RESTRICTED  
  
WT/GC/M/164  
 
10 November  2016 
(16-6175) Page: 1/44 
General Council  
3 October 2016    
 
 MINUTES OF THE MEETI NG 
HELD IN THE CENTRE W ILLIAM RAPPARD ON 3 OCTOBER  2016 
Chairperson: H.E. Mr Harald Neple (Norway)  
At the outs et of the meeting, the Chairman  and the Director -General  welcomed H.E. Axel  M. Addy, 
Minister of Commer ce and Industry of the Republic of Liberia. Minister Addy addressed1 the 
General Council, highlighting  the steps being taken by Liberia  in the post -accession 
implementation phase.  
 
Before adjourning the meeting, the Chairman, on behalf of the General Council, bade farewell to 
Amb. Abdolazeez S. Al -Otaibi (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) who was leaving his post at the WTO, and 
expressed appreciation for his valuable contribution during his time as Permanent Representative.  
 
Subjects discussed2: 
1   REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE TRADE NEGO TIATIONS COMMITTEE  ....................  2 
2   IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E BALI AND NAIROBI O UTCOMES – STATEMENT BY 
THE CHAIRMAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  4 
3   WORK PROGRAMME ON SM ALL ECONOMIES – REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF 
THE DEDICATED SESSIO N OF THE COMMITTEE O N TRADE AND DEVELOPM ENT ...............  6 
4   ELEVENTH SESSION OF THE MINISTERIAL CONFE RENCE – DATE AND VENUE 
– STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  ................................ ................................ ....................  7 
5   APPOINTMENT OF OFFIC ERS TO WTO BODIES - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON  
MARKET ACCESS, COUNC IL FOR TRADE IN SERV ICES SPECIAL S ESSION AND 
PREPARATORY COMMITTE E ON TRADE FACILITAT ION - STATEMENT BY THE 
CHAIRMAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  8 
6   COMMITTEE ON BUDGET,  FINANCE AND ADMINIST RATION – REPORT ON 
MEETING O F 16 SEPTEMBER 2016 ................................ ................................ ....................  9 
7   WTO PENSION PLAN MAN AGEMENT BOARD – ELECTION OF CHAIRPER SON – 
STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  ................................ ................................ .....................  10 
8   ENHANCING THE PARTIC IPATION OF MICRO, SM ALL AND MEDIUM 
ENTERPRISES IN REGIO NAL AND GLOBAL MARKE TS – STATEMENT BY THE 
PHILIPPINES  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  11 
9   WORKSHOP ON THE WTO AND AGENDA 2030 – STATEMENT BY AUSTRAL IA .............  11 
10   PROCESS FOR THE APPO INTMENT OF THE DIREC TOR-GENERAL UNDER THE 
PROCEDURES ADOPTED I N DECEMBER 2002 – STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  .............  11 
11   WORKING PARTY ON THE  ACCESSION OF ALGERIA – STATEMENT BY THE 
CHAIRMAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  12 
12   ADMINISTRATIVE MEASU RES FOR MEMBERS IN A RREARS – STATEMENT BY 
THE CHAIRMAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  13 
                                                
1 The full statement of Minister Addy can be found in Annex 1 of this document.  
2 The proposed agenda was ci rculated in document WT/GC/W/724 . WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  ANNEX 1 – H.E. AXEL M. ADDY'S ADDRESS TO THE GENER AL COUNCIL OF THE 
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZA TION  ................................ ................................ .....................  14 
ANNEX 2 – THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL'S REPORT AT THE INFORMAL HEADS O F 
DELEGATION MEETING H ELD O N 30 SEPTEMBER 2016  ................................ ..................  17 
ANNEX 3 - STATEMENTS BY MEMBER S AT THE INFORMAL HE ADS OF 
DELEGATION MEETING H ELD ON 30 SEPTEMBER 2016  ................................ ..................  19 
 
1  REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE T RADE NEGOTIATIONS CO MMITTEE  
1.1.  The Chairman  recalled that a meeting at the level of Heads of Del egation had been held on 
30 September.3 
1.2.  The Director -General , Chairman of the TNC , referred to his report at the Heads of 
Delegations meeting on 30 September circu lated in JOB/GC/105.4 Members  had had a good 
exchange at the HODs  meeting. He reiterate d his call for Members  to deepen and widen their 
conver sations in the coming days , which would  be essential to create an atmosphere of trust so 
that proposals could  be discussed and progress could be made  in due course . 
1.3.  The representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , on behalf of the Arab Group , said that 
Members had been active ly engaged  before the summer break  in discussing the way forward on a 
variety of areas of WT O negotiations. The Arab Group was  encouraged by the moment um and the 
positive signs that we re emerging in moving the negotiatio ns from reflection to action. For the 
negotiations to progress, Members  should therefore continue in the same spiri t, capitalize  on the 
positive momentum and build on the success of the Bali and Nairob i Ministerial Conferences .  
Doing so  should propel them to  continue thei r work in a cooperative manner and to have frank 
discussions to reach a common unde rstanding on  the issues wher e they could  have deliverables at 
MC11 . Tangible prog ress for the interest of all Members could only be achieved if they worked with 
a sense of urgency and ensure d that time would be used wisely  particularly as  MC11 drew closer . 
Working in a posi tive spiri t and providing  the n ecessary political will would also be essential. T he 
decisions adopted in the various Ministerial Conf erences, in spirit and letter, should guide t heir 
future work and their efforts  should be redoubled  to achieve meaningful outc omes on  the various 
issues i n their agenda. They should continue thei r work on the outstanding issues and maintain 
development and S&D provisions at the heart of the negotia tions. The Arab Group reiterated  its 
commitment to the multila teral trading system and rem ained  ready to engage constructively in the 
work ahead.  
1.4.  The representative of Benin , on behalf of the LDCs , associated with the statements made by  
the African Group and the ACP at the 30 September Informal HODs meeting. The LDC Group noted 
with concern the  lack of progress in Members' work as MC11 drew closer. To reach a successful 
Ministerial Conference, Members should therefore  change their pace and negotiating approach.  
1.5.  During the February 2016 General Council meeting, Members had urged  to prepare the 
ground so that only the politically sensitive issues were brought for Ministers' decision, before and 
during their preparations for MC11. The LDCs wished to underline that they had  identified and 
submitted their priorities to Members for the post -Nairobi sta ge of the negotiations. Those were 
contained in WT/GC/W/717 – TN/C/W/73 – WT/COMTD/LDC/W/63 , dated 24 June 2016.  
1.6.  The LDCs had continued their work at the organization and  had consulted other WTO 
Members and groups. They would accelerate their efforts in Oc tober to enable to capitalize on the 
momentum and complement the Bali and Nairobi decisions.  
                                                
3 The statements delivered at the 30 September Informal Meeting at the level of Heads of Deleg ation by 
the following delegations are incorporated in the minutes of this meeting and can be fo und in Annex 3 of this 
document: Argentina; Plurinational State of Bolivia; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Cuba; Dominican 
Republic; Ecuador; European Uni on; Indonesia (G -33); Japan; Republic of Korea; Lesotho; Mali (C -4); Morocco 
(African Group); New Zealand; Nigeria; Norway; Pakistan; Peru; Russian Federation; Rwanda (ACP); Senegal; 
South Africa; Chinese Taipei  (Article XII Members) ; Tanzania; Tunisia; Uganda; Ukraine; United States; and 
Uruguay.  
4 At The Director -General's request, his statement at the 30 September  Informal Meeting at the level of 
Heads of Delegation is incorporated in the minutes of this meeting and is reproduced i n Annex 2 of this 
document.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  1.7.  For the LDCs, t rade was an integral tool for development and  in the  fight against poverty , 
provided that the parameters and the appropriate framework were respecte d by all. Therefore, on 
the issue of DFQF, the LDC Group, in a constructive, cooperative and transparent manner, would 
finalize within that week the Terms of Reference in conducting a clinical study.  
1.8.  Concerning agriculture, an  outcome  in areas  such as the substantial reduction or elimination 
of trade -distorting domestic support on agricultural products, including cotton, remained highly 
important. Such domestic support did not conform to the rules and principles of the WTO. It rather 
penalized more than 90%  of the LDCs' population by undermining their income and reducing the 
population of the middle class as satisfying consumer needs remained critical to their economic 
growth. The LDCs would work with different Members and groups to identify elements that co uld 
help build consensus on that important issue.  
1.9.  On fisheries subsidies, the Group  favoured a multilateral approach to achieve disciplines on 
subsidies that contributed to overfishing and overcapacity and to remove subsidies on illegal, 
unreported and unr egulated fishing. Any outcome in that area should take into account the needs 
and concerns of LDCs , particularly as regards food security and their socio -economic development. 
Because of the vital interest on that issue for several LDCs, the Group would wo rk in the coming 
days to consult and reconcile the proponents' positions with the view to submit a textual proposal.  
1.10.   Various studies on preferential treatment had shown the positive correlation between the 
preferences and  diversification of the structural transformation of LDC economies, their growth and 
development. The S&D provisions should therefore be assessed in light of the mandate under 
paragraphs 24, 31 and 32 of the Nairobi Declaration. The S&D provisions should ultimately aim on 
development. Membe rs' work should be led by a balanced approach taking into account the 
interests and concerns of LDCs. It should take place in light of Members' experience in the 
negotiations on the joint proposals of the G -90 during their preparations for MC10. Members 
should also urgently fill in the gaps on the approach they had adopted in discussing S&D 
proposals. As the weakest and most vulnerable Members of the multilateral trading system, S&D 
provisions should be strengthened by making them precise, effective and ope rational, to increase 
the LDCs' share in international trade.  
1.11.   The Group also stressed the importance of the LDC Services Waiver and invited Members to 
consider S&D treatment for LDCs  in their negotiations both in market access for s ervices and in 
domestic regulation.  
1.12.   Regarding e -commerce, the LDCs took note of the dynamic that was developing around the 
issue and recommended that their needs and priorities be addressed in the on -going consultations 
in accordance with the 1998 Work Programme on Electronic Com merce. The Group remained open 
to consultations in various formats and configurations.  
1.13.   The representative of the Dominican Republic , on behalf of the IGDC , noted that the 
Director -General  had said that world trade would  grow mo re slowly than expected in 20 16 
expanding by just 1.7% , well below the forecast of 2.8%. Coupled with an expected global GDP 
growth of 2.2%, 2016  would mark the slowest pace of trade and output growth since the fin ancial 
crisis of 2009. Amid that background  and due to the negative eff ects that deceleration would  have 
on developing countries, the IGDC support ed the Director -General's  call to intensify negotiations  at 
the WTO  and to start  preparing for MC11  as soo n as possible. As work  intensified , Members  should 
focus on those issues of  interest and ben efit to developing country Members  keeping development 
at the  centre of WTO work . The IGDC  stood ready to fully engage in that  period of intensified 
efforts  as they had  done in the past and hoped that their work would  lead to a meaningful 
outcome for developing country Members at MC11 . 
1.14.   The representative of Nepal  associated with the statement made by  the LDCs . Nepal 
subscribe d to the call of the Director -General  and many o ther delegations to  move swiftly from 
reflection to action with clari ty, flexibility, pragmatism and balance.  Devoting  more energy and 
time on issues at stake was urgent ly needed as Members advanced the ir post-Nairobi common 
agenda . The global consensus built through various international agreements over the years 
including  the 2030 Sus tainable Development Agenda had set Members'  common deve lopment 
goals in which trade had  been held as an engine of economic growth, sustainable development and 
reduct ion of poverty especially for  LDCs. As the most disadvantaged and marginalize d group in the WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  organization, interes ts and concerns of the LDCs should be at the forefront to enable them to have 
meaningful participation in the  multilateral trading system. In that regard, Nepal drew attention to 
the indicative list submitted by the LDCs  for Member's consideration. Past decisions in favour of 
LDCs including the Bali and Nairobi packages should be s ystematic ally implemented  in their true 
spirit. S&D treatment  provisions needed to be strengthened and made legally binding wherever 
appropriat e, to provide the  intended benefits and leverage  to developing countries particula rly the 
LDCs. The LDCs remained willing to engage constructively to that  end, but political will should also 
be generated acros s all segments of the WTO membership to have an y substantial negotiating  
outcome on that issue . The remaining Doha issues should  be dealt w ith surgically  while venturing  
to advance the newly emerging issues based on merit and cons ensus. D evelopment should not be 
overlooked  under any pretext in line wit h paragraphs 24, 31 and 32 of the Nairobi Ministerial 
Decla ration and following global agreements . Balance among those issues  should be achieved  
taking into account  the concerns of all stakeholders . Nepal remained  committed  to engage  
constructively in adva ncing Members'  common issues to make trade really inclusive and global 
under the WTO regime.   
1.15.   The General Council took note  of the Director -General's report and of the statements.  
2  IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E BALI AND NAIROBI O UTCOMES – STATEMENT BY THE 
CHAIRMAN  
2.1.  The Chairman5 recall ed that to continue to follow up on the decisions made in Bali and 
Nairobi – and to do that in an incl usive and transparent manner – he, and his  predecessors, had  
been providing regular reports on implementation matters at their meeting s, where updates were 
available. On e-commerce, at the July General Council meeting, Ambassador Suescum (friend of 
the GC Chair) had reported on the Work Programme on Electr onic Commerce and his report had 
been subsequently circulated in document WT/GC/W/7 21. The Chairs of the Council for Services 
and the Council for Goods had also submitted reports in their respective areas. The renewed 
interest seen in July when Members had submitted variou s papers on e -commerce continued – and 
that had  also been recently  seen at the Public Forum where many of the sessions had focused on 
digital trade/e -commerce. In terms of proce ss, Ambassador Suescum would  continue his 
consultations with Members on th e way forward starting that week . The next Dedicated Discussion 
would  be held later in October.  
2.2.  On Aid for Trade, which had been  among the Bali Decisions, at the July meeting, he had  
updated Members on the implementation of the 2016 -2017 Ai d for Trade work programme and he 
had brought Members' attention to the Aid -for-Trade m onitoring and evaluation exercise, which 
was an essential part of preparations fo r the next Global Review. He  reiterate d his reques t for 
Members to respond to that  exercise by completing the appropriate questionnaires and submitting 
case stories before the  31 October deadline. A background note had  been prepared by the  
Secretariat which also contained  a letter from the Director -General and the OECD Secretary -
General inviting Members to respond to the monit oring and evaluation exercise.  
2.3.  On Agriculture, in th e September CoA meeting , the Chair had noted that there were two 
issues that we re relevant for  the upcoming regular CoA monitoring. First, the next dedicated 
discussion on export competition wa s scheduled for June 2017 and the question naire on export 
compe tition would  be circulated later in the year. Second, the provisions on international food aid 
in the Nairobi Export Competition decision would  be reviewed within the annual monitoring 
exercise on the follow -up to th e Marrakesh NFIDC decision which would  take place during the next 
meeting of the CoA in November 2016.  
2.4.  On Development and LDC issues, DFQF  market access for LDCs, also a mong the Bali 
Decisions, remained  a standing item on the CTD's agenda. At the November meeting of the CTD, 
the Committee w ould undertake its annual DFQF review on the basis  of a Secretariat report, 
following  the Bali Decision.  
2.5.  Regarding the Monitoring Mechanism on Special and Differenti al Treatment, five meetings 
had been held since the Bali Ministerial Conference, but no writte n submissions had  yet been 
made. The next meeting of the Monitoring Mechanism would  be held in November.  
                                                
