WT/MIN(17)/ST/99  
4 January 2018  
(18-0077)  Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh  Session  
Buenos Aires , 10-13 December 20 17 Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY MR. ŁUKASZ PORAŻYŃSK I 
DIRECTOR  
POLAND  
Poland, as in previous years, and like the whole EU, is willing to constructively participate in 
the very  important discussion and decision -making process during this 11th WTO Ministerial 
Conference. We do appreciate numerous positive effects of international trade system perceptible 
on microeconomic as well as macroeconomic levels. From a  microeconomic perspective , the 
transparent, f air and rule-based  world trading system allows domestic companies to reduce 
transaction costs and by that increase the level of their internationalization. As a result,  the 
business sector is able to better fulfil the needs of our citizens. From a  macroeco nomic 
perspective , the effectively operated international trade system is a key force stimulating 
economic growth, competitiveness  of the  national economy , innovations diffusion and structural 
transformation. It also supports country's participation in the  international division of labour .  
 
Therefore we would like to express our constant support for the multilateral trade system 
embodied and constituted by the WTO. We also see the need to continue cooperative efforts to 
strengthen this system in order to c reate a solid pillar for a long -term economic as well as social 
development of all WTO members.  We are deeply convinced that the WTO is an important 
institutional element of the global economic governance. For this reason,  the government of 
Poland is commi tted to further trade liberalization within the WTO and strengthening this 
Organization as a guardian of the  multilateral trading system . We would like to emphasize that the 
WTO might be also regarded as an excellent example of a global public good. Howeve r, we also 
find a space for further improvement of international trade system to make it more inclusive and 
efficient.  
 
At the same time, we have to take into account the fact that the global economy changed 
significantly in the last two decades. There ar e several new processes that have been occurring 
since the DDA negotiation as well. The role of electronic commerce has increased in the global 
trade as well as the role of digital economy as such. Knowledge -based economy, creative 
economy, patent industri es and intellectual property trade become paradigms in academic and 
political discourse concerning future evolution of economic growth’s sources. Therefore, such 
visible shift has an  impact  on foreign trade forms and scales. It should be noted that accordi ng to 
UNCTAD research  the e -commerce market is worth nowadays over 22 trillion USD. New 
perspective and opportunities are opening for developed and developing countries in the digital 
economy era. It is also worth to mention that we still observe an increa sing role of services in the 
global trade. Furthermore, the complexity of modern manufacturing increases the importance of 
global value chains whereas the needs of environmental protection exert strong pressure to 
stimulate the creation of more favorable  conditions for products and technologies exchange in this 
respect. These new trends in international trade must be addressed by the WTO to meet public 
and business expectations. This is also of great importance to preserve the  high relevance  of the 
Organiza tion for international trade in the future.  
 
We would like to underline the importance of further strengthening of the existing rules and 
mechanisms built in  the WTO. In this context, the relevance of Dispute Settlement system as well 
as notifications sho uld be emphasized. Both elements are being perceived by Poland to be  the 
crucial pillars of the Organization and the key building blocks of the international trading system. 
Therefore,  they both should be strengthened  and developed in order to improve the functioning 
and general efficiency of the Organization.  WT/MIN(17)/ST/99  
 
- 2 - 
 
  We would also like to emphasize  that foreign trade is very important for our country as it 
substantially contributes to GDP growth and job creation. According t o the Central Statistical Office 
of Poland, the  share  of exports in our GDP reached the level of 52,3% in 2016. Hence, for the 
whole transformation  period, during the economic crises after 2008 and till now, foreign economic 
transactions of Polish companie s support our development, production diversity and structural 
adjustment. Therefore, we would like to reiterate our strong support for further liberalization of 
international trade system, based on WTO rules, ensuring balanced growth for all. We also expr ess 
our concerns  as to the increasing number of different trade restriction measures that have been 
introduced  by some members of the WTO. Observing such distressing tendencies, Poland is open 
and ready for efficient cooperation with all WTO members to rev erse this harmful trend and 
support the World Trade Organization as a pillar of the  multilateral trading system .  
 
We do hope that countries that are in the process of the negotiations of their accession to 
WTO will join us soon. We believe that the furthe r expansion of the WTO will strengthen its 
position and role in promoting the rules -based multilateral trading system,  that is effective and 
brings benefits for all members.  
 
 
__________