WT/MIN(15)/W/4  
 
12 November 2015  
(15-6009)  Page: 1/4  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English  
 
 TEXTUAL PROPOSAL ON PART I OF THE NAIROBI MINISTERIAL DECLARATION 
JOINT PROPOSAL BY AUSTRALIA, CANADA, CHILE, COLOMBIA,  COSTA RICA , HONG KONG CHINA , 
KOREA,  MALAYSIA, MEXICO , NEW ZEALAND , NORWAY , SINGAPORE AND SWITZERLAND 
The following communication, dated 10 November 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong China, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland.  
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INTRODUCTION   
1. This submission was drafted taking into co nsideration the views and comments expressed by 
Members during the Informal Heads of Delegation meeting on Part 1 of the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration on 5 November 2015. The co-sponsors share the view that the Ministerial Declaration 
should be honest, frank and realistic, while mainta ining a forward-looking and positive tone on the 
occasion of the WTO’s 20
th anniversary. In this context, we have sought to keep the proposed 
draft factual, and as far as possible, utilised previously agreed language from past Ministerial Declarations and the WTO Agreement. All of the fi gures were taken from the publication "The WTO 
at Twenty: Challenges and Achievements". 
 2. The co-sponsors hereby submit the below textual proposal for Part 1 of the Ministerial 
Declaration.  
 1  PREAMBLE  
1.1.  We, the Ministers, have met in Nairobi, Kenya, from 15 to 18 December 2015 at our Tenth 
Session. As we conclude our Session, we would like to express our deep appreciation to the Government and people of Kenya for the excellent organization and the warm hospitality we have received in Nairobi. 
1.2.  On the occasion of the WTO 20
th anniversary, we reaffirm the principles and objectives set 
out in the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization and recall the Declarations and Decisions adopted since then.  
1.3.  We recognize the WTO as the pre-eminent global forum for trade and pay tribute to the 
major contribution the rules-based multilateral trading system has made to the strength and stability of the global economy by fostering growth, resolving trade disputes and stemming 
protectionism. We reaffirm our commitment to  the WTO's negotiating function and support 
continued efforts to revise, update and build on the WTO's body of rules. 
1.4.  We recognize that trade can play a major role in the promotion of sustainable development 
and the alleviation of poverty and underline the need for all our peoples to benefit from the 
increased opportunities and welfare gains that the multilateral trading system generates. In this 
context, we note the important part attributed to trade in the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for 
Sustainable Development. WT/MIN(15)/W/4 
 
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  1.5.  We reaffirm the centrality of development in the WTO’s work and commit to continuing to 
make positive efforts designed to ensure that developing country Members, and especially the least-developed country (LDC) Members, secure a share in the growth of world trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development. 
1.6.  We note with satisfaction that the WTO’s cooperation with other international organizations 
has enhanced the contribution that the multilateral trading system makes to addressing global challenges. In this context, we recall the 2015 United Nations Addis Ababa Action Agenda on 
Financing for Development and the United Nati ons Conference on Climate Change (COP21). 
1.7.  We acknowledge that the international trading environment continues to evolve with 
developments such as the emergence of global va lue chains, increased use of digital technologies, 
and the active pursuit of regional trade agreements. 
1.8.  We note with concern the slowing pace of international trade in recent years and pledge to 
continue to work together to improve and streng then the multilateral trading system and to make 
the most of the possibilities it provides. 
1.9.  We regret that despite full engagement and intensive efforts, Members have been unable to 
progress the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) fu rther and that, most recently, Members could 
not agree on a Post-Bali Work Programme on the re maining DDA issues as directed by Ministers at 
MC9. 
2  THE WTO AT 20  2.1.  On the occasion of the WTO’s 20
th anniversary, we acknowledge important achievements 
under the core functions as contained in Article III of the Marrakesh Agreement: 
Expanding the Membership 
 
2.2.  The WTO has gone a long way towards achiev ing its goal of universal scope and coverage of 
its rules. With the expanding coverage of WTO rules, the global economy has become further 
integrated, creating new business opportunities on the basis of increased competitiveness and shared values, such as transparency, predictability and the rule of law.  
2.3.  In this context, we note with satisfaction that [XX] accessions to the WTO have been 
completed, amounting to more than [XX]% of the WTO Membership and bringing its number to 
[XX]. Collectively, this accounts for [XX]% of global trade. We applaud the extensive contributions and reforms made by the acceding economies to  the WTO. For the completed WTO accessions, 
over 7000 laws and associated implementing regulations were presented to the WTO. 
2.4.  We also note that there are 22 countries, including 8 LDCs, seeking WTO accession. This 
bears testament to the WTO’s unique importance as a platform for coordinating international trade 
policy and securing international trade relations. The accession of those countries would mean 
virtually universal coverage of the WTO framework of rules. 
Deepening the framework of rules and commitments 
 
