WT/MIN(13)/ST/100  
 
24 January 2014  
(14-0390)  Page: 1/1  
Ministerial Conference 
Ninth Session 
Bali, 3-6 December 2013  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. DR MARION WILLIAMS 
AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE 
BARBADOS ON BEHALF OF THE SVES 
I speak on behalf of my Minister who is unable to be join us here in Bali. 
 On behalf of the Government of Barbados and the Group of Small, Vulnerable Economies, I wish to congratulate, and express appreciation to the gove rnment and people of Indonesia on the hosting 
of this 9
th session of the WTO Ministerial Conference an d the warm hospitality extended to us in 
Bali. I would also like to congratulate Director General Azevêdo on his skill in guiding us close to a conclusion of a package for this, his first Ministerial Conference as the sixth Director-General of the 
WTO. We also join others in welcoming Yemen as the 160
th WTO Member. 
 As small developing countries, it is imperative that Barbados and other SVEs look outward, to 
increase our participation in the global trading system so as to maintain economic growth and 
development. To realise this, the multilateral trading system, and, in particular, the WTO are critical. The WTO represents the best safeguard for SVEs as we seek to ensure a fair and equitable 
participation in world trade.  It is therefore imperative that as the WTO moves forward, the 
concerns and needs of Small, Vulnerable Econom ies are adequately addressed. In this regard, 
enhanced support for the accession of SVEs is an area which needs to be addressed.   
We are at a critical stage as an Organization and this Conference provides a good opportunity for 
us to take stock of where we are, where we wi sh to go and how we ensure that the economic 
growth and development that are possible with increased world trade is balanced and inclusive of 
small Vulnerable Economies like Barbados and the wider CARICOM region. In addition there is 
need for continued acknowledgement of the need for S and D treatment in the WTO negotiations, 
in particular with respect to the DDA flexibilities negotiated thus far. As an Organization we need to ensure that, as we enter 2014 and the year of Small Island Developing States, that the trade 
development needs of this category of Members ar e addressed. We look forward to a conversation 
on trade and SIDS in the WTO in the near future.  
Madam Chair, With respect to the Bali package, Barbados commends Members for their valiant 
efforts and hope that the hard work and many hours that have been invested thus far will yield a positive outcome. WTO will need to re-group, re-focus and seek to ensure that the current work 
undertaken by this Organization for example in the area of Dispute Settlement, is enhanced and 
made more effective, particularly for thee small and vulnerable.  SVEs also attach great importance to the Regular Work Programme of the WTO.  In this regard, 
the Committee on Trade and Development as well as the Dedicated Session on Small Economies 
remain vital bodies for our countries. We look forward to active work in this body in 2014, building on the work thus far, for example, in the areas of non-tariff measures. Having ascertained the 
scope of some of the challenges, the WTO needs to  begin to implement measures that effectively 
address the problems identified and which result in real improvements in the situation of SVEs.  
In closing let me join with others in hoping for a positive outcome to our deliberations on the Bali 
package.  
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