5 The Chairman's statement was subsequently circulated in JOB/GC/106.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  2.6.  On Preferential Rules of Origin for LDCs, the Committee on Rules of Origin had discussed the 
implementation of the Bali and the Nairobi Ministerial Decis ions in its formal meetings in May and 
the recent one in September. As mandated by both decisions, the CRO had reviewed the latest 
developments related to preferential rules of origin for LDC s. Efforts in the Committee had  focused 
on the elements for which  follow -up action by the Committee had been  mandated. In particular, 
the Committee  had discussed methodologies for the calculation of utilization rates and a draft 
template for the notification of preferential rules of origin. Additional consultations on b oth items 
would  be needed before Members could  deem both adopted. Preference -granting Members had 
been reminded that they should  submit a notification to the Secre tariat about the measures they 
were taking in order to implement the Decision. In the c ase of  developed countries, that  
notification was due by the end of that  year. As mandated by the Decisions, a more detail ed 
written report had been discussed and would  be forwarded to the General Council. In addition, an 
oral report would  also be delivered to t he Sub -Committee on LDCs.  
2.7.  In paragraph 28 of the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration, Ministers  had instructed the 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements to discuss the systemic implications of RTAs for the 
multilateral trading system and their relationship wi th WTO rules, and had also agreed to work 
towards the transformation of the current provisional Transparency Mechanism into a permanent 
mechani sm. The Chairman of the CRTA had  been conducting consultations on tho se issues, and  
had reported on tho se consult ations at the September meeting of the CRTA . 
2.8.  Work in the area of Trade Facilitation  had continu ed to make headway. Progress had  
especially  been made with respect to bringing the Trade Facilitation Agreement clos er to entry into 
force. Since his  last report , several Members had been  able to complete their domestic ratification 
process, bringing the overall number of acceptance instrument s to a current total of 94. That 
meant that they had  received 85 per cent of the ratifications required for the TFA to take  effect.  
2.9.  With that moment coming closer with ev ery ratification instrument receive d, he  urged all 
developing country Members wishing to benefit from the Agreement's S&D provisions to hand in 
their category notific ations as soon as possible. That wa s especi ally pressing with respect to 
notifications on categorie s B and C, where input continued to lag behind. The PCTF had  only 
received 5 submissions to date , far less than the 87 category A notifications presented so far.  
2.10.   He equally urge d Members who had  not y et deposited their acceptance instrument to 
intensify their efforts to complete their ratification processes so that the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement could  swiftly enter into force.  
2.11.   The Director -General , regarding Aid for Trade, said that  it was very impor tant that Members 
respond ed to the Aid for Trade monitoring and evaluation exe rcise. T he 6th Global Review of Aid for 
Trade was planned to be held from 11 to 13 July 2017. Information collected by the moni toring 
and evaluation exercise wa s essential for a successful Global Revi ew – because it ensure d that 
Members' priorities and concerns were properly reflected. He thus  asked that responses be  sent 
before the 31 October deadl ine. The theme for next year's Review was "Promoting Connectivity" – 
bringing  in a range of issues, from tackling trade costs, to trade facilitation support, to efforts to 
bridge the digital divide. The next meeti ng of the CTD on Aid  for Trade was scheduled for 
17 October. The  session would  give Members an opportunity to discuss the Glob al Review and 
share thoughts on how to ensure its success. He  looked forward to the continued engagement  by 
all Members  in that work.  
2.12.   The representative of Benin , on behalf of the LDCs , recalled that a t its July meeting, the 
General Council had invited the  LDCs to continue consultations with Members to finalize the Terms 
of Reference for the development of the clinical examination of the system of granting DFQF 
market access to LDCs. In that regard, the Group had held bilateral consultations with the United  
States, the European Union and Pakistan. The LDCs also continued to discuss with the US 
delegation its comments on a consensus text. The revised draft would be submitted to Members at 
the next session of the CTD.  
2.13.   During the CRO's April meeting, the LDCs h ad undertaken to submit a draft model 
notification of preferences for LDCs in accordance with the Nairobi Decision on Preferential Rules of 
Origin in G/RO/W/160. Informal consultations had been conducted and the results of which had 
been discussed at the C RO on 22 September. The observations and recommendations had been WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  incorporated in the revised draft that would be circulated shortly to Members following the 
recommendation of the CRO. The LDCs urged Members to adopt the revised draft model 
notification of  preferences for LDCs, and the formula for calculating the utilization rate proposed by 
the Secretariat on which some Members were waiting for instructions from their respective 
capitals. The LDCs had also proposed a Special Session in February 2017, befor e the CRO's next 
regular meeting, which would be dedicated to the evaluation of the notifications made by Members 
in the implementation of the Ministerial Decision in Nairobi to examine with more depth the 
challenges faced by LDCs in taking advantage of th e existing Preferential Rules of Origin. A draft 
agenda was being prepared and would soon be submitted to Members to allow them to have an 
idea of the Special Session's objective.  
2.14.   Regarding  the LDC Services Waiver, the LDCs were still waiting for answers t o Members' 
concerns in relation to the notification of South Africa and hoped to receive satisfactory answers to 
their concerns brought to the attention of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea, as 
part of their TPRs. The Group thanked China for  its responses to issues of priority t o LDCs, 
including the Preferential  Rules of Origin and the Services Waiver, as well as technical ass istance 
and capacity building in relation  to their production  and exports. The Group intended to hold 
bilateral consul tations with China to follow up on those commitments.  
2.15.   The LDC Group appreciated the financial contributions of their partners in EIF and Aid for 
Trade and urged them to continue their assistance to promote trade, development and the fight 
against poverty i n LDCs.  
2.16.   The General Council took note  of the Chairman's report and of the statements.  
3  WORK PROGRAMME ON SM ALL ECONOMIES – REPORT BY THE CHAIRM AN OF THE 
DEDICATED SESSION OF  THE COMMITTEE ON TRA DE AND DEVELOPMENT  
3.1.  The Chairman  recalled that in line with the framework and procedures agreed by the General  
Council in 2002, the Work Programme on Small Economi es wa s a standing item on the General 
Council's agenda and the Committee on Trade and Development reported  regularly to the Council 
on the progress of work i n its Dedicated Sessions.  At Nairobi, Ministers  had adopted a Decision 
reaffirming their commitment to the Work Programme and instructing the CTD to continue its work 
in Dedicated Sessions under the overall responsibility of the General Council. He invite d 
Ambassador Christopher Onyanga Aparr (Uganda) , Chair man of the CTD, t o report on 
developments in the  area. 
3.2.  Ambassador Christopher Onyanga Aparr (Uganda) , Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the 
CTD, reported that  the CTD's Dedicated Session on Small Econ omies last met on 12 July. At that 
meeting, Members had continued their examination of the paper prepared by the Secretariat on 
the challenges and opportunities small economies face d when accessing global value chains in 
trade in goods and serv ices as iden tified in document WT/COMTD/SE/W/31 . The discussion at that 
meeting had focu sed on value chains in the tourism sector, based on presentations by a number of 
international organizations as well as government agencies.  
3.3.  The CTD was currently preparing  for the  next Dedicated Session scheduled for 4 November. 
The focus of the meeting would  be on "Information Technology" and " Business Proc ess 
Outsourcing" . A discussion was  also foreseen on the role of logistics and t ransportation, two areas 
which we re critical fo r small economies given their remot eness from key export markets. Speakers  
from other  organizations had again  been invited to participate as well as representatives from 
industry associatio ns in Asia and the Caribbean. The CTD  hoped to focus on how small e conomies 
could  address some of the challenges posed by offering business  process outsourcing services. 
Those range d from acquiring the necessary ICT skills such as software engineering, database 
administration or programming, as well as having an adequate ICT infrastructure and sound 
telecommunications regulations for delivering high -quality and cost -effective business services, 
especially in the areas of finance and accounting, among others.  
3.4.  In the Nairobi Decision, Ministers  had asked the Secretariat to c ontinue its work on global 
value chains and to examine the challenges which small economies face d in their efforts to reduce 
trade costs, particularly in the area of trade facilitation. Preliminary work had  begun on reducing WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  trade c osts and the Dedicated S ession wa s set to further advance its work at  its next meeting in 
November. He  looked forward to Membe rs' active participation at that  and future meetings.  
3.5.  The representative of Guatemala , on behalf of the SVEs , thank ed the CTD Chair man for his 
report. The  Group appreciate d the significant headway regarding the Work Programme on Small 
Economies. The SVEs hoped that Members could carry on with this very positive work in upcoming 
meetings , particularly regarding the consultations currently under way on the ne w issue of 
bringing down or cutting e -commerce costs.  
3.6.  The General Council took note  of the report of the Chairman of the Dedicated Session of the 
Committee on Trade and Development and of the statement.  
4  ELEVENTH SESSION OF THE MINISTERIAL CONF ERENCE – DATE  AND VENUE – 
STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  
4.1.  The Chairman  recalled that , at the July General Council meeting, he had announced that  in 
light of the communications he had  received from the Government of Argentina and  from the 
Government of Uruguay offering to hos t MC11 he  would be continuing the consultative process on 
the matter of the date and venue for the Eleventh Session of the  Ministerial Conference. Since 
then and further to the communications he had  sent to Members on 5 and 14 Sep tember, several 
delegation s had  come forward to di scuss the matter. All those that did had  expressed their 
appreciation and gratitude to the Governments of Argentina and Uruguay for their offers.  
4.2.  He was aware that during this process  the representatives of the two Members off ering to 
host the Conference had been working in close contact , both in Geneva and in the respective 
capitals. As a result  of their excellent cooperation , which had been enormously appreciated , an 
agreement could be reached betw een the two parties. Uruguay had  announced at the 
30 September Informal HODs  meeting that its  Government had decided to withdraw the offer to 
host MC11 in favour of Argentina.  
4.3.  In his  capacity as Ge neral Council Chairman and in his personal capacity, he expressed his  
deep gratitude to the G overnment of Uruguay for its offer  and to the entire Delegation of Uruguay 
for its dignified engagement during the process and for its co nstructive spirit throughout. He  paid 
tribute in particular to Ambassador Gustavo Vanerio for his personal commitment a nd for his 
endless support.    
4.4.   Given those developments , and in light of the high level of support fo r Argentina's 
candidature that he had been detecting during his consultations, he  believe d that Members we re in 
a good position to take a decision on the venue for MC11. Therefore, he  propose d that the  General 
Council formally agreed  that the Eleventh Session of the  WTO Ministerial Conference would  be 
hosted by Argentina, in Buenos Aires.  
4.5.  The General Council so agreed . 
4.6.  Regarding the dates of the C onference,  the Chairman  said that he would  send a 
communic ation to all delegations in due course.  
4.7.  The Director -General  added his  words of thanks to both Argentina and Uruguay for their 
interest  in hosting MC11 , which  demonstrated their belief in the multilateral tra ding system and in 
the fact that the WTO  could keep on delivering. He also paid  tribute  to the way that both Argentina 
and Uruguay  had handled the process. He thanked Uruguay and Ambassador Vanerio for the hard 
work that they had put in, for their clear co mmitment to the WTO and for the grace that they had 
shown throughout the  consultations. With Ur uguay's withdrawal, Members had taken their dec ision 
and formally confirmed the venue. He thanked Argentina and Ambassador Cima for their personal 
efforts so far . He looked forward to working with Argentina  as preparations got under way , putting 
Members  on an excellent path to follow th e successes of Bali and Nairobi and  focusing their  minds 
on identifying deliverables for  MC11. He  invite d the Council  to applaud b oth Argentina and 
Uruguay in reco gnition of the support they had  shown to the WTO and the multilateral trading 
system.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  4.8.  The Chairman  reiterate d the call he had  made to all Members at the May Council meeting 
regarding the contrib utions to the Trust Fund that  was traditionally use d to support LDC 
participation. He  raised that again because it had been  a little difficult to raise the n ecessary 
amount of funds for MC10 and because experience had  shown that the earlier in their respective 
budget preparation cycle s Members start ed to consider contributions, the better the chanc e of a 
good result. Members had  traditional ly contributed generously and he trusted that they could 
continue that  proud tradition.  
4.9.  The representative of Argentina  personally express ed his  thanks to Ambassador Vanerio and 
Urugu ay for the  great generosity  in allowing Argentina to host the nex t Ministerial Conference. He 
also thank ed all Permanent Representatives who had personally spoke n to him  in support of 
Argentina hosting the Conference. He was certain that with everyone's help Members would have a 
successful MC11. Argentina would  fulfil th e expectations that so many had placed on them . 
4.10.   The Chairman  warmly thanked and congratulated the Government of Argentina and its 
entire delegation for its  successful offer, and expressed his appreciation to Ambassador Marcelo 
Cima for his personal contribution to the efficient conduct of the process.  
4.11.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
5  APPOINTMENT OF OFFIC ERS TO WTO BODIES – NEGOTIATING GROUP ON MARKET 
ACCESS, COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES SP ECIAL SESSION AND PR EPARATORY 
COMMITTEE ON TRADE F ACILITATION – STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  
5.1.  The Chairman  recalled that , as he had  announced at the July General Council meeting and as 
had been communicated in the faxes sent to the Heads of delegatio n on 28 June and 
16 September, he had  been consulting on the chairmanships of the Negotiating Group on Market 
Access; the Council for Trade in Services in Special Session; and the Preparatory Committee on 
Trade Facil itation, following the departure of the respective Chairs – Ambassador Remigi Winzap 
(Switzerland), Ambassador Gabriel Duque (Colombia), and Ambassador Esteban Conejos 
(Philippines).  
5.2.   In line with the Guidelines for Appointment of Offi cers to WTO Bodies ( WT/L/510), he had  
continued to conduct those consultations with th e assistance of Ambassador Carim  (South Africa), 
Chairman of the DSB, and Ambassador Fried (Canada), former Cha irman of the General Council. 
They had  met with the coordinators of the four Gr oups (Developed Countries, Africa, Asia and the 
Pacific , Latin America and the Caribbean) and with a numb er of interested delegations. As a result 
of those consultations and as he had  also announced in a communication to all delegations sent o n 
Monday 26 S eptember in which he had  provided a fur ther opportunity for comments, he was 
pleased to report that there wa s consensus on the appointments of Amb. Didier Chambovey 
(Switzerland) as Chairperson  of the Neg otiating Group on Market Access;  Amb. Hector Marc elo 
Cima (Argentina) as Chairperson  of the Council for Trade in Services in Special Session ; and 
Amb.  Mariam MD Salleh (Malaysia) as Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee o n Trade 
Facilitation. They would  formally be appointed at the next meeting of their respective bodies.  
5.3.  He recall ed that at the May meeting, he had said that it was his intention to consult with 
interested delegations on whether clarifications on the appointmen t of officers to WTO Bodies had 
been necessary and to do so well in advan ce of t he next exercise. In that regard, he inform ed all 
Members that he would be commencing his consultations on that issue. He  invite d all interested 
delegati ons to share their views with him on the  matter and to contact the Secretariat to set up an 
appointment  as soon as possible. He  hoped that that wa s agreeable to delegations.  
5.4.  The representative of Barbados , on behalf of the GRULAC , consider ed that an integral part of 
Members' work was associated with the role and function  of the various Chairpersons. GRULAC  
thank ed the Chairman for the  update on the selection process for the Chairmanships of the 
Negotiating Group on Market Access, CTS -SS and the Preparatory Com mittee on Trade Facilitation. 
The Group  commend ed the  panel on its consultative process and thank ed those who had 
unanimously supported the outcome. GRULAC  congratulate d the  new Chairpersons i n particular 
Ambassador Cima (Argentina) , GRU LAC's nominee for the CTS -SS, and  wished them all well in  
their new roles. GRULAC's contribution by submitting two comp etent, experienced and enthusiastic 
Ambassadors for those Chairmanships wa s testi mony of its dedication to the succe ss of the WTO. WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  GRULAC extended  its sincere appreci ation to Ambassador Martinez (Paraguay)  for his flexibility as 
regards  the Chairmanship of  the Preparatory Committee  on Trade Facilitation.  The Group  
reiterate d its continued commitment to the  organization and to the various aspects of its work.  
5.5.  The representative of Sri Lanka , on behalf of Asia and the Pacific , thanked the panel  for the 
coordi nation that they had  undertaken in selecting chairs  for the vacant positions. He  also thank ed 
the Members of the  Group for their cooperation and understanding during the selection pr ocess 
and congratulate d Ambassador Chambovey (Switzerland), Ambassador Cim a (Argentina) and 
Ambassador Salleh (Malaysia) for  their appointment as Chairs of  the Negotiating Group on Market 
Access, CTS -SS and Preparatory Committee on Tra de Facilitation, respectively. T heir respective 
committees would benefit from their experience and dedication particularly in conducting 
constructive proceedings.  
5.6.  The General Council took note  of the statements.  
6  COMMITTEE ON BUDGET,  FINANCE AND ADMINIST RATION – REPORT ON MEETING OF  
16 SEPTEMBER 2016 (WT/B FA/156)  
6.1.  The Chairman  drew the Council's  attention to the report of the Budget Committe e in 
document WT/BFA/156  and invite d Ambassador Inga Ernstsone (Latvia), Chairperson of the 
Committee, to introduce the report.  
6.2.  Ambassador Inga Ernstsone (Latvia), Chairperson of the Committee on Budget, Finance and  
Administration , recalled  that at  its meeting  in September, the Committee had been  updated on the 
budgetary and financial report for the second quarter. The Secretariat  had informed the CBFA  
about the contributions received from the Membership and the outs tanding balance. The 
Secretariat had presented the consolidated statement of budgetary expenditures at the end of 
June and had indicated that the rate of expenditures represented 51% of t he overall budget for 
the year. The Committee had also been  informed that the implementation rate of activities under 
the Doha Developmen t Agenda Trust Fund had been  45% of the ann ual plan, at the end of June. 
Other trust funds had been  in a stable position. However, the Secretariat had drawn the CBFA 's 
attention to the fac t that the STDF would need additional contri butions to pursue new projects. 
The Committee had again been  reminded of the need for contributions to replenish  the LDC 
Ministerial Trust Fund  well in advance of the  11th Ministerial Conference. I n that regard, Members 
were requested to engage their capitals.  
6.3.  The Secretariat  had presented the revised WTO financial rules to the Committee and had 
recalled that the rules had  last been revised in 2007, whil e the financial regulations had been  
revised in 2015. The pro posed revisions we re intended for alignment with the financial regulations 
and compliance with IPSAS requirements. The Committee had agreed to further discuss the 
proposed revisions at the next CBFA meeting.  
6.4.  The Secretariat had presented the assessed contr ibutions for the accession of the Republic of 
Liberia and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the WTO , respectively. The Committee would 
therefore make two recommendations. The Committee recommended  to the General Council that a 
pro rata contribution to  the 2016 budget amounting to CHF 13,739 be assessed on the 
Government of the Republic of Liberia, as well as a contribution to the Working Capita l Fund 
amounting to CHF 53,551. The Committee  also recommended  to the General Council that a pro 
rata contribu tion to the 2016 budget amounting to CHF 24,231 be assessed on the Government of 
the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, as well as a contribution to the Working Capital Fund 
amounting to CHF 53,551.  
6.5.  The CBFA had received a report from the Monitoring Group on  After Service Health Insurance 
Strategy Development. The Secretariat had notified the Monitoring Group of the four general 
themes that the Strategy would cov er. The Members of the CBFA would  receive the draft ASHI 
Strategy report to re view it before the C BFA meeting  scheduled for the end of November.  
6.6.  The Secretariat had informed the Committee about an offer from the European Union to 
provide funding for enhancing a database related to Modes of Supply under the General 
Agreement on Trade in Services. The S ecretariat had required the Committee's consent to accept 
the proposed voluntary c ontribution to which the CBFA had given  its consent.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  6.7.  The Secretariat had presented the revised infrastructure contract accompanied by a 
supplementary note on minor amen dments  made to the contract. Tho se am endments did  not 
change the nature and legal value o f the contract. The Committee therefore recommended  for the 
General Council to take note of the revised i nfrastructure contract document  bearing the reference 
WT/BFA/W/298/R ev.1.  
6.8.  The newly appointed Chief of the Office of Internal Oversight had been introduced to the 
CBFA. The Deputy Director -General in charge of Finance had informed Members of three vacancy 
notices for Directors of the following Divisions: Agriculture and C ommodities; Documentation and 
Information Management; and Trade in Services and Investment. The DDG had called on M embers 
to assist in publicising th e vacancy announcement to attract strong candidates.  
6.9.  The General Council took note  of the statement, approv ed the Budget Committee's specific 
recommendations in paragraphs 4.2, 5.2 and 8.2 of the report in WT/BFA/156 and adopted  the 
said report.  
7  WTO PENSION PLAN MAN AGEMENT BOARD – ELECTION OF CHAIRPER SON – 
STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  
7.1.  The Chairman  noted that  Article 4(a) of the Regulations of the  WTO Pension Plan provided , 
inter alia , for the election by the General Council of a Chairperson, four members and four 
alternates to the Management Board of the Pension Plan. Article 4(a) also provided  that four 
members  and four alternates were appointed  by the Director -General, of whom two members and 
two alternates we re selected from a lis t drawn up by the participants ( i.e. WTO staff and retirees).  
7.2.  In that  regard, Mr Johannes Rühl, the outgoing Chairperson of th e Pensio n Plan Management 
Board  had sent a communication on 30 August , informing Members that he would soon need to 
relinquish his post as Chair of the WTOPP Management Board and that he would conduct 
consultations with regard to the election of a new Chair. The d eadline for accep ting expressions of 
interest had  originally  been set on 9 September. To provide more opportunity for delegat ions to 
submit nominations, the deadline had been  extended by 11 days to 20 September.  
7.3.   As a result of the  process, Mr Rühl had received three expressions of interest in serving as 
Chair of the Man agement Board. Since then he had  consulted with all of the regional group 
coordinators: Developed Countries, Africa, Asia and the Pacific  and Latin America and the 
Caribbean. However, Member s wer e still not  in a position to decide at that time and consultations 
on the matter would  theref ore continue. Since Mr Rühl would  no longe r be available to administer 
those consultations, he had  asked Amb. Inga E rnstsone (Latvia) , Chair of the Budg et Com mittee, 
to facilitate the process and she had  kindly agreed to do it.  
7.4.  He highlighted that t he WTO Pension Plan Management Board originated  in Regulati on 8.1 of 
the Staff Regulations and wa s responsible for the management and administration of the 
retiremen t, death, disability and related benefits for the WTO staff and retirees. The Board 
operated  independently and i ts members and alternates served in their personal capacity. 
Membe rs and alternates of the Board we re expected to be familiar with the Pension P lan 
Regulations and, preferably, conversant with the management of public service pensions.  
7.5.  The Board met  regularly – at least once a month in either formal or in formal sessions – to 
take up tho se technical issues, and its members and alternates we re expe cted to dedicate a 
relatively significant part of their professional time to Board meetin gs and their preparations. It 
was essential that a Chairperson wa s appointed wi thout significant delay. In that regard, he  
welcome d the increased i nterest shown by del egations and he was confident that it would  
contribute to further ing its effective functioning. He  invite d all delegations to be constructive in the 
consultations and work towards appointing a Chair as soon as possible.  
7.6.  The General Council took note  of the  Chairman's statement.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  8  ENHANCING THE PARTIC IPATION OF MICRO, SM ALL AND MEDIUM ENTER PRISES IN 
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL MARKETS – STATEMENT BY THE PHI LIPPINES  
8.1.  The representative of the Philippines , speaking under "Other Business ", said that i n the last 
General Co uncil meeting held on 27 July, the  Philippines, Brunei Darussalam , Lao PDR, Malaysia, 
Singapore and Thailand had circulated a summary of the workshop entitled "Enhancing the 
Participation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in International Mark ets" held on 
21 June during the Geneva Week (JOB/GC/95 ). The WTO had also held the 15th Public Forum with 
the theme, "Inclusive Trade". Members had heard that trade could  be an anti -poverty tool. They 
should therefore re -double thei r efforts t o make trade truly inclusive. They had  also seen the 
launch of the World Trade Report on levelling the trading field for SMEs – being an important 
contributor in the performance of national economies as well as in the inclusive and sustainable 
growth of all WTO Members , in particular developing and least -developed countries. Ho wever, 
trading internationally wa s often much more costly and difficult for micro, small and medium 
enterprises as had been menti oned in the report. Hence, if Members we re to ensure that the globa l 
trading system was  truly inclusive for MSMEs, they should  look at the challenges that they face d to 
join trading flows and look at how they could  tackle them. The Philippines also had a session 
entitled "Towards a MSME Market Place: Growing Global MSMEs for Inclusiv e Development" which 
was a component of the roadmap for an exchange of ideas that had  been presented in February . 
The working session  had underscored the importance of various tools and interventions at the 
regional and  multilateral levels and how tho se contribute towards achieving the objective of 
enhancing the participation of MSMEs in global markets such as transparency, data gathering, 
innovation, inclusive finance, logistics a nd e-commerce, among others. Those areas could not be 
taken in is olation and the re we re merits in approaching them in a holistic manner. The session had 
also delved on existing WTO rules that provide d opportunities for MSMEs to address the challenges 
and o pportunities identified. The Philippines had  set out the roadmap taking into account Members' 
genuine interest to hold an open and comprehensive discussion on MSMEs as well as the Members' 
need to have new and useful information coming out from the  discussion. The MSME workshop in 
June during the Geneva Week, the insigh ts from the Public Forum and the results of the WTO  
World Trade Report had given Members  some new information, a better un derstanding of MSMEs 
and what they could  work on within the exi sting framework so that they could  fulfil their role as a 
catalyst f or inclusive development. That left t hem with the question of how they would proceed.  
The Philippines would  come ou t with a summary of its  Public Forum session and together with its  
co-sponsors, Brunei Darussalam, Lao PDR, Mala ysia, Singapore and Thailand, th ey would  engage 
Members on how to pursue the  initiative further.  
8.2.  The General Council took note  of the statement.  
9  WORKSHOP ON THE WTO AND AGENDA 2030 – STATEMENT BY AUSTRAL IA 
9.1.  The representative of Australia , speaking under "Other Business" , informed Members  that t he 
MIKTA Countries would be hosting a workshop on the WTO and Agenda 2030 on 12 October . The 
Workshop would  cover the history of the Agenda 2030 negotiations and the trade relevan t aspects 
of the agenda. It would  also exp lore innovative ways the WTO  could  contribute to Agenda 2030 
implementation in areas like agriculture, services, fisheries  and aid for trade financing. He 
encouraged Members to participate in the event and also hoped to see them at the drinks 
reception to be held in the atrium from 5 :30pm following the workshop's conclusion.  
9.2.  The General Council took note  of the statement . 
10  PROCESS FOR THE APPO INTMENT OF THE DIREC TOR-GENERAL UNDER THE 
PROCEDURES ADOPTED I N DECEMBER 2002 – STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  
10.1.   The Chairman , speaking under "Other Bus iness" , recall ed6 for the information of Members 
that – under the Procedures for the Appointment of Directors -General adopted by the General 
Council in December 2002 (document reference WT/L/509) – the process for the appoi ntment of 
Directors -General shoul d commence  nine months prior to the expiry of the term of the incumbent 
Director -General , with a notification from the Chair to the General Council.  
                                                