2.5.  We applaud the adoption in 2014 of the Prot ocol integrating the Trade Facilitation Agreement 
(TFA) into the Marrakesh Agreement, as agreed at  MC9, the first multilateral agreement adopted 
since the establishment of the WTO. We note that [XX] WTO Members have already ratified the 
agreement. 
2.6.  Plurilateral agreements concluded under the auspices of the WTO – notably the results of the 
negotiations on telecommunications and financial services, as incorporated in the fourth and fifth 
protocol to the GATS, the Information Technolo gy Agreement, and the Government Procurement 
Agreement - have deepened the framework of rule s and resulted in substantial improvements in 
the sum of WTO commitments. WT/MIN(15)/W/4 
 
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  Implementing WTO Agreements and Monitoring Trade Policies 
2.7.  We applaud the critical role played by regular WTO bodies in ensuring oversight of the 
implementation of WTO Agreements. Through notifi cation procedures, discussion of specific trade 
concerns and information sharing about best regu latory practices, they have contributed to 
transparency and predictability, dispute avoidance, helped clarify rules and served as fora for the 
consideration of trade-related issues raised by Members. 
2.8.  We note that the WTO’s trade monitoring work has contributed consistently to the functioning 
of the multilateral trading system, by achieving greater transparency in, and understanding of, the 
trade policies and practices of Members. We ackn owledge the value of the WTO’s trade monitoring 
reports which were started in the wake of the 2008 financial and economic crisis. Such reports have contributed towards staving off protectionism, which tends to deepen global economic 
downturns. 
2.9.  We note that the Trade Policy Review Body has conducted [XX] reviews covering [XX%] of 
the WTO Membership since the establishment of the WTO. We also note that the Committee on 
Regional Trade Agreements has conducted review s of [XX] such agreements. These mechanisms 
remain valuable ways for Members to keep up with trade-policy developments worldwide, and 
especially benefit Members that do not otherwise have the resources to access such information. 
Dispute Settlement  
 
2.10.  We note that the Dispute Settlement Unde rstanding (DSU) has established and continues to 
offer a means for the settlement of disputes among Members that is unique in international 
agreements. 
2.11.  We acknowledge that the DSU has worked effectively during the past twenty years. The 
system has dealt with almost 500 disputes, demonstrating Members’ continuing confidence in the 
system and commitment to abide by th e rules and procedures of the WTO. 
2.12.   At the same time, we recognize that an unprecedented workload is presenting challenges 
to the system and to Members seeking to use it. 
Development  
 
2.13.  We reaffirm that the continuing integration of developing country Members and LDCs into the multilateral trading system is an abiding priority for the WTO. We recognize the efforts made, 
including through Special and Differential Treatment, to enable developing country Members, and 
in particular the LDCs, to bene fit fully from WTO Membership. 
2.14.  We applaud the fact that developing country Members’ share in global merchandise trade 
increased from 27% in 1995 to 43% in 2014. In the same period, their share of commercial 
services trade rose from 25% to 35%. This gr owth in trade has contributed significantly to 
development and the alleviation of poverty. 
2.15.  We also welcome the broader and deeper participation of LDCs in the WTO. LDCs’ exports of 
goods more than doubled in the period 2000-2013, while exports of services grew by more than 
50% over the same period. 
Technical assistance and capacity building  
 
2.16.  Technical cooperation and capacity building have become core elements of the development 
dimension of the multilateral trading system. 
2.17.  We note the progress made to ensure th at the WTO’s technical assistance and capacity 
building programmes focus on the needs of benefi ciary Members and reflect the priorities and 
mandates adopted by Members, as indicated in the biennial Technical Assistance and Training 
Plans. WT/MIN(15)/W/4 
 
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  2.18.  We applaud the fact that the WTO has orga nized over [XX] training activities that have 
benefitted over [XX] government officials from developing country Members, and in particular LDCs, since its establishment. 
2.19.  We recognize the fact that dedicated facilities such as the Standards and Trade 
Development Facility and the TFA Facility can make an important contribution towards assisting 
developing country Members and LDCs to implement relevant WTO agreements. 
2.20.  We welcome the progress on the Aid for Trade initiative in which the WTO plays a catalytic 
role in helping developing country Members, particularly LDCs, to build supply side capacity and 
trade-related infrastructure. We take note of th e outcomes of the regular WTO global reviews of 
Aid for Trade and recognize the continuing need for this initiative. 
2.21.  We acknowledge the achievements by the Enhanced Integrated Framework to mainstream 
trade strategies, enhance coordination for trade related assistance, and build trade capacity in 
LDCs. 
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