WT/MIN(13)/14  
 
3 December 2013  
(13-6607)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Ninth Session 
Bali, 3-6 December 2013  Original: English  
 
DECLARATION OF MINISTERS OF THE GROUP OF SMALL, VULNERABLE ECONOMIES 
(SVES) TO THE NINTH SESSION OF  THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
The following communication, dated 2 December 2013,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Barbados on behalf of the SVEs.  
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 We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the Group of Small, Vulnerable Economies (SVEs), 
having met on 2 December 2013 in Bali, Indonesia, on the margins of the ninth Session of the 
World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference:  
Reiterate  the importance of preserving a fair, inclusive and transparent, rules-based multilateral 
trading system, particularly for the small and most vulnerable, and underscore the centrality of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in this regard.   
Emphasize  that effective special and differential treatment, a key principle of multilateralism, 
must not be undermined.  
Reaffirm  the relevance of the Work Programme on Small Economies contained in Paragraph 35 of 
the Doha Ministerial Declaration and Paragraph 41 of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration.  
Stress the importance of the Work Programme on Small Economies.  In this regard, we strongly 
urge that the requisite support is provided to implement the Work Programme.  
 Note the progress achieved on SVE priorities, es pecially the work conducted in the CTD's 
Dedicated Session on the effects of non-tariff measures on the exports of Small Economies. We 
emphasize the importance of future work related to the overall Work Programme on Small Economies, including the challenges and opportunities experienced by small economies. 
 
Recognize  that economic recovery still remains one of the challenges affecting the world 
economic environment. Thus, a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round (DDR) can 
contribute to the economic growth and deve lopment of the small and most vulnerable.  
 Urge Members to exercise the requisite political will to reinvigorate and successfully conclude the 
Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations with priority given to the areas of interest and 
modalities in favor of the SVEs.   
 Urge  Members to exercise caution and ensure that the organs of the multilateral trading system 
are not used to promote a system of plurilateral ism at the expense of the weak and vulnerable. 
 Reiterate  the need for the preservation of a development-centered DDA and the continued 
safeguard of the principle of the Single Unde rtaking for the achievement of a balanced and 
development oriented outcome in the DDA negotiations that is sensitive to the development objectives of SVEs.   
Further  reiterate  that the 2008 Draft Modalities texts represent stabilized bases upon which the 
DDA can be completed. In this regard, we stress th e importance of preserving agreed flexibilities WT/MIN(13)/14 
 
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  for SVEs in the modalities on Agriculture, NAMA and Services.  We look forward to the 
implementation of relevant flexibilities in these areas and obtaining appropriate flexibilities in other negotiating areas such as Fisheries Subsidies, Do mestic Regulation and Trade and Environment in 
the near future. 
 
Recognize  the elements of the Bali package and the early harvest, in accordance with 
Paragraph 47 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.   
 
Reaffirm  the need for special consideration and targeted assistance to be given to SVEs, inter 
alia, in the areas of Aid for Trade, Trade and Transfer of Technology; Trade Finance and 
Development Assistance which are priorities for special consideration by the WTO and anticipate 
the appropriate attention be paid to these issues in the on-going work of the WTO. 
 Emphasize  the necessity for the continued and further inclusion of SVEs as an integral part of the 
discussions on, and consultations within the regu lar bodies and work programmes of the WTO as 
we seek to become more fully integrated into the multilateral trading system.  
Emphasize  and call for flexibilities to be afforded to acceding SVEs requiring them only to 
undertake commitments commensurate with thei r level of development.  Due regard and 
appropriate consideration should therefore be given to the specific characteristics and vulnerabilities of acceding SVEs. 
 
Stress the importance of continuing the constructive engagement to find concrete and appropriate 
solutions to respond to the trade-related issues of Small, Vulnerable Economies. 
 
Express  appreciation to the Government and people of Indonesia for their warm and generous 
hospitality and for their contribution to a successful ninth Session of the World Trade Organization 
Ministerial Conference. 
 
2 December 2013  
Bali, Indonesia 
 
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