WT/MIN(17)/ST/23  
 
13 December 2017  
(17-6899) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR S SIGRID KAAG  
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN  TRADE AND DEVELOPMEN T COOPERATION  
NETHERLANDS  
I would like to our host Argentina, and the Chair of the Ministerial Conference, for  their gracious 
hosting and inspiring work on the occasion of the 11th Ministerial Conference of the WTO.  
Can trade make the world a more prosperous place? Can it make the world safer? Can it lift people 
out of poverty? As Minister for Foreign Trade and De velopment in a liberal country, my answer will 
not surprise you. Yes, under the right circumstances. Yes, provided the rules are clear and 
respected by all. Yes, provided business is conducted in a sustainable way that respects the 
environment. Yes, provid ed it does not cause discrimination against women and minorities. 
The Netherlands is a country of trade and business people. The Dutch economy mostly grew 
thanks to trade and innovation. Wealth is created by exporting goods and services, and in order to 
make trade work for us all we need level playing fields.  
We are gathered here to improve the rules that guide trade flows.  
It is no easy task: the global rules -based system continues to face criticism, from both the street 
and from the political arena. Fait h in the benefits of free trade is fading. Underneath lies a 
common denominator: a fear of lack of protection – for working people, for the environment, for 
poorer countries. Those concerns can be real, understandable and legitimate. The answer, 
however, i s not an attack on the system or on this institution. The beginning of an answer can only 
be to reform the institutions for results. The WTO is not some anonymous, autonomous, 
astronomic Moloch. The WTO is a member driven organisation. In other words, thos e members 
who criticize it also have an obligation to propose viable alternatives. So what constitutes a 
sustainable, jobs -generating trading system in the 21st century? For the Netherlands, it contains at 
least four elements:  
The Sustainable Development G oals. I consider them the true " World Agenda " for the coming 
years. On trade, that agenda is clear: we will promote a universal rules -based open, 
non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system. And we need to significantly increase 
the export s of developing countries. We should also dare to ask whether and how our trade system 
could work more towards inclusive development.  
Secondly, we need to increase opportunities for women and girls in international trade. If you ask 
me, the case is simple : if women are not able to take advantage of business opportunities, we all 
lose. The gender and trade declaration that will be signed tomorrow is a necessary step towards 
making trade policy work towards equal opportunities.  
Thirdly, we all need to work m uch harder on accountability. In the Netherlands, we often meet 
with NGOs, the private sector and labour unions to discuss our trade policy agenda. We need to 
show our constituents what the benefits of trade agreements are: in terms of jobs to be created, 
of wealth to be generated, of people to be lifted out of poverty.  
Finally, the global trading system can only deliver benefits to all if national policies are aligned to 
achieve shared goals. For instance, we know that trade, like technology, can cause cha nge and 
dislocation alongside economic transformation. National policies are essential to harness this 
process. In conclusion, we look forward to a reinvigorated WTO, its program of work and a pillar of WT/MIN(17)/ST/23  
 
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  our rules -based system. The Kingdom of the Netherland s will be a reliable partner in this 
endeavour.   
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