6 The Chairman's statement was subsequently circulated in JOB/GC/107.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  10.2.   In the present case, since t he current term of office of the Director -General , Mr Roberto 
Azevêdo, would come to an end on 31 August 20 17, the appoi ntment process would begin on 
1 December 2016.  Therefore, in line with the agreed  procedures, he would  formally notify the 
opening of the process in a communication to all Members before 1 December.  
10.3.   At the outset,  he noted that under the Procedures, if the serving Director -General decided  
to seek reappointment, he should so notify the Chair of the General Council before the start of the 
process in order that Members could take that  into consideration in submit ting their nominations, 
and would  thereby b e considered to be a candidate. In that regard, he recalled  that, at the July 
meeting of the General Council, the Director -General  had announced that he would be available for 
a second term  if Members believed that it would be  somethin g that would be helpful. In that 
regard, he had advised that he would submit a letter along tho se lines t o him , as General Council 
Chairman, in due course, and before the formal start of the process.    
10.4.   He also recall ed some of the time -lines for t he appointment process that had  been set out in 
the Procedures of De cember 2002. First, Members would  have one  month after the start of the 
appointment process to nominate candidates, in other words, from 1 December until 
31 December  2016. Nominat ions could not be  received  beyond 31 December.  
10.5.   Second, candidate/s nominated would  then have three  months to make themselves known 
to Members and to engage in discussions on the pertinent issues facing the Organization, i.e. from 
1 January until 31 March.  
10.6.   And f inally, the remaining two  months  prior to the conclusion of the process would  be 
devoted to selecting and appointing one of the candidates, and the process would  conclude with a 
meeting of the General C ouncil convened not later than three  months prio r to the expiry of the 
incumbent's term, at wh ich a decision to appoint the Director -General had to be taken.  In other 
words, a decision on the appoint ment of the Director -General should  be taken  not later than 
31 May 2017 . 
10.7.   Full details of the procedures c ould be found in document WT/L/509, and that he would  
formally notify the opening of the appointment process and provide all necessary details in a 
communication to all Members prior to 1 December.  
10.8.   The General Council took note  of the Chairman's statement.  
11  WORKING PARTY ON THE  ACCESS ION OF ALGERIA – STATEMENT BY THE CHA IRMAN  
11.1.   The Chairman , speaking under "Other Business" , recalled that  Deputy Dir ector-General 
David P. Shark had conducted consultations on his  behalf regarding the Chairmanship of the 
Accessio n Working Party of Algeria and in this respect he  referred to the faxes d ated 21 June and 
19 July 2016. He was pleased to infor m Members that, following tho se consultations and in 
keeping with usual WTO practice, there wa s a broad consens us on Ambassador Gu stavo Vanerio  
(Urugu ay) to serve as Chairman of the Working Party, who wa s therefore appointed as Chair.  
11.2.   The representative of Algeria , speaking as an Observer , said that Algeria was  delighted with 
the nomination of Ambassador Vanerio (Uruguay) as Chair of  the Working Party for the Accession 
of Algeria replacing Ambassador  D'Alotto (Argentina) to whom they  would like to pay tribute to. O n 
that occasion, Algeria extended their thanks to the Chairman for his diligence, the efforts that he 
had undertaken throu ghout the process and his support. Algeria also  thank ed the Secretariat for 
having suppor ted them  throughout the consultation process. The Government of Algeria took the 
opportunity  to express the ir gratitude to Ambassador Vanerio (Uruguay) for his candida cy to the 
Chairmanship of the Working Party and would like to show him of  their full cooperation and 
assistance. It was a great pleasure for Algeria to have him to Chair the  Working Party bearing in 
mind his long experience with the WTO and perfect knowled ge of the Accession Process of Algeria 
and the long -term commitment of Uruguay to its  accession to  the WTO. Uruguay had  twice 
presided over  the Working Party of the Accession of  Algeria and the two countries had  concluded a 
bilateral  agreement. Algeria re affirmed their  strong will to furth er strengthen and consolidate thei r 
efforts in o rder to successfully conclude thei r accession process to the WTO, and  hoped to count on 
the support of the Members to achie ve a successful conclusion of their accession as so on as 
possible . WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  11.3.   The representative of Uruguay  thank ed Members for t he confidence and trust that had been 
placed in him and in Uruguay. It wa s not easy to repla ce the previous Chairperson but he would do 
his best. He would also like to thank the Government of Algeria and its delegation in Geneva.  
11.4.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
12  ADMINISTRATIVE MEASU RES FOR MEMBERS IN A RREARS – STATEMENT BY THE 
CHAIRMAN  
12.1.   The Chairman , speaking under "Other Business" , recalled that at its meeting in 
October  2012 the General Council had approved a recommendation from the Budget Committee 
regarding revised Administrative Measures for Members in arrears which had entered into force on 
1 January 2013. Among those Measures , there was a requirement that at the end of e ach meeting 
of the General Council the Chairperson of the Budget Committee should provide information with 
regard to which Members and Observers were under Administrative Measures. He invited 
Ambassador  Inga E rnstsone  (Latvia) , Chairperson of the Committee , to provide the Council with 
the information.  
12.2.   Ambassador Inga Ernstsone (Latvia), Chairperson of the Committee on Budget, Finance and 
Administration , said that the General Council had approved the new rules for Members and 
Observers subjected to Administr ative Measures. Those rules had been implemented effectively on 
1 March 2013 and as required by the decision of the General Council she should list Members and 
Observers under all categories of Administrative Measures as of 30 September.  There we re 
5 Membe rs and 1 Observer in Category 1: Cameroon; Congo; Dominican Republic; Vanuatu; 
Yeme n; and Sudan (Observer). There we re 4 Members and 1 Observer in Category 2: Dominica; 
Malawi; Suriname; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; and Libya (Obser ver). There we re 6 Members 
and 1 Observer in Category 3: Central African Republic; Djibouti; Guinea -Bissau; Mauritania; 
Niger; Sierra Leone; and Sao Tomé and Principe (Observer).  
12.3.   The Chairman  said that u nder the new revised Administrative Measures he was  also 
required at eac h Council meeting to request Members and Observers in Categories II and III of the 
Measures to inform the Secretariat as to when their payment  of arrears could  be expected.  
12.4.   The General Council took note  of the statements.  
 
