WT/MIN(24)/ST/52  
26 February  2024 
(24-1535) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February  2024  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR JUAN CARLOS MATHEWS SALAZAR  
MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE AND TOURISM  
PERU 
I should like to begin by thanking the United Arab Emirates for its warm hospitality at this Thirteenth 
Ministerial  Conference of the World Trade Organization, and by saying that Peru is eager to 
participate in this important event, where I am sure, we will de liver outcomes that will help reinforce 
the multilateral trading system and bring about convergence on vital issues for the sustainable 
development of our countries.  
Peru is committed to the multilateral trading system and is convinced of the relevance and  validity 
of the principles of the WTO, particularly at the present juncture, when collaboration and joint efforts 
at the multilateral level are needed to continue the global economic recovery.  
In view of this, we stress the importance of delivering concr ete outcomes at this 
Ministerial  Conference and issuing specific mandates that will guide our joint efforts in the coming 
years.  
We welcome the intensive efforts of WTO  Members who have worked over the past few weeks to 
reconcile positions in  the second p hase of negotiations on the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. 
Reaching an outcome in these negotiations is crucial for protecting our oceans and achieving the 
Sustainable Development Goals.  
Furthermore, we recognize the importance of the entry into force of that Agreement, and encourage 
Members to complete their internal ratification procedures so the Agreement can be implemented 
as soon as possible.  
Peru also recognizes the importance of continuing the reform process mandated by Article  20 of the 
Agreeme nt on Agriculture, and of establishing clear and ambitious guidelines at this 
Ministerial  Conference.  
Agricultural trade must be kept open and predictable  in order  to ensur e the continuous flow of food 
and essential inputs for agricultural production, and have a positive impact on global food security. 
Peru will continue to participate actively in the discussions, as we have been doing with the 
Cairns  Group and with those Latin American countries committed to agricultural reform, to achieve 
specific outcom es at this Ministerial  Conference.  
On e-commerce and services, we welcome the progress made in joint initiatives on domestic 
regulation and e -commerce. Furthermore, we reiterate our support for extending the moratorium 
on customs duties on electronic tran smissions, which will have a positive impact on  the participation 
of SMEs seeking to internationalize their supply through electronic means.  
We also welcome the efforts of WTO Members to move  forward the discussions on WTO reform, 
including  on the dispute  settlement mechanism.  
In this regard, we hope to build consensus soon so that  the Appellate Body  can become fully 
operational once again , and we welcome the dialogue initiatives that have been taking place, which 
we hope will be formalized and set up  soon.  WT/MIN(24)/ST/52  
 
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  Lastly, we welcome the prioritization of inclusive trade in the work of the WTO and in the theme of 
the Thirteenth Ministerial Confere nce. 
For Peru, it is of vital importance to ensure that international trade benefits everyone and is a tool 
for productive and sustainable development. In that connection, we support the work being done on 
SMEs and women's economic empowerment through trad e. 
Colleagues, we have several exciting days of work ahead of us to reach agreement through 
cooperation and joint efforts that will take the WTO into a new phase of greater openness, 
transparency and facilitation of world trade.  
To conclude, let me reiterate  Peru's firm commitment to devote its best efforts to achiev ing 
consensus to bolster and modernize the multilateral trading system.  
I am confident that we will have a successful Thirteenth Ministerial Conference.  
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