Regarding E -commerce, the UAE supports the extension of the current practice of not imposing 
customs duties on electronic transmissions.  
In conclusion, I wish our negotiations will bring about the desired outcomes that will guide our 
trade and economic p olices over the next years. We expect balanced outcomes that will improve 
trade opportunities and disciplines for all the WTO Members.  
The UAE are very aware of the various challenges we must overcome in order to achieve more in 
the future. This is why we have to make sure that we all work in symbiosis in order to come up 
with balanced results in the different areas of negotiation.  
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