_______________  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  ANNEX 1 
H.E. AXE L M. ADDY'S ADDRESS TO THE GENERAL COUNC IL OF THE WORLD TRAD E 
ORGANIZATION  
On behalf of my delegation, I am yet again honoured and humbled by this unique opportunity to 
address this esteemed body on the state of play on Liberia’s post accession as the 163rd member 
of the WTO.  
 
Let me first of all extend warm greetings to all of you on behalf of Her Excellency Ellen Johnson 
Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Li beria and congratulations on yet again, another successful 
Public Forum. It is indeed always a p leasure to be back in Geneva during this time of the year to 
reunite with friends, a be a part of a privileged conversation on global trade and its role in driving 
inclusive growth for over diverse populations interconnected by our common humanity.  
 
Insigh t on Post -Accession Implementation  
 
For us, the  WTO accession was never an  isolated process, but instead tied in with Liberia’s national 
development plan, the Agenda for Transformation . Hence, our accession is seen as a critical 
component of our  domestic r eforms  agenda  targeted at diversifying our economy, promoting 
international trade, and encouraging local and foreign investment s beyond the traditional 
extractive industries.  
 
To smoothly transition from accession negotiations to post -accession implementat ion, basic 
institutional and legal mechanisms based on key priorities were identified and encapsulated in to a 
Plan, The Liberia Post Accession Plan (LPAP).   The Plan accounts for targeted priorities manifested 
in our National Exports Strategies , the Diagn ostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) , as well as our 
National Trade Policy .   
 
It is closely linked to Liberia’s commitments in its Protocol of Accession to the WTO . Objectives are 
broadly anchored on both the policy and technical levels with structures sp ecifically designed to 
ensure implementation.  Most importantly, H.E. Madam Ellen Johnson Sirlea f signed Executive 
Order No. 74 , which mandates all stakeholders to support the post -accession program. The 
program aims to improve trade facilitation, enhance our quality infrastructure, and facilitate the 
diversification of our economy beyond the extractive industries while building our capacity to 
render more efficient and effective service to the public through the use of information 
communication technology.  
 
Maximizing the Benefits of WTO Membership  
 
Trade Facilitation Agreement  
 
To date, with support from Sweden an assessment of the country’s trade regime was done with 
regards to the Trade Facilitation Agreement in late 2015 and the World Bank conducted a f ull trade 
facilitation assessment mission in March of last year. We also had further technical assistance from 
UNCTAD for the establishment of the Trade Facilitation Committee.  
 
In May of 2015, the IFC also conducted a Single Window assessment mission for the trade 
community. We have begun the process of putting in place a National Single Window that will lead 
to the automation of trade processes and procedures and contribute to the reduction in trade cost 
in Liberia.  
 
Quality Infrastructure  
 
Today, as we s trive to improve the quality of goods entering our markets as such have advanced 
plans to put in place a Verification of Conformity program to address the challenge of sub -standard 
and counterfeit goods.  
 
With support from Swedish National Board of Trade w e have commenced the necessary work  on 
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)  assessments.  
   WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  We are currently exploring technical support for our small mission here in Geneva to have a senior 
trade advisor that wil l focus on our active participation in the WTO as a new member.  
 
Liberia’s Gradual Transformation  
 
Ladies and gentlemen, we have  made significant progress since 2005, after emerging from a 
period of instability  that depleted our resources and destroyed our  infrastructure:  Since then, we 
have rebuilt over 700 km of roads.  
 
By 2017 we will be generating 126 MW up from 0 MW of electricity  through the public utility 
corporation , reaching  households throughout Liberia.  
  
We have begun working on our investment c limate with success: it now takes only 4.5 days to 
register a business compared to 27 days in Sub -Saharan Africa.  
  
We have recognized that SMEs ar e critical in our pursuit of our inclusive growth agenda and as 
such enacted into law, the Small Business Empowerment Act a powerful legislation which 
mandates that we, as a government must now spend 25% of all public procurement of goods and 
services on SMEs, with 5% on women owned businesses.  
 
We have finalized our Migration Plan, required to adopt the ECOWAS C ommon External Tariff, and 
a few weeks ago, our legislature ratified the CET, the basis for our goods offer and a key 
deliverable of the post accession plan.  
 
Friends and colleagues, despite much progress, the last two years have been one of many 
challenge s. As a commodity dependent economy, the dramatic drop in global commodity prices for 
iron ore and rubber paired with the health crisis of 2014 severely crippled our economy and 
threaten all of our gains over the years. Today as a nation, we find ourselves  in a difficult position 
as our ability to finance our development agenda comes with so many challenges. To rebuild our 
devastated economy we have embarked on a domestic reform agenda and a program of action as 
prescribed in our WTO Post Accession Plan. To  the core of this plan is a focus on economic 
diversification with emphasis on services, agriculture value chains and value addition through the 
promotion of light manufacturing anchored around the promotion of full private sector 
participation, particular ly SMEs.  
 
To continue on this path of development, we continue to rely on the support of our partners during 
the implementation process of the WTO Liberia Post -Accession Plan, which has already identified a 
number of critical trade facilitation reform proj ects. 
 
These include , a single window for trade transactions, a trade information portal, pre -arrival 
processing, improved risk management by our ASYCUDA system, improved cross border 
management, simplification of customs procedures, electronic business re gistration, automation of 
tax procedures, visas on arrival, a streamlined work permit system, the establishment of a 
sanitary and phytosanitary framework and the planned accreditation of our National Standards 
Laboratory.  
 
Recognizing the challenges of sou rcing scares resources from aide for trade programs, we have 
developed a plan that requires more technical assistance to develop the necessary framework for 
private sector partnership for solutions prescribed in the plan. Simple assistance in developing 
tender documents for private operators to bid on e -solutions around Single Window, Electronic Tax 
processing and payments, Visa on Arrival, E -Government is what is critically needed to fast track 
the implementation of the Plan. We believe with such solutions , we can begin to transform the 
business climate while creating improved opportunities for domestic resource mobilization through 
the collection of lawful revenues to finance our development agenda.  
 
Conclusion  
 
Ladies and gentlemen, colleague and friends,  as a nation we have  come a long way under the 
leadership  of H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. W e are retelling Liberia’s story as one of 
resilience, transformation, and growth  despite the challenges.  
 WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  Today w ith the support of partners such as the Wor ld Bank, WTO, UNCTAD, the EIF, and ITC, 
SIDA, we are strengthening trade facilitation and the regulatory frameworks by implementing 
domestic reforms as prescribed by our WTO post -accession p lan. However, as a least developed 
country , we recognize that we w ill need much support as we strive to implement our commitments 
enshrined in our accession package.  
 
Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues and friends, today I stand before you proud and yet humbled by 
this remarkable achievement where what seemed impossible be came possible over a nine months 
period based on the collective efforts of many of you in this room. This remarkable achievement, 
Liberia’s accession, is a clear testament that in our collective efforts, a commitment to the 
principles of multilateralism at  a time of great threat to this system, is one example that while we 
may not travel fast on our quest for global transformation for all, I remain confident, we can 
collectively travel far in achieving equal access and sustainable prosperity for all.  
 
As ma ny of you know, our administration will come to its conclusion as we work hard to render in 
a new administration to continue our journey of transformation. As such, t his is likely my last 
address to this body, so Mr. Chair, please permit me to once more ex tend my p ersonal gratitude 
to all of you;  Mr. Director -General for your open doors, open arms a nd open heart in your absolute 
commitment to seeing us make it to the finish line. To many of you in this room, thanks for your 
support, your wisdom, your mentor ship, your kindness and generosity . I am truly grateful.  
 
It is my humble prayer that what we have put in the Liberia accession package will set Liberia on a 
path of transformation that will impact the lives of our youthful population and give them, 
partic ularly our entrepreneurs, our SMEs, the fighting chance to fulfil their fullest potential.  
 
With these few words, let me extend my congratulations to all of you for your leadership and 
commitment to using trade to break our vulnerable populations from the shackles of poverty. And 
to all of you, I look forward to continuing our discussions and one day inviting all of you to visit an 
ever-transforming Liberia to see the impact of your support.  
 
_______________  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  ANNEX 2  
THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL'S REPORT AT THE INF ORMAL HEADS OF DE LEGATION MEETING 
HELD ON 30 SEPTEMBER  20167 
I have continued my consultations since the end of July.  
I participated in the G20 leaders' summit in Hangzhou earlier this month and I was in New York 
last week for the UN General Assembly. I h ave also met with a number of ministers and senior 
officials, as well as business leaders.  
Here in Geneva, I have continued a range of consultations, including meeting with the Negotiating 
Group Chairs on 15  September, and the Group Coordinators on 16 Sep tember.  
This week's Public Forum also provided an important moment to interact with civil society, the 
private sector and other stakeholders, as well as the ministers, parliamentarians and other public 
officials who were in attendance. I hope you found it a useful opportunity to exchange ideas.  
In the coming weeks, there will be further opportunities to engage. The Negotiating Group Chairs 
will report in a moment on their planned activities and next steps and I would encourage your full 
participation in th ose processes.  
In all of my contacts, I have sensed a growing interest in our work, especially as the past two 
Ministerial Conferences have shown our ability to deliver multilateral results. I have been 
encouraged by the calls I have heard to strengthen t he WTO, resist protectionism and increase co -
operation on trade issues. The G20 leaders were particularly vocal on this point.  
At the same time, there are also widespread concerns about the growth of anti -trade and anti -
globalization sentiment. If this rh etoric is not countered effectively, and immediately, it could 
easily lead to the adoption of misguided policies which would worsen economic growth and job 
prospects. Of course these are the very problems that such policies claim to address.  
You will all have seen the revised forecasts which we published on Tuesday this week. We expect 
to see an expansion of just 1.7% in 2016. That would be the lowest level of trade growth since the 
financial crisis.  
And in the face of these challenges I think we need to put more vigour into our work here. We 
need to continue delivering trade reforms that generate more inclusive growth and development 
gains.  
It is therefore important that we deepen our discussion about what Members want to achieve at 
MC11, and focus minds  on how to get there.  
I think we have made some progress in the first half of the year. Clearly some issues are starting 
to draw more attention. These include public stockholding, other agriculture -related topics, such as 
domestic support, and services; b ut also other issues such as SMEs, e -commerce, services 
facilitation and fisheries subsidies.  
For any issue under discussion, we need to ensure that the conversations remain inclusive and 
address a broad range of interests, including the development dimens ion. We also need to look 
more closely at what progress can be made for LDCs.  
This is the time to engage. This is the moment to ensure that your priorities and concerns are 
reflected – to ensure that they are on the table.  
As I said before the summer brea k, we need to change the pace of our engagement in order to 
make progress. I also said that we would need to move from reflection to action.  
                                                
7 Also issued as JOB/GC/105.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  However, I  also believe that this can only happen if you talk to each other so that we avoid 
mistrust and misperce ptions about what you yourselves are trying to achieve. I think there are two 
things which would help to deal with this point:  
 First, we need clarity from the proponents on what they would like to see as a final outcome 
of these conversations. Some are not  engaging partly because they do not have a clear 
sense of what others want to achieve.  
 Second, we should  be mindful  that, in order to advance multilaterally, we should be flexible 
to accommodate the circumstances of different M embers.  
With these elements  in mind, I think the immediate priority now should be to deepen 
conversations between Members to scope out the issues for MC11 – or between now and MC11.  
We can only go as far as our legs allow. Whatever we do – on any issue – will not be the end of 
the road. It will be a first step.  
Pragmatism remains a vital ingredient. We should take the steps that we can. We should not feel 
discouraged if there are difficult elements in a discussion. We should make the progress that is 
feasible in a given moment and try to build on those outcomes over time.  
We should especially look for those balancing elements that take into account Members' different 
interests and positions – elements that respond to the needs of developed, developing and least -
developed Members.  
So I urge you to talk to each other. Talk to some of the Members that perhaps you do not usually 
talk to. Talk to people that you know will disagree with you. We need to widen and deepen our 
exchanges to build a clearer idea of what we want to achieve for M C11.  
On my part, I will continue to reach out to Members, here and in capitals, to facilitate these 
discussions.  
 
_______________  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  ANNEX 3  
STATEMENTS  BY MEMBERS AT THE IN FORMAL HEADS OF DELE GATION MEETING HELD 
ON 30 SEPTEMBER  2016  
At their request, the st atements made by delegations at the above -mentioned meeting are 
included below as part of the Minutes of the General Council meeting.  
 
_______________  
 
1. Argentina  
 
Thank you, Ambassador Gustavo Vanerio for Uruguay's generosity in making it possible for 
Argentina to host the next WTO Ministerial Conference. We hope that if on Monday, 3 October, the 
General Council approves Arg entina's offer to host the 11th Ministerial Conference, both Presidents 
will be present at the inaugural ceremony.  
 
We need to start mo ving. As the DG said, we need to work both with those who share our 
interests and with those who do not share our interests to cover the little ground that remains to 
achieve a n ambitious package at the 11th Ministerial Conference.  
 
Once again, Argentina w ould like to point to the achievements of the 10th Ministerial Conference 
under the export competition pillar. In view of the lack of progress in this extremely important 
area, we once again urge Members that have bound agricultural export subsidies in the ir schedules 
to implement the commitments they made in our Nairobi decision as rapidly as possible. This issue 
should not still be pending more than nine months after the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration. The 
credibility of the multilateral trading system i s at stake.  
 
Notwithstanding the possible systemic effects of recent consultations initiated before the DSB in 
the negotiations of the Committee on Agriculture Special Session, we maintain our priority of 
reaching a broad and ambitious agreement under the domestic support pillar by the next 
Ministerial Conference.  
 
Argentina is pleased to have co -sponsored, with 12 other countries, the joint statement on 
fisheries subsidies of 14 September, in the framework of the Conference "Our Ocean" in 
Washington.  
 
The time has come to send a clear signal regarding the need to act quickly against fisheries 
subsidies that are contributing to the depletion of marine resources.  
 
Argentina endorsed the joint statement in a spirit of cooperation and in the conviction that thi s 
joint initiative was only a step in the direction of a multilateral agreement on fisheries subsidies, 
an objective which should be pursued by all WTO Members, particularly in the run up to the next 
Ministerial Conference.  
 
In order to begin our work on f isheries subsidies at the multilateral level in the WTO, Argentina 
has been working with Peru to "adapt" the approach taken in the case of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement to the particularities of the negotiations on fisheries subsidies in order to foster  their 
discussion in this forum.  
 
At the same time, and with the same objective of paving the way towards MC11, Argentina is 
particularly interested in achieving results in all aspects of services – market access, domestic 
regulation and facilitation. We m ust not allow this pillar of the negotiations to continue to lag 
behind, given the importance of services to our economy, particularly in terms of job creation 
(65.7% of the economically active population in Argentina works in the services sector) and this  
applies both in the developing countries and in the developed countries.  
 
We reaffirm what was said by Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra at the Davos meeting in 
January  2016 regarding our readiness to tackle all of the topics. We note that there is a 
momen tum to move forward in the discussions on e -commerce with a view to ensuring that it is a 
"deliverable" at the next Ministerial Conference. In this connection, Arg entina organized a session 
on e-commerce at the recent WTO Public Forum. In addition to its i nherent value, progress on e -WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  commerce represents an opportunity for the WTO to tackle an issue of considerable relevance to 
international trade, an issue which cuts across all of the negotiations, and to avoid giving it up to 
other forums.  
 
2. Plurinational S tate of Bolivia  
 
The Plurinational State of Bolivia wishes to reiterate that the development of our peoples is the 
framework and objective that must guide our actions in every international organization, including 
the WTO. Trade is a tool that should be ce ntred on development, so that it can be of help to our 
countries.  
 
The Nairobi Ministerial Declaration is clear on what this Organization must do over the next one 
and a half years before the next Ministerial Conference. It indicates that priority must be given to 
the Doha Round issues, and that is what this Organization must do, namely address development 
issues. Development refers not only to matters of special and differential treatment, which are 
crucial, but also to levelling the playing field and havi ng fairer and more balanced rules.  
 
The history of development shows that State support has been and remains vital to promoting 
industrialization and boosting domestic production chains. The provisions on special and 
differential treatment must be strength ened, so that this need in our countries can be addressed.  
 
In agriculture, export subsidies used by developed countries should be eliminated without delay. In 
various developed countries, domestic support has moved towards the Green Box, and disciplines 
should be established to ensure that such support is truly non distorting. The principles of 
promoting food security, the livelihood of small farmers and rural development should be 
effectively reflected in the agricultural modalities. Moreover, developing countries must be 
provided with a special safeguard measure to enable them to protect themselves against highly 
subsidized goods.  
 
In services, there can be no further rules that limit the State's capacity to regulate, and sufficient 
policy space must be g iven to Members, particularly developing countries, to implement their plans 
for combating poverty and inequality. Special and differential treatment must be fully taken into 
account, and we must ensure that the developing countries maintain their public p olicy space and 
right to regulate their services. Public services that are human rights, such as water, health and 
education, should not be included in the commitments under the GATS. The TISA cannot be 
negotiated under the auspices of the WTO, as it conta ins elements that run counter to the GATS.  
 
With regard to electronic commerce, significant gaps and imbalances in terms of Internet access 
still exist between developing countries and developed countries. More than 50% of developing 
countries do not even have legislation in this field, and the lack of infrastructure, costs and 
connectivity are also an issue. Moreover, at the international level, concerns about Internet 
governance have yet to be resolved. These are all issues that have to be settled and dis cussed in 
the relevant forums before we enter into discussions on free trade in this area, so as to achieve a 
more balanced participation of developing countries in international trade.  
 
Lastly, we would like to warn of the risks that plurilateral negotiat ions pose to the multilateral 
trading system.  
 
Given that we do not have effective responses to the imbalances inherited from the Uruguay 
Round, we cannot address the so called 21st century issues. To include new issues on the WTO 
agenda would draw attenti on away from unresolved issues of priority.  
 
3. Brazil  
 
We strongly support your call on Members to move from reflection to action.  
 
Just like every Delegation in this room, we are fully aware of the challenges at this moment. Still, 
we believe that it is cru cial that all Members remain fully engaged in a common effort to achieve 
concrete results at the next Ministerial.  
 
We continue to believe that all Members share the strategic objective of ensuring that the WTO 
remains a robust Organization.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  Progress at th e next Ministerial will be of crucial importance. A paralysis of the negotiating arm 
would only pose more risks to the multilateral trading system, in circumstances which are already 
very challenging. We believe that this is in no one’s interest.  
 
Reason e nough, therefore, to repeat that Brazil will continue to fully support the call by the DG on 
the need to move from reflection to action.  
 
The Nairobi Declaration expresses the commitment of Members to prioritize the remaining Doha 
issues. To Brazil, agricu lture remains "first and central among equals" . While other AG pillars 
remain obviously relevant, we are particularly encouraged that a majority of Members has now 
focused on Domestic Support as the area in which progress could and should be made. We will 
support the work being done by the Chair of the CoA -SS. A number of papers have been 
circulated, including one by Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay.  
 
SPS remains a priority in our agenda. Brazil intends to contribute with ideas for discussion in thi s 
area. We think that it is necessary to ensure that  SPS measures are science -based  and science -
based only.  
 
Development issues are also crucial, as highlighted by many delegations.  
  
Still in relation to remaining Doha issues, we take this opportunity to highlight that Brazil is willing 
to work with WTO Members to make progress towards an agreement on fisheries subsidies. In this 
endeavour , we are ready to consider all negotiating options.  
 
Regarding new issues, I would like to reiterate the words of my p redecessor Marcos Galvão in the 
last General Council. Brazil will not be constrained by preconceived reservations in assessing our 
interests and will approach each issue in its own merit.  
 
We have in mind the momentum gathered by electronic commerce/digita l economy discussions. 
Brazil has presented a paper last July, outlining our perception on how a structured exchange of 
views on the trade -related aspects of e -commerce could work. We deem it feasible for the 
membership to eventually reach a comprehensive assessment of the ongoing scoping exercise. As 
stated by my delegation during the last dedicated session, the final goal, from our viewpoint, is to 
ensure that all can benefit from the concrete business and development opportunities offered by 
the Internet , combined with disciplines that ensure network neutrality, the protection of copyright 
and author’s rights, as well as the enforcement of consumer and privacy rights. Preserving policy 
space for these and other legitimate regulatory objectives remains als o a must.  
 
Brazil shares the objective of enabling a higher participation of SMEs in international trade. We are 
ready to work to identify more concrete proposals on how to effectively incorporate this issue in 
the WTO framework.  
 
Without trying to be exha ustive, I would also like to flag Brazil’s continued interest in reflecting 
with other Members on ways to implement paragraphs 28 and 29 of the Nairobi Declaration. We 
have shared some ideas with other delegations on those topics and hope we can resume thi s 
conversation over the course of this second semester. We don’t see real fundamental impediments 
to make progress in these issues.  
 
In conclusion, DG, colleagues, you can count on our engagement to move forward.  
 
4. Chile  
 
The progress achieved in Bali, the Trade Facilitation Agreement, and the agreements reached in 
Nairobi have created a momentum that we need to take advantage of, faced as we are with the 
world economy and world trade in decline and the threat of a new protectionist wave.  
 
It is fundamental that we move forward and obtain results, in 2017, on the unresolved agricultural 
issues and in other areas such as services and NAMA. It is also vital that we seek a consensus in 
the negotiations on such fundamental subjects as e commerce, fisheries subsid ies and others that 
have been raised since Nairobi, and more recently, over the past few months. We are prepared to 
participate actively on these issues with a view to achieving that fundamental objective. I also WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 22 - 
 
  believe that the challenge is so significan t and so crucial that any discussions we have must be 
both inclusive and sustainable.  
 
Chile endorses the joint statement made by a group of WTO Members at the conference "Our 
Ocean", held in Washington DC on 14 September of this year.  
 
The elimination of fisheries subsidies is our collective responsibility, given their serious impact on 
the economy and the environment.  
 
In Chile, which has a continental coastline of more than 4,000 km from north to south, not to 
mention its island coasts, the fisheries sec tor not only plays a fundamental role for the economy 
and the environment, but it also has a fundamental social role.  
 
For that reason, and for the common good of the world community, it is essential that we establish 
a binding commitment to prohibit damag ing fisheries subsidies that either contribute to 
overcapacity and overfishing or are linked to illegal fishing.  
 
We also need to work towards more ambitious transparency rules.  
 
This initiative is also an important step towards the achievement of Goal 14. 6 of the Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDG) which requires us all to prohibit such subsidies by 2020.  
 
Chile is pleased to be part of the group of WTO Members that want to work towards a solution to 
this problem in the framework of the rules governing int ernational trade.  
 
We hope that as we move forward in our work, other Members will share this same objective and 
join the initiative so that we can have a substantive commitment by the 2017 Ministerial 
Conference.  
 
We are extremely concerned by the DG's re marks concerning the tendency that appears to be 
developing to blame international trade for situations that are in fact part of an overall global 
problem, such as the future of employment or changes in the systems of production of goods and 
services. What  this requires is political commitment on the part of Members and the technical 
capacity to refute such remarks against international trade and openness. In fact, it is the 
distortions in international trade that have a negative impact on the least develop ed economies, as 
well as the developed economies, which could become more protectionist and create a situation 
that could prove an enormous setback for international trade.  
 
Finally, we congratulate both Argentina and Uruguay for their ability to reach a c onsensus on this 
issue. This is an example for all of us, and one which makes us proud as a neighbour and fellow 
member of GRULAC.  
 
5. Colombia  
 
As this is my first statement at this meeting as Ambassador of Colombia, I would like to extend 
cordial greetings to all the ambassadors and delegates present. I would also like to congratulate 
Argentina and Uruguay and to reiterate our confidence in a very successful ministerial meeting in 
South America.  
 
This meeting of heads of delegation is taking place at a very important time for Colombia in light 
of the ending of the internal conflict, which came about this week with the signing of the peace 
agreement in Cartagena on 26 September. We hope that this new reality will allow Colombia to 
consolidate the progress achi eved in growth, internationalization of the economy and poverty 
reduction.  
 
We will continue furthering the work in this Organization, as a developing country which sees trade 
as a tool for strengthening its sustainable development goals and has a pragmati c vision of being 
an open, market oriented economy under enhanced rules and disciplines.  
 
We therefore welcome the initiatives to move forwards on various negotiating fronts and we join 
those who have spoken before me in stressing the importance of the mul tilateral trading system 
and its value as a global public good which must be preserved and strengthened.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 23 - 
 
  I would like to highlight our commitment to implementing the outcomes of the previous Ministerial 
Conferences in order to give credibility to the multi lateral system and to build trust among 
Members. We encourage all Members to fulfil their obligations so that we can show the world that 
the efforts made at the last ministerial meetings were not in vain and that we should continue 
working in a steady, sec ure manner.  
 
With respect to the trade negotiations in anticipation of the 11th Ministerial Conference, we would 
like to reiterate the importance of achieving an outcome on domestic support. The multilateral 
system has a responsibility to reduce the distor tions in agricultural markets. We should be able to 
find common ground and clear the way for an ambitious outcome in the long term.  
 
We must advance in the negotiations of rules that will enable us to level the playing field and to 
improve the disciplin es regulating agricultural, non -agricultural and services market access. We 
are aware of the initiatives taken by a large majority of Members in various formats outside this 
Organization, which, we believe, are clearing the way for better multilateral rules a nd 
commitments.  
 
As Friends of Fish and advocates of the Sustainable Development Goals, we support the 
negotiations to discipline fisheries subsidies. We are signatories to the statement regarding 
fisheries subsidies that was recently made in Washington, b ut above all, we are looking for a 
multilateral response that, by disciplining subsidies for overfishing, illegal and unreported fishing 
and overcapacity, will enable us to protect coastal and marine ecosystems and to prevent the 
adverse effects of excessi ve and unsustainable exploitation of oceans.  
 
In services, we believe that it is worthwhile to reach an agreement on domestic regulation. Such 
an agreement is important to advancing the multilateral agenda and making the rules of this 
Organization reflect the important role that services play in the economy and the current 
international context.  
 
We support the discussions on electronic commerce and on micro, small and medium sized 
enterprises that are being held at the WTO, as well as efforts to take concr ete steps forward by the 
11th Ministerial Conference. We believe that these are issues that bring the Organization closer to 
the needs of the private sector and its expectations of the multilateral system, as we saw this 
week in the public forum, and that they represent an opportunity for the developing world.  
 
As the Director -General has just said, the time has come to move forwards in the negotiations in 
view of the fast approaching Ministerial Conference and to step up our interaction, with an open 
mind and in a creative, constructive way. We would be grateful if this statement could be recorded 
in the minutes of the General Council.  
 
6. Costa Rica  
 
Costa Rica associates itself with the statement by the Ambassador Shah of Pakistan. On the 
instruction of our Ministers, we have begun an informal discussi on in the group of Friends of E -
commerce for Development in order to identify opportunities, challenges and possible ways  of 
addressing the subject of e -commerce in the framework of the WTO, and from a broader 
perspective, to establish how e -commerce could contribute to development, taking account of 
other initiatives like UNCTAD's e -Trade for All.  
 
We would like to take this opportunity to announce that w e are organizing a seminar on e -
commerce and development, to take place on 7 December, an d we hope that a number of our 
Ministers will participate. We would already like to thank the World Bank for its interest and its 
readiness to provide the resources needed to organize this activity. In any case, we would ask you 
to note the date of 7 December 2016 in your diaries.  
 
7. Cuba  
Cuba's position has not changed since last July's meeting and the statement we made on that 
occasion therefore remains entirely valid. Our positions and specific interests are also expressed 
through the alliances to which we belong, and I would take this opportunity to endorse the 
statements made by Rwanda on behalf of the ACP Group and by Indonesia on behalf of the G -33. WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 24 - 
 
  In view of today's discussions, we would like briefly to raise two fundame ntal issues.  
We reiterate the need to move forward and achieve results under the DDA mandate and the 
multilateral approach it advocates. Whatever work we do in this regard must take into account the 
development dimension, including special and differential  treatment, as an integral part of any 
outcome.  
However, there has been little progress so far, if not somewhat of a stalemate, and we find it 
troubling to witness attempts to divert attention towards other issues - an approach that we do not 
share.  
Doha m ust remain our priority and the focus of our efforts from now on, with a view to the 
11th Ministerial Conference.  
 
8. Dominican Republic  
 
We agree with your assessment that time is flying and that we need to begin as soon as possible 
to prepare the topics to be addressed at the 11th Ministerial Conference.  
 
Over the past two decades, trade has been the driving force behind economic growth and poverty 
reduction in the world. Now, however, the situation has reversed: the recent WTO trade report 
shows that growth  in trade has slowed down considerably, and is expected to reach only 1.7% in 
2016. At the same time, world GDP is expected to grow by only 2.2%; in other words, this year 
would mark the slowest pace of trade and output growth since the 2009 financial cris is. As you 
yourself said in your report, this is a serious matter, and should serve as a wake up call. We agree 
with you that we need to take the necessary steps to avoid protectionism and step up the pace of 
negotiations at the WTO.  
 
We are therefore in f avour of redoubling our efforts and intensifying our work in the Trade 
Negotiations Committee as well as in the negotiating groups. The Dominican Republic believes that 
the reform of agriculture should be a priority for the next Ministerial Conference, in particular 
domestic support, so that we can get rid of the distorting domestic support that the developed 
countries are providing their farmers. It has been a long while now, and the time has come for 
these distortions in the agricultural sphere to be elim inated. We took an important step forward at 
the Nairobi Conference when we agreed on the elimination of agricultural export subsidies, but 
now we need to finish off the task by eliminating the distorting domestic support that makes it 
extremely difficult for farmers in the developing countries to compete in international markets.  
 
Let me draw your attention to what Mr Danilo Medina, President of the Dominican Republic, said 
when addressing the 71st UN General Assembly on 21 September of this year. He said that while 
the rapid economic growth of the past two decades had lifted hundreds of millions of people out of 
poverty, many of those people remained economically and socially fragile and vulnerable. In other 
words, we are faced with the challenge of streng thening the position of this emerging middle class, 
and to do so requires a bit more than just adopting a series of formulas and indicators:  
 
"Profound changes must be urgently made to the ways in which trade and financial flows take 
place. That is, the ru les of the game between rich and poor countries must be revised. Let us talk 
about trade. We live in an age of unprecedented trade openness, and my country, the Dominican 
Republic, like many other countries, has signed free trade agreements with the major economic 
blocs.  
 
This should be mutually beneficial and in many cases it is. However, if I may say in all honesty, 
there are times when large countries engage in hypocrisy. After more than half a century in which 
everyone was protected from everything that  other countries were able to produce better. Now 
they refuse to reduce protectionism within their borders, while in free trade agreements they 
would require the same from their counterparts in developing countries. They want us, the 
developing countries, to eliminate the protection of industrial goods, but they do not eliminate 
agricultural subsidies.  
 
For the next five years, the United States will provide an average of 97,800 million dollars annually 
to support its agricultural sector, and in its multi -year subsidy policy for the period 2014 2020, the 
European Union will dedicate 408,000 million Euros to subsidize their agricultural sector.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 25 - 
 
  The agricultural protectionism practised by rich countries allows them to influence the market in 
their favour, whil e tariffs and trade barriers routinely exclude products from developing countries.  
 
And when non -tariff barriers, such as phytosanitary regulations, are not transparent, they also 
create additional barriers to farmers in developing countries seeking to the  enter the global 
market. Instead of allowing these market distortions, instead of making rhetorical statements, the 
developed countries should take concrete steps to practise the ideal of free and fair trade.  
 
In order to help, industrialized countries mu st agree to significantly reduce their protectionism and 
their subsidies du ring current trade negotiations . 
 
As you can see, the Dominican Republic considers it a priority to revitalize the WTO negotiations 
and to carry out the long awaited agricultural re form, with the elimination of distorting domestic 
support. At the same time, we believe it is important to enable the developing countries to finance 
their rural development projects and their public stockholding programmes for food security 
purposes.  
 
On the subject of market access both in agriculture and in the industrial products area, the 
Dominican Republic is prepared to contribute, but this will depend on the commitments made in 
the domestic support area. In any case, in both areas we need to take ac count of special and 
differential treatment and special flexibilities for the small and vulnerable economies, in particular 
through more flexible tariff reduction methods, special products and the special safeguard 
mechanism for developing countries.  
 
With regard to the new initiatives, we have noted the interest shown by a number of delegations in 
different areas, such as e commerce; possibilities for micro, small and medium enterprises; 
investment; competition policy, and so on. The Dominican Republic is prepared to examine the 
possibility of including these subjects in our work. However, we think that the time has come for 
the delegations concerned to submit concrete proposals outlining their objectives in these areas. 
And this is assuming that we do not disregard the outstanding Doha Round issues which have yet 
to be negotiated or concluded. Finally, we support the statements of the ACP Group, the Group of 
Small and Vulnerable Economies and the G33.  
 
9. Ecuador  
 
It is clear that the Organization's future wor k remains at the centre of our discussions, the aim 
being to agree on concrete outcomes for the next Ministerial Conference in 2017.  
 
My country's position has been expressed on a number of occasions, so I will refer only to the 
main issues on which we bel ieve consensus can be reached with cooperation from Members.  
 
Ecuador reiterates its full commitment to discussing and successfully concluding the Doha 
Development Agenda issues, and therefore firmly believes in the mandates contained in 
paragraphs 31 and 32 of the Nairobi Declaration, on which all this Organization's future work 
should be based.  
 
The central issue in these negotiations is agriculture, an area in which support will be given to 
obtaining balance d commitments for all Members commitments that would truly reform 
agricultural trade and recognise the existing asymmetries between WTO Members. Ecuador has 
repeatedly expressed its preference for initiating negotiations on the basis of the modalities 
document TN/AG/W/ 4/Rev.4. Only in this way, would i t be possible to improve the participation of 
developing economies in world trade, without harming their production structures.  
 
In this context, the G -33 proposals on the special safeguard mechanism and public stockholding 
for food security purposes could  help to provide guidelines for achieving such reform.  
 
It should also be noted that my delegation has participated in the discussions that have taken 
place on services and fishery subsidies. In this respect, we believe that the special and differential 
treatment model in the Trade Facilitation Agreement could be an option for these two areas. 
Ecuador maintains its position that special and differential treatment should be taken into account 
in the results, providing flexibilities to developing countries so  that they can apply the agreed 
provisions in accordance with their own realities.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 26 - 
 
  Regarding the consideration of "new issues", Ecuador has clearly expressed that, while not 
opposed to addressing such issues proof of this being our participatio n in various  meetings on e -
commerce, most recently in the Publ ic Forum that ended yesterday it considers it vital to conclude 
outstanding issues, since developing countries give priority to the conclusion of the Doha issues. In 
this regard, we emphasize paragraph 34 o f the Nairobi Declaration, in the sense that identifying 
and discussing non Doha issues with a view to multilateral discussion requires a decision that must 
be adopted by consensus.  
 
This last point leads me to emphasize the need to deepen and move forward  the WTO multilateral 
negotiations, in line with the principles that guide our work.  
 
10. European Union  
 
Let me start out by joining others in thanking Uruguay and Argentina for their constructive 
attitude. The first half of this year was spent on reflections  and exploratory debates. As we start to 
approach the end of the year, it is high time that we collectively begin taking the next steps that 
are necessary in order to prepare viable outcomes for this organisation, both for MC11 and 
beyond.  
 
Although we are  seeing some positive developments in certain areas of work, we remain 
concerned about the overall pace of discussions and the engagement of Members to advance 
multilaterally on certain topics. As discussed on previous occasions, the EU considers it of vit al 
importance for Members to agree early on the overall direction toward MC11. We need to start 
having clarity on the overall picture soon if we want to avoid the problems we encountered in the 
run up to Nairobi. In particular we need to be clear in our mi nds whether we are aiming for a 
meaningful set of outcomes or whether we resign ourselves to having a housekeeping ministerial 
as some would like.  
 
The EU is firmly in the first camp. Following the successes we had in Bali and Nairobi, we are of 
the opinio n that this organisation and its Members are capable to achieve more. We have therefore 
put time and effort to feed into the discussions and will continue to do so in the coming months.  
 
It is positive that Members have started to engage concretely on subs tance in a number of areas, 
in particular on e -commerce, services facilitation and domestic regulation, thanks to good 
submissions by Members including textual pr oposals on domestic regulation.  
 
In a similar vein, we see a great amount of interest in advan cing on domestic support, which 
remains a key issue for many WTO Members and is long overdue for progress. Notwithstanding 
today’s difficult environment, there is a necessity to address trade distorting support. We will work 
with others in the coming month s in order to identify a possible way forward.  
 
We recognize the continued emphasis that many Members place on the need to address fisheries 
subsidies. In our view, this area, much like other subsidy -related issues, is best tackled 
multilaterally. This is especially important given our common global sustainable development 
goals, where we have committed to work toward a multilateral outcome which helps protect our 
fisheries.  
 
While the focus of many Members is on these issues, we should not dismiss explorat ory talks in 
other areas of importance. One such issue was recognised by G20 Leaders in Hangzhou namely 
the need to discipline the use of subsidies contributing to overcapacity. More broadly, we owe it to 
our SMEs and other traders to engage in a real deba te to address non -tariff barriers, possibly 
starting with an initiative which increases transparency and  improves regulatory practices.  
 
It is clear that the international trade is currently going through a tough phase. This must not 
however mean that we a re bound eschew ambition. On the contrary, we should engage in the 
multiple areas that are of interest to Members and allow topics to advance on their own merits.  
 
To achieve progress, we ask you, Director -General to step up further your leadership role in  the 
process.  
 WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 27 - 
 
  11. Indonesia (G -33) 
 
The G -33 shares the view that Members should start working immediately with a strong political 
will and a clear visi on on what to achieve in the MC 11.  
 
On the way forward, while advancing all outstanding issues is our ulti mate goal, the G -33 is of the 
view that SSM and PSH are two of the few priorities under the Nairobi Declaration and Decisions. 
The G -33 is also of the firm view that both issues must be an integral part of any package of 
agreements that we all ought to del iver in the MC 11.  
 
In this regard, the G -33 is willing to intensify the discussion on both issues in dedicated sessions, 
as these will promote focused and substantive engagement with a view to find solutions that would 
address the food security, livelihoo d security, and rural development needs of developing 
members, LDCs, and SVEs as mandated in Doha, Hong Kong and Bali and recently in Nairobi.  
 
The G -33 also wishes to remind Members that it will continue to pursue to have special products 
(SP) for develop ing Members as soon as discussions on tariff reduction in the market access pillar 
resumes.  
 
Finally, please rest assured of the G -33’s commitment to constructively engage in any discussions 
to follow -up the outcomes of Nairobi Ministerial Conference, part icularly on SSM and PSH, a nd 
ensure the success of the MC 11. 
 
12. Japan  
 
Japan’s stance on WTO negotiations remains unchanged since I made a statement in July’s HoDs 
meeting, so I will not repeat it here.  
 
I rather want to comment on the challenge we are now f acing collectively and consider a way 
forward.  
 
As the DG mentioned, world trade and GDP growth this year are both forecast to be the slowest 
since the financial crisis in 2008. I don’t know whether there is any causal relation, but in parallel, 
we observe  the growing sentiments of anti -trade and anti -globalization in various parts of the 
world.  
  
In the 1990s, we experienced a big wave of anti -globalization as well. I remember the Seattle 
Ministerial in 1999. In those days, however, anti -globalization was basically motivated by fears of 
further liberalization and integration, whereas today, it is based upon more concrete and real 
experiences like job losses and increased inequality.  
 
Under such circumstances, "inclusive trade"  was a timely choice of theme for this year’s Public 
Forum. It was very meaningful that the Forum provided multiple stakeholders with opportunities to 
discuss how to distribute the benefits of trade to all, in particular to those in need, while at the 
same time reaffirming the importan ce of trade and liberalization.  
 
The idea of inclusive trade has some elements in common with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable 
Development , which pledges to ensure that "no one is left behind", and also with the concept of 
"human security" , which Japan has  long been advocating.  
 
Nearly a quarter of the 100 sessions in this year’s Forum were related to electronic commerce and 
digital trade. This is with good reason: digital trade is conducive to inclusive trade, by enabling 
SMEs, rural farmers, women and les s developed economies to participate in international trade as 
active players.  
 
The WTO can and should play a critical role in examining how best we can utilize this new tool of 
digital trade in the most inclusive and transparent way. Japan would like to accelerate the 
discussions on this important topic that is drawing more and more attention from many Members.  
 
It is of course necessary to address the remaining negotiating issues on the table. However, I 
would like to conclude by pointing out that active  engagement in new and emerging issues such as WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 28 - 
 
  digital trade is indispensable for the WTO to be responsive and relevant to the changes and 
challenges of the real economy.  
 
13. Republic of Korea  
 
According to the WTO trade statistics and outlook, it is expected  that this year would mark the 
slowest pace of trade growth since the financial crisis in 2009, which is only 1.7%. This would also 
mean trade would grow more slowly than the global output.  
 
Furthermore, there is growing populist outcry against trade, wit h the risk of more protectionist 
measures being adopted. These circumstances pose a serious cha llenge to the WTO beyond the 
MC11, while we still do no t know what to pursue at the MC 11 and how to proceed.  
 
There remain only 4 months this year, and we cannot  afford sitting idle. We need to double our 
efforts to talk to each other as the DG emphasized, to explore what can be done and advance 
discussions in areas where progress is more likely. E -commerce could be one of the possible areas 
that we can move forwa rd, on the basis of wide support both from developing and developed 
members.  
 
In terms of negotiating approaches, alternative approaches including plurilateral negotiations could 
be further explored, but we believe that multilateralization remains our ulti mate objective.  
 
In this regard, we take note of recent development in the area of fisheries subsidies among 
interested Members. We would appreciate regular and substantive information sharing with non -
participating WTO Members.  
 
14. Lesotho  
 
It is a great ple asure for me to participate in this important meeting of the Heads of Delegations 
which comes on the heels of a very successful 15th WTO Public Forum. I thank you 
Mr. Director -General for inviting me to this Forum and also commend you together with your 
dedicated team for the excellent arrangements put in place for this Forum. I also thank you for 
your comprehensive progress report.  
 
Lesotho as a small, least developed and land -locked developing country firmly believes in a fair 
and balanced multilateral tr ading system, capable of achieving a rules -based, open, predictable, 
inclusive, non -discriminatory and equitable trade environment. This is the system which would 
provide every country, regardless of its territorial size, population, or level of developmen t the 
opportunity to effectively and beneficially participate in global trade. In this regard we derive great 
solace at the initiatives that the esteemed Members of this organization are embarking upon with a 
view to move from reflection to action followin g the Tenth WTO Minist erial Conference in Nairobi 
(MC10). 
 
That Ministerial Conference saw progress in fulfilling the mandate of the WTO. The progress 
included the accession of two LDCs Members to the WTO, namely, Afghanistan and Liberia, the 
Nairobi Packa ge for the Least Developed Countries and other crucial decisions relating to 
elimination of export subsidies, special safeguard mechanism and cotton, amongst others. 
However, progress on other core issues to the majority of the members remains elusive and 
requires the members to shift gear in preparation for the next Ministerial. At MC 11, we should 
deliver more development -centred outcomes and for that to happen we should earnestly 
commence our work now. There will be more progress if members sincerely endeavour  to adopt a 
positive attitude and exhibit goodwill to build more on the areas which are likely to produce 
agreement for the common good.  
 
There is no doubt that members can achieve more when there is goodwill. We now note with great 
satisfaction the p rogress that has been made in the ratification of the WTO Trade Facilitation 
Agreement, the first multilateral agreement since the establishment of the WTO. This is indeed 
worthy of praise. For landlocked developing countries like Lesotho high transport an d trade costs 
exacerbated by lack of connectivity to the world markets and other geographical constraints 
render us vulnerable in the hands of our competitors. We are therefore hopeful that the entry into 
force of this agreement will enhance our competitiv eness, improve revenue collection, enhance WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 29 - 
 
  border controls and security, to name but a few. In this connection we continue to call upon those 
Members who are in a position to do so to speed up their ratification processes.  
 
Whilst a significant improvement  in market access has been made both in the WTO and outside for 
Members like Lesotho to enjoy the spoils of the multilateral system, we continue to be concerned 
about the potential market erosion that the plurilateral agreements pose. These mega -regional 
trade agreements do not only erode the market but even erode the very central function of the 
WTO as the global forum for trade rules setting and governance.  
 
Outside the walls of this building there is a strong wave of change and our people, most 
legitimat ely for that matter, demand nothing less from us. In order to remain relevant the WTO 
therefore has to swiftly deliver on its mandate especially on the priorities of developing countries 
whilst also adjusting to these current dynamics and realities.  
 
We sh ould engage in honest and frank discussions in this organization about some of the realities 
which we contend with. For instance, no country in the world can hope to prosper without the 
greater participation of its real people in the economy, and these rea l people are nowhere but in 
the SMEs sector. The role of SMEs in many of the small economies especially in Africa and LDCs is 
significant, but mostly not incorporated in the trade statistics due to their informal nature. SMEs 
drive economic growth and gene rate employment especially for women and other vulnerable 
groups.  
 
Lesotho' s geographic position renders services as a potential sector to uplift her from the LDCs 
status especially the potential of technology related services hence e -Commerce is key towar ds 
this and improving our competitiveness. e -Commerce is indeed a new reality of business today and 
we cannot succeed in the 21st century without harnessing the power of e -Commerce.  
 
That notwithstanding, the heterogeneity of the level of development among st the members 
requires us to also consider the differing realities that are associated with e -Commerce. For 
example in Africa the share of e -commerce is very low despite its clearly demonstrated potential. 
There are fundamental and serious issues which ne ed to be addressed first and foremost prior to 
engaging in rule -based negotiations. There are both hard and soft infrastructure challenges that 
include lack of electricity or reliable power supply, lack of computers, lack of reliable broadband, 
lack of ski lled human capital to name but a few that have to be addressed. Thus it is important to 
explore avenues for cooperation and exchange of ideas, lessons and good practices with members 
for Africa to tap into this huge potential which is projected to reach $5 0 billion in Africa by 2018 
according to ITC. The Work Programme on e -Commerce therefore remains very important and 
valid.  
 
In conclusion I wish to reiterate the centrality of this organization in raising the standards of living, 
ensuring full employment a nd a large and steadily growing volume of real income and effective 
demand, and expanding the production of and trade in goods and services as enshrined in the 
Marrakesh Agreement. It behoves us all, without distinctions, to live up to this  meticulous visi on of 
our forbearers . 
 
Finally, it would be remiss of me not to congratulate our twin sister country, Botswana, on their 
50th Independence anniversary on this very day. Fifty years ago within one week, Botswana and 
Lesotho attained their independence.  
 
15. Mali (C-4) 
 
We would like to welcome H.E. Joshua Setipa, Minister of Trade and Industry of the Kingdom of 
Lesotho and we would like to endorse his statement. The C -4 also associates with the statement 
made by Rwanda, on behalf of the LDCs, and Morocco, on beh alf of the African Group.  
 
Since the launch of the Cotton Initiative in 2003 and at the Nairobi Ministerial Conference, the 
sectoral initiative in favour of Cotton has put the issue of African Cotton at the heart of WTO 
negotiations and we welcome this fac t. The C -4 would therefore like to call on Members to 
continue to seek a fair solution for African Cotton because we know that various Ministerial 
Decisions and Declarations have indicated that this should be the case.  
 WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 30 - 
 
  At MC10 it was said that the issue should be dealt with in an ambitious, expeditious and specific 
way. This should not just however remain a slogan. It should rather motivate us in order to seek 
tangible results that would then translate into rules to be implemented. In this context, in the  
succeeding months, the C -4 is planning to play a key role in the issue of cotton particularly with 
regard to eliminating subsidies with the final objective of eliminating all types of export subsidies 
for cotton and all domestic support for the production  and marketing of cotton – looking ahead at 
MC11.  
 
At MC9 and MC10, we had an opportunity to lay the groundwork for some development in order to 
shore up this organization's credibility. We did this by focusing our debate on the interests and 
needs of dev eloping countries which make up the majority of this organization's Members. The 
Doha Development Agenda should remain our focus. The C -4 recognizes the key role played by 
the WTO in trade negotiations. We feel that this is the organization that should be able to conclude 
the Round in order to bring benefits to Members.  
 
We would like to reiterate that we are committed to the multilateral trading system. We believe 
that this can make it possible for us all to better integrate into the global value chains t o enable 
trade to become a tool for generating growth, fighting poverty and ensuring peace around the 
world.  
 
The C -4 is going to continue to seek ambitious objectives looking ahead to the next Ministerial 
Conference. We want to have a fair outcome for al l stakeholders through inclusiveness, 
development and the protection of the cotton sector in African countries and in LDC cotton -
producing and exporting countries. The C -4 therefore calls on all Members to commit to this 
endeavour.  
 
16. Morocco (African Group)  
 
The MC10 yielded decisions on export competition, public stockholding, the special safeguard 
mechanism and cotton, among others, but much still remains to be done if a comprehensive 
development related outcome is to be achieved between now and the MC11 n ext year.  
 
The Group reaffirms the need to maintain the development component of the DDA and reiterates 
its warning against plurilateral approaches that would marginalize the majority of Members and 
exclude them from decision making.  
 
The impasse in the im plementation of the DDA mandate requires a unified and coordinated 
approach involving all the Members of this Organization. Cooperation is necessary to ensure that 
trade serves development goals with a view to facilitating the beneficial integration of the  
developing and least developed countries into the global economy and the multilateral trading 
system.  
 
We therefore call for the strengthening of coherence between the WTO and the UN system, so that 
the international community, to which we all belong, is better able to address global challenges, 
whether in relation to the promotion of peace, the fight against climate change, terrorism, or 
sustainable development, which is consistently advocated by multilateral trade.  
 
WTO Members cannot remain indifferent to the current dynamic, where common will and 
determination have made it possible to reach agreements. Members should overcome their 
differences and move towards ensuring coherent development oriented action from the various 
actors and institutions.  
 
In this light, the African Group stands ready to commit to the resumption of negotiations with a 
view to achieving new results at the 11th Ministerial Conference.  
 
I would now like to summarize and reiterate a number of points that the African Group considers 
worthy of being brought to the attention of Members.  
 
We reaffirm that Rev.4 continues to be the basis for any concrete result or success in our 
negotiations on the three agricultural pillars.  
 WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 31 - 
 
  Paragraph 31 of the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration states that  all Members remain strongly 
committed to advancing negotiations on the remaining Doha issues, most notably domestic 
support, market access and export competition.  
 
Regarding cotton, we call for negotiations, so as to ensure a fair and balanced agreement f or all 
players.  
 
Special and differential treatment for developing countries and LDCs must remain an integral part 
of any negotiating agenda.  
 
New issues should not be addressed until the content of this package has been clearly explained, 
and outstanding Doha issues should be discussed and exhausted before any negotiations are held 
on new issues.  
 
As regards e commerce, its importance continues to grow. E -commerce could stimulate growth 
and we believe that it could be an opportunity for development providi ng that the infrastructure 
and accessibility challenges faced by the majority of our Members are met. Nevertheless, having 
identified the aspects of interest to the African Group, it is vital that we conduct our work in 
accordance with the 1998 Work Progra mme on Electronic Commerce.  
 
May I conclude this statement by informing Members that the African Group is org anizing a second 
retreat in mid -October. One of our objectives is to enable the Group to make specific contributions 
on future negotiating issues, so that commitments can be made on a clearly defined basis.  
 
17. New Zealand  
 
New Zealand confirms its strong support for the ongoing negotiations across all of the issues 
identified and endorsed by Ministers at the Nairobi WTO Ministerial Conference. We belie ve it is 
important to ensure we make further progress on all of these including at the next Ministerial 
conference at the end of 2017, with a view to ensuring specific deliverable elements at the 
Eleventh Ministerial Council at the end of next year.  
  
One specific issue to which New Zealand wanted to draw Members' specific attention to ‎is a recent 
Joint Statement Regarding Fisheries Subsidies issued by a number of WTO Members including New 
Zealand. This is an important initiative since it will be:  
 
­ An "open plurilateral"  and we welcome the interest and involvement of other Members;  
­ a "building block"  for the multilateral trading system; and  
­ complementary to work in the WTO. As the Joint Statement makes ‎clear, New Zealand 
and others who joined the initiative will be "working with all WTO Members to make 
progress toward a multilateral agr eement in the WTO."  
 
‎In short, New Zealand sees this initiative therefore as a complement to, not instead of the WTO 
negotiations  
 
Finally, we see both the WTO negotiations and the Joint Initiative as a way of ensuring that trade 
can contribute to global challenges, not least Target 14.6 of the UN Sustainable Development 
Goals.  
 
18. Nigeria  
 
With respect to MC11 specifically, we join others in thanking Uruguay and Argentina for their spirit 
of cooperation and constructive attitude. In addition, we acknowledge the pre sence of Hon. H.E. 
Mr. Setipa, Honourable Minister of Trade of the Kingdom of Lesotho in our midst.  
 
As you are aware, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, Hon.  Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment 
delivered a Statement, on behalf H.E. President Muahmmadu Buhari, GCFR, President of the 
Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the opening plenary of the WTO Annual Public Forum on 
27 September, 2016. Some members of the WTO, in their assessment, expressed the view that 
the statement as delivered  was significant, posit ive and forward looking as far as WTO agenda is 
concerned.  
 WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 32 - 
 
  In the words of our President: "These are no doubt challenging times for the Nigerian economy. 
But we seize this opportunity to boldly affirm our conviction that there is no crisis without an 
accompanying opportunity" . We hope that the summer break has afforded us the opportunity to 
reconnect with our capitals and stakeholders and to reflect on the great task ahead of us. Our 
engagement must be solution -driven. Our goal is clear, which is to work t ogether with other 
members for a credible and balanced outcome  at MC11.  
 
Going forward, we would like to highlight the following:  
 
i. the need to move from reflection to action, and be mindful of the need for full and timely 
implementation of the Bali and Nai robi Decisions;  
ii. Agriculture, Services, Development and LDCs specific issues, should form part of any 
outcomes at MC11;  
iii. As a Friend of Friends of development on e -Commerce, Nigeria supports a WTO agenda 
for digital economy which will create a platform to leverage SMEs to trade, thereby 
making the trading system more inclusive and pro -development. We are also part of the 
co-sponsors on e -commerce and Development, an initiative led by Singapore. In the 
digital economy, which like infrastructure, has a multip lier effect that touches every part 
of the economy, we believe opportunity abound. Young Nigerians are increasingly 
demonstrating that they have the talent and passion to leverage the digital economy for 
solving our most pressing challenges, although Niger ia is still in the early stages of a 
domestic technology revolution, and the government is paying serious attention and 
offering its support; and  
iv. Nigeria supports the approaches and ideas of the DG and the chairs of the various 
Negotiating Groups for MC11 and a forward looking agenda for the WTO and MC11 in 
particular.  
 
Finally, we agree with the Director -General that we need a system that is responsive to those in 
needs; a system that goes further to support poorer countries to take part and benefit as wel l as 
SMEs, and the marginalized groups in all economies. We need a system that is fair and equitable, 
that responds to the need of all members, particularly, the LDCs, most vulnerable, and the 
weakest.  
 
We call for flexibilities and compromises that would enable us make progress. Nigeria will continue 
to work closely with all members to ensure that trade works for development.  
 
19. Norway  
 
After having listened to the statement by New Zealand, I can be very brief. I would only like to 
take the liberty and assoc iate Norway with New Zealand’s statement.  
 
20. Pakistan  
 
We live in challenging times for the multilateral trading system and recent years have brought 
developments which have fundamentally altered our way of doing business, we have to align 
ourselves to these  developments.  
 
The latest trade estimates as mentioned by you, show that World trade will grow more slowly than 
expected in 2016, expanding by just 1.7%, well below the April forecast of 2.8%. The forecast for 
2017 has also been revised, with trade now ex pected to grow between 1.8% and 3.1%, down from 
3.6% previously. In this backdrop we will have to doable our efforts here at WTO.  
 
We join others in support of need for intensifying the negotiations, in all pillars particularly, 
agriculture, with a focus  on Domestic support and cotton.  
 
We have just concluded a successful public forum, we had every engaged participation from 
governments, businesses, civil society and knowledge base organisations, in fact all stakeholders 
contributed. We heard first -hand wh at our stakeholders expect from us  – one thing that we most 
need in WTO. We had 20 plus sessions on ecommerce and digital economy, 18 sessions on MSM Es 
and seven on women and trade – all with a strong underpinning of Inclusive Trade, this clearly 
gives an indication about p riorities of our stakeholders.  
 WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 33 - 
 
  In our view Ecommerce is an inescapable fact of life, Pakistan believes that the digital economy 
will provide a crucial engine for growth in the future by disrupting traditional business models 
across lega cy industries and fundamentally reshape the trading paradigms we are used to. Digital 
trade is also an effective tool for economic empowerment of women, youth and marginalized 
communities. Cross border movement of goods, services and intangibles through IC T have created 
enormous opportunities for the promotion of inclusive growth in land -locked countries, and small 
island economies.  
 
If Trade is good for development, e -trade is better for development… but key question we face, " Is 
e-trade happening in area s, where it is most needed for development? " i.e. developing and least 
develo ped countries and their MSMES… neither the current volume nor the pace provide a 
satisfactory answer. According to the E marketer Report " Total online B2C e -commerce in Africa 
and Middle East is less t han 2% of the world’s market –", we have serious challenges hindering the 
progress of e -Commerce in many developing countries.  
 
But a positive thing is that Ecommerce is not about traditional North South debate, we have many 
developi ng countries that are among the top cohort in ecommerce and digital trade. Digital 
technology allows developing countries to make significant advances in industrialization. Africa has 
the fastest growing mobile phone market, and small developing countries can now connect to the 
world in a way never seen before. The challenge is how to mutually benefit from a Global Good 
that is Internet and its role in Trade.  
 
UNCTAD e -Commerce Readiness index gives us many pointers for the future work, particularly 
from a development perspective. it is critical that we focus on the development dimension of e -
Commerce.  
 
The UNCTAD ecommerce readiness index clearly shows that the capacity and ability to engage 
successfully in e -Commerce varied significantly among countries. A ll indices brought out by 
different organization have one common message that is we are digitally a multispeed planet.  
 
We ha ve to find the balance between " Development of Ecommerce , and Ecommerce for 
Development" . We need to undertake a collective scopin g exercise with a view to define a mutually 
agreed future agenda on e -Commerce – covering both goods and services. We have to strive to be 
inclusive and non -discriminatory in our approach. We can only get positive results from this 
exercise if we collabora te, compromise and move together. We need an informed and balanced 
trade debate, which takes as many views into account as possible.  
 
Digital trade allows many small enterprises to participate in the global market. Ecommerce and 
MSMES are inextricably link ed. Let me share what A young Kenyan digital entrepreneur, Mr Roy 
Ombatti, founder of Digital SME Happy Feet, said in public forum. He said lack of access to finance 
and regulatory trade barriers pose challenges for young entrepreneurs. He called for incre ased 
investment and partnerships in the digital economy. This reminds us what MSMES expect from 
WTO.  
 
In the recent brainstorming session organized by Friends of Ecommerce for Development, which is 
now Costa Rica, Kenya, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Pakistan 35 members along with UNCTAD, ITC and 
Secretariat participated,  we felt there is positive energy and interest among members. I would 
avail this opportunity to share some key themes that emerged in the brainstormin g session. Which 
are the following:  
 
 Inclusiv eness and transparency as guiding principles throughout this group’s 
conversation, as success in this process requires effor ts by everybody for everybody;  
 Different levels or speeds of develo pment of all member countries;  
 Start viewin g challenges as oppo rtunities;  
 Importance of identifying the trade policy areas where the WTO can contribute and what 
can be done by MC11, as this shall be a multilateral proc ess with multilateral outcomes;  
 Aim at collectively raising knowledge on this issue to move forward together and share 
best practices and als o mistakes to learn from both;  
 e-Commerce is like a train we don’t want to miss; make sure we keep it on the right 
track;  
 Consider establishing working groups to address in a smaller configuration a variety of 
issues that relat e to e -Commerce for development;  WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 34 - 
 
   Beware of not duplicating efforts made by other international organizations and aspire to 
create synergies among them;  
 Explore issues with payments, financial inclusion, access to trade finance for SMEs and 
how mobile technologies can help with all of these – and their trade and non -trade 
elements;  
 The centrality of MSMEs as an engine of e -Commerce in developing countries;  
 e-Commerce as a leapfrogging platform for investm ent, technology and financing;  
 Explor e the TFA model as one experience that could serve FED process ; 
 Close the information gap among the different m embers regarding e -Commerce; and  
 Urgent need of capacity building especially but not exclusively among LDCs in 
understanding the application of t echnology to trade needs.  
 
One key thought highlighted by many was the multi -stakeholder, multidimensional nature of the 
subject, and that we need more workshops, seminars and interaction so as to help all members 
understand the different dimension of eco mmerce.  
 
Pakistan would like to propose that the WTO consider some of the following suggestions, which in 
my view will go a long way in helping developing and LDC members to engage in the Ecommerce 
discussion and will also help us in achieving our common o bjective.  
 
 Establish a global online portal in WTO for e -commerce related policies and regulations  
 Develop an e -commerce "needs assessment tools" in cooperation with other agencies, so 
as to assess developing countries' e -commerce readiness.  
 Conduct a surv ey of practical needs of SMEs and developing countries engaged in cross -
border e -commerce.  
 Facilitate developing country integration into cross -border e -commerce value chains.  
 WTO should Collaborate with development banks, ITU and donors on infrastructure  
development  
 
Another key area is Facilitation for MSMEs, you may recall when you met our prime minister in 
Islamabad in early May this year, he spend considerable time highlighting  challenges faced by 
SMES and what we have to do for them.  
 
Globally, 52 p er cent of SMEs see requests for their trade finance rejected, against 7 per ce nt for 
multinational companies.  
 
In Africa, almost one third of all requests for trade finance is rejected by banks. In Asia, the 
estimated amount of requests for trade finance rejected is approaching one trillion dollars. All in 
all, the global trade finance gap is estimated to be around 1.4 trillion dollars annually and the 
poorer the co untry, the more difficult it is – and small and medium -sized enterprises are the most 
affect ed. 
 
The world has changed drastically over the last two decades and the WTO has to adapt itself to 
this change to remain relevant. Several significant matters that were not part of DDA such as e -
commerce, climate change, environment, foreign direct invest ment rules, are now being 
incorporated in many regional and bilateral trade agreements. It is high time the WTO members 
start exploring the best way to incorporate them in the WTO rulebook. It is not advisable to live in 
the past. The issues have to be tho se that matter to businesses and our stakeholders and help 
remove any existing trade distortions. It is time for the WTO members to adopt emerging issues 
and new methodologies for moving forward and regain the centrality of WTO as the only 
organization for  negotiating global rules of governing cross -border trade in goods and services. 
Let’s make an effort to move the discussion from future of WTO, to WTO of the future.  
 
21. Peru  
 
The Elimination of Fisheries Subsidies  
 
As a country with a major fisheries sector  and a wide diversity of hydro biological resources, Peru 
promotes and actively participates in various forums with a view to establishing disciplines to 
eliminate fisheries subsidies, which contribute to overexploitation and overfishing and have a 
negativ e impact on trade, sustainable development and food security, as well as small scale 
fishing.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 35 - 
 
   
To this end, Peru has been working with Argentina on a proposal at the multilateral level to launch 
a negotiating process at the WTO, as we have been instructed to do by our Heads of State and 
Government in Target 14.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This proposal seeks to 
prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, 
eliminate subsidies that contribut e to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from 
introducing new such subsidies.  
 
This mandate from our Heads of State and Government is the most recent development in the 
international community's growing awareness of the need to take act ion to prevent the negative 
effects of certain forms of fisheries subsidies on the sustainability of fishing resources. Such 
awareness is evidenced by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution "The future we want" 
(July 2012) and by the recent adoptio n of the SDGs in September 2015.  
 
Many efforts have already been made to take concrete steps towards the elimination of fisheries 
subsidies, including those made in Nairobi, where my delegation and others tried to make 
headway in this area. We therefore re affirm that an outcome on this issue prior to the 
11th Ministerial Conference is not only a matter of urgency, but is also critical for the protection of 
a finite, visibly diminishing resource.  
 
In the light of the above, Peru and Argentina will present a proposal to eliminate fisheries 
subsidies, which will include some elements that were successfully used in the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement. This proposal will be the subject of open ended consultations with all WTO Members, 
which will allow us to hear the ir views and establish an approach that can be considered at MC11.  
 
The elimination of such subsidies is so important for Peru that we are open to any options to this 
effect. Peru is therefore participating in the United States' initiative, with which we a re all 
acquainted, to initiate plurilateral negotiations on fisheries subsidies. As our delegation pointed out 
at the "Our Ocean" Conference on 14 September 2016, this endeavour is a step that can 
contribute to the achievement of a larger objective, such a s an agreement on fisheries subsidies 
that can later be extended to a wider group of States.  
 
22. Russian Federation  
 
The Russian Federation supports a rules -based, transparent, non -discriminatory, open and 
inclusive multilateral trading system with the WTO pl aying central role in global trade. This course 
was confirmed at the recent G20 summit in Hangzhou, China.  
 
We do believe that improvement of existing and development of new rules would allow the 
membership to address long -standing trade challenges. In our  view, the key to strengthening of 
the WTO negotiating function is a broad participation of all members in decision -making through 
provision of meaningful inputs. We are encouraged by recent contribution from Members. And I 
join others in saying that now i t is time to launch the negotiation process on the issues that might 
be delivered by the next Ministerial.  
 
We therefore believe that the new negotiations agenda should include those Doha outstanding 
issues that have a high potential of reaching consensus.  From the Russian perspective, such issues 
could include domestic support, market access and the remaining elements of export competition 
in agriculture, as well as elements of rules agenda. We are also interested in the inclusion of "new"  
issues in the li st of negotiating tracks to guide WTO negotiations in the future. Rules in 
antidumping and subsidies, domestic regulation in services, transparency in RTAs as well as 
assessments of the impact of RTAs on the multilateral trading system, investment regulati on, e -
commerce and environmental aspects of trade are worth to be tackled.  
 
We are ready for a constructive engagement with other Members. We have made some textual 
proposals and intend to make new in future.  
 
We strongly believe that upon accession Russi a and other Article XII Members have made 
extensive contributions to advancing of trade liberalization, as well as the development of systemic 
obligations. These contributions must be taken into account. We note with satisfaction that some 
of the commitmen ts of Article XII Members were recently multilateralized, as represented in the WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 36 - 
 
  prohibition of export subsidies in agriculture. We expect the membership of the house to keep up 
with this level of liberalization in the course of negotiations.  
 
23. Rwanda (ACP)  
 
At the outset I wish to announce that my statement delivered in the informal HOD s on 25 July is 
still valid :  
 
"At the outset, I wish to reaffirm the ACP Group’s commitment to a rules -based 
Multilateral Trading System that is predictable, transparent and which contributes to 
improving lives of our people. Our position stems from our conviction in the nexus 
between Trade, Investment and Development. As reflected in various parts of the 
Nairobi Ministerial Declaration, all Members must keep their commitment to maintain 
the WTO relevant as the premier forum for trade negotiations and governance of 
international trade rules and must ensure that issues of interest to developing 
countries are taken into account.  
 
It is against this background that the ACP Group expects a develop ment-oriented 
outcome at the MC 11, consistent with various recent global commitments and goals, in 
particular the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  
 
With this in mind, the ACP Group calls upon Members to effectively move from 
reflection to action so that we collectively start a substantive and constructive 
engagement immediately after the summer break if we are seriously contemplatin g an 
ambitious result at the MC 11. We must ensure substantial reductions in trade -
distorting domestic  support in order to achieve the longstanding agriculture reform to 
level the playing field in the agriculture trading system. The ACP Group has submitted 
questions aimed at stimulating discussions with a view to exploring ways of finding 
solutions that ca n be acceptable to all. The Group will follow -up ager the summer 
break with a more substantive submission after a thorough discussion at our Group 
level.  
 
As is well -known, the basis of further advancing negotia tions is contained in 
paragraph  31 of the Nai robi Ministerial Declaration, amon g others, which highlights the 
"strong commitment of all Members to advance negotiatio ns on the remaining Doha 
issues", including " advancing work in all three pillars of agriculture, namely domestic 
support, market access and export competition, as well as non -agriculture market 
access, service s, development, TRIPS and rules" .  
 
As the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session (CoA -SS) 
reported, meetings held last week demonstrated a keen interest of the w ider 
Membership in addressing agricultural Trade -distorting Domestic Support. This is 
indeed, one of the key issues where the ACP Group expects a develop ment-oriented 
outcome at the MC 11. We must ensure a substantial reductions in trade -distorting 
domestic  support in order to achieve the longstanding agriculture reform to level the 
playing field in the agriculture trading system. The ACP Group has submitted questions 
aimed at stimulating discussions with a view to exploring ways of finding solutions that 
can be acceptable to all. The Group will follow -up after the summer break with a more 
substantive submission after a thorough discussion at our Group level.  
 
The ACP Group is also interested in a permanent solution on Public Stockholding for 
Food Security P urposes that must satisfactorily address the legitimate food security 
concerns of all developing countries. The permanent solution should cover both 
existing and new public stockholding programmes.  
 
The ACP Group is further interested in an outcome on a S pecial Safeguard Mechanism 
(SSM) for developing countries that would limit the negative impacts of import surges 
or sharp drops in the prices. Conditions of SSM should be less stringent than those of 
Special Agricultural Safeguard (SSG). The SSM must be si mple to use and effective in 
addressing import surges.  
 WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 37 - 
 
  Another important issue for the ACP Group, in addition to outcomes in agriculture, is 
the urgency to address fisheries subsidies in a manner that will ensure sustainable 
fishing for food security, li velihood security and job creation. This is also another 
developmental deliverable at the MC 11 for many ACP countries.  
 
Furthermore, the ACP Group emphasizes that Special and Differential Treatment 
(S&DT) for developing countries must remain at the core o f any negotiation and any 
outcome. Additionally, S&DT under the Committee on Trade and Development in 
Special Session (CTD -SS) must effectively resume and we call upon Members for a 
constructive engagement on this longstanding issue. As the Chair of the CT D-SS has 
reported, some Members seem to indicate a clear negative attitude in the continuation 
of negotiations in this area. From our perspective, S&DT in WTO Agreements must be 
integral part of negotiations as reflected in paragraph 44 of the Doha Ministe rial 
Declaration and must be integral part of future outcomes. Indeed, some of these 
flexibilities that are under discussions in CTD -SS are linked to industrialization and 
have been used in the past by many countries in moving up the development ladder. 
Our ambition and aspirations of our people are: to climb the development ladder 
moving away from economic stagnation, though industrialization, value addition, 
export diversification and structural transformation. We, therefore, expect that our 
Negotiating P artners will listen to our call and equally contribute to our common 
resolve for achieving SDGs through trade, industrial development, technological catch -
up and structural transformation for all.  
 
On Services, as in other negotiating areas, development r emains central to any 
outcome as inscribed in GATS Articles XIX:2 and IV:3 and subsequent Ministerial 
Declarations since the establishment of this Organization.  
 
Let me conclude with a few words on new issues. We have recently witnessed a sort of 
more eng agement by some Members on e -commerce. I wish to be clear in stating that 
our Nairobi position is still valid. From our perspective, negotiations on new issues will 
depend on a number of factors. It will require, among others, a positive indication for 
the treatment of longstanding development issues under the DDA; and a prior explicit 
mandate for negotiations agreed by all Members.  
 
With this, I wish to rest here and look forward to a more collective inspiration during 
the summer break. The ACP Group woul d like to assure all Members of our readiness 
to constructively engage in negotiations and we encourage other Members to do so.8" 
 
In line with post -Nairobi reflection, and informal consultations, after the summer break, the ACP 
Group has started to prepar e a plan of actions, focusing on ways and means of stimulating a 
constructive engagement in the negotiations in some specific areas of key interest to this Group. 
We are still reflecting on these issues and will come up with a submission in a near future.  
 
Let me take this opportunity to reiterate the ACP Group’s commitment to a rules -based Multilateral 
Trading System that is predictable, transparent and which promotes a positive relationship 
between trade and development. It is in this perspective that th e ACP Group expects a 
develop ment-oriented outcome at the MC 11, consistent with various recent global commitments 
and goals, in particular the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and our respective national 
development objectives.   
 
As I said earlier,  I will not get into all substantive elements that I elaborated during the July HOD 
meeting but allow me to touch on two issues, namely Agriculture domestic support and fishery 
subsidies. ACP States are hopeful that MC11 will conclude with a significant ou tcome on these two 
issues, among others.  
 
­ On agriculture, we must achieve a tangible outcome leading to substantial reductions in trade -
distorting domestic support, with aim to achieving the longstanding agriculture reform. Trade -
distorting domestic suppor t continue to lead negative factors hindering the emergence of 
inclusive, free, fair and efficient trade in agriculture products. Gradual reduction towards full 
                                                
8 Rwanda's statement at the 25 July Informal HODs meeting i s also incorporated in the minutes of the 
27 July 2016 General Council meeting in Annex 2, pages 58 -59 of document WT/GC/M/163.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 38 - 
 
  elimination of those subsidies are essential conditions to levelling  playing field in the agric ulture 
trading system.  
 
­ On fisheries, there is an urgency to address the dramatic situation of World’s Marine fish stocks 
that are faced with depletion. We can’t continue business as usual in this critical situation which 
has heavy and multifaceted consequ ences at social, economic, political and environmental 
levels. We need to find a consensus to discipline subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and 
overfishing, and also to eliminate subsidies provided to illegal, unreported and unregulated 
(IUU).  
 
­ Special and differential treatment for developing countries must be integral part of any 
outcome.  
 
­ On services, we remain resolute that development must be at the forefront of any discussion or 
outcome on this important issue.  In the realisation of these dev elopment dividends, we 
therefore consider it to be of paramount importance, that the interests of developing countries 
and least developed countries (LDC) form the basis for these discussions.  
 
I rest my case here; and as I said at the beginning, the ACP p osition on the Doha development -
oriented issues remain valid as reflected in the statement delivered during the HOD meeting of 
25 July. Indeed without the nexus trade -development as entrenched in the DDA and in the SDGs, 
the engagement of developing countr ies and especially LDCs in the multilateral trading system 
loses most of its sense.  
 
24. Senegal  
 
Senegal endorses the statements made by Rwanda on behalf of the ACP Group and Morocco on 
behalf of the African Group.  
 
My delegation believes that in view of the current global trade environment and the status of the 
multilateral negotiations at the WTO, it is important to redouble our efforts in order to harvest 
substantive outcomes at the next Ministerial Conference.  
 
Senegal itself remains committed to disciplin ing subsidies that contribute to overfishing and 
overcapacity, and to the elimination of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities.  
 
Considering the state of marine resources and the overexploitation of fish stocks, urgent measures 
need to be taken to preserve them and ensure their sustainability.  
 
In this regard, any national, regional or plurilateral initiative that can contribute to achieving 
Target 14.6 under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will be welcome.  
 
Nonetheless, Senegal  remains convinced that an efficient and balanced solution can and must be 
found at the multilateral level, while also securing the interests of the developing and especially 
the least developed countries in terms of appropriate and effective special and d ifferential 
treatment.  
 
25. South Africa  
 
It is clear from what we have heard that much more remains to be done to close the gaps between 
Members on the remaining DDA issues. We are all well aware of our differences and divergences 
around the starting point fo r negotiations, the mandate for negotiations, as well as our differing 
priorities and areas of sensitivity. In our reading, recent developments in the international trade 
arena suggest that the prospects for moving forward are not getting any easier.     
 
In this context, pursuing plurilateral negotiations may appear – to some – as a way forward but we 
all need to be fully aware of risks associated with "closed"  plurilaterals. These run the risk of 
further fragmenting the trading system and diverting attent ion from our collective multilateral 
work. We also know they fall short in their developmental content and can undermine the 
objectives of inclusive growth.  
 WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 39 - 
 
  While there are growing calls to pursue work in new areas, we should recall that the language in 
the Nairobi Declaration stated: " some wish to identify and discuss other issues for negotiation " 
and, importantly, it goes on to say "… others do not" . We should therefore not be surprised at the 
difficulty of getting all Members to agree to any new issue w hen their priorities on the remaining 
DDA issues remain stuck.  
 
For our part, we are prepared to discuss e -commerce to enhance the participation of developing 
countries in so far as that discussion proceeds within the framework of the existing WTO mandate  
and work program on e -commerce. On the basis of the current work program, we could discuss 
the high concentration of electronic trade amongst a very few countries; Africa’s marginal 
participation in this trade; the range of issues related to the ‘digital divide’; as well as the differing 
policy perspectives and interventions needed to have these addressed. However, as a matter for 
multilateral rule -making, our attitude is entirely different: This is not an issue of priority interest to 
us.  
 
While the over all assessment may be down beat, the current state of play in the negotiations may 
offer a unique opportunity to reflect on how best to re -position our approach to trade policy so that 
it better serves the objectives of sustainable economic development and  inclusive growth.  
 
There have been many calls from around the world that we do this. In our view, a priority would 
be to reconnect trade policy to industrial development that is important for many developing 
countries, including in Africa where our struc tural transformation objectives place industrialization 
at the cent re of all work. We also need to be much more sensitive to the distributional impact of 
trade and on how gains and losses are distributed amongst and within Member countries, 
particularly as  these relate to unemployment and inequality. We need to avoid exaggerating the 
purported benefits of trade liberalization and agreements based, as they often are, on 
questionable theory and selective evidence.  
 
While these are complex issues, a greater s hared understanding on these matters may lay a more 
solid basis on which to move forward in the future. Whatever our views, it is clear that there is 
much work to be done.  
 
I conclude by associating ourselves with the Statements made by Morocco on behalf of the Africa 
Group and by Rwanda on behalf of the ACP.  
 
26. Chinese Taipei  (Article XII Members)  
 
Today's meeting is very timely. Everyone should h opefully have moved out of the "reflection"  
phase by now and shifted up to a higher gear to advance our future w ork. 
 
On the subject of preparations for the MC11, we were encouraged by the positive momentum 
before the summer break, and it is noticeable that there are more ideas or papers floating about, 
including the latest from Australia on domestic regulations, an d from India on services facilitation. 
Our group appreciates these fresh contributions from Members.  
 
We would recommend and encourage more discussions, while bearing in mind that it would be 
unwise for us to rush into immediate negotiations. What is most  important to realize right now is 
that the full engagement and participation of the Membership is absolutely crucial if we are to 
achieve a common understanding on the issues that we face. Without a compass and some clear 
vision, we could easily get lost in the woods. We would urge all Members to remain open -minded 
at this stage, and engage in the discussions with the aim of better understanding each other’s 
interests and concerns.  
 
Turning to areas of particular concern to our Group, the possible outcomes  that we might deliver 
at the MC11 should be meaningful and balanced. We call for special attention to be paid to the 
remaining Doha issues, which should remain on the top of our negotiation agenda. Members must 
also double their efforts to fully implement  the decisions made by our Ministers at the MC9 and the 
MC10.  
 
Before I conclude, our Group wishes to reiterate that the extensive contributions made by the 
Article XII Members during our accessions should be taken into account in future negotiations, as 
reflected in Paragraph 27 of the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 40 - 
 
  Finally, Director -General, our Group reaffirms its commitment to the multilateral trading system 
and to remaining constructively engaged in the further discussions and negotiations.  
 
*****  
 
As I have already have the floor, Mr Chairman, on behalf of my own delegation, the Separate 
Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, I simply wish to add that we would also 
like to associate ourselves with the statement made by Indonesia on  behalf of the G -33. 
 
27. Tanzania  
 
First of all, I associate myself with the statement made by the Ambassador of Morocco on behalf of 
the African Group and statement made by the delegation of Rwan da on behalf of the ACP group. 
My delegation also joins other d elegations in welcoming Hon. Minister of Trade from the Kingdom 
of Lesotho who is with us in this meeting.  At the outset, my delegation would like to thank you DG 
for your brief report about where we are and where we should be headed to get r eady for the 
11th Ministerial Conference (MC11).  
 
We all subscribe to your views that our priority from now on should be to work towards attaining a 
credible outcome for MC11. However, we urge members that any outcome for MC11, should take 
into account priority intere sts of LDC members as part of the progressive effort to enhance their 
participation in global trade.  
 
My delegation is appreciative of the level of commitment and flexibility demonstrated by members 
during the Committee on Rules of Origin meeting held las t week, 22nd September, 2016 where 
principally we were able to agree on two key issues as mandated by Mi nisters during MC10 namely 
the "Notification Template"