WT/MIN(17)/ST/129  
 
2 August  2018 
(18-4922) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY DR ROB DAVIES  
MINISTER OF TRADE AN D INDUSTRY  
SOUTH AFRICA 
On behalf of the South African delegation, I want to thank the Government of Argentina for 
generously hosting this  11th WTO Ministerial here in Buenos Aires.  
 
MC11 is taking place at a time when the multilateral trading system is facing significant 
challenges. People across the world are demanding higher levels of more inclusive economic 
growth and are questioning whe ther organisations like the WTO are geared to delivering on this 
demand.  
 
This we believe calls for a sober discussion on the role of trade in promoting sustainable 
development and inclusive growth. We must work decisively to create a multilateral environm ent 
conducive to support industrialisation, and the adoption of new technologies in a way that supports 
structural transformation and economic diversification. This requires preserving policy space for 
developing countries, especially African countries to pursue their development objectives and 
promote regional integration as a step towards more significant engagement with the global 
economy.  
 
South Africa, like many other developing countries, has participated in WTO negotiations on the 
basis of the undert aking that we all made in Doha to place the needs and interests of developing 
countries at the heart of the work program. This focus, where trade serves development, remains 
at the core of our interest in the ongoing negotiations. Any agreed Ministerial De claration at this 
Conference must make reference to the Doha mandate, even if it also recognizes the apparent 
differences amongst us on approach.  
 
We have all observed the very real difficulties in the negotiations on almost all, if not all issues. 
This in cludes longstanding priority issues in domestic support, public stockholding, development 
and fisheries, amongst others. While we are disappointed at this state of affairs, we are prepared 
to continue to work on these remaining Doha issues next year. In sa ying this, I must indicate in 
unambiguous terms that South Africa has grave misgivings and we will not accept any proposals 
that would intrude into our national democratic processes to make policy or regulation in respect 
of services and beyond.  
 
We have r epeatedly stated that we recognize the rapid development of e -commerce but that this 
process is uneven across the globe. In such a context with many unknowns, with enormous risks 
as well as opportunities, we believe this is the time for sharing information  and enhancing 
cooperation. Negotiations for rule -making are not appropriate at this stage. We are also not 
prepared to agree to introduce  other, non -DDA issues onto the agenda.  
 
Let me conclude by stating that South Africa approaches its engagement in the  WTO on the basis 
of an understanding that outcomes here must support – or at least not hinder – Africa' s overriding 
priority objectives for industrialization and regional integration.  Africa has defined an agenda to 
shift  away from an  unsustainable  growth path based on our historic, colonially defined position as  
  WT/MIN(17)/ST/129  
 
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  exporters of primary products and importers of higher value -added products. We need to add  
value to our raw materials, industrialize and diversify our economies in order to secure the future 
of our people and to contribute to the global economy more decisively. We expect work in the WTO 
to support those noble objectives.  
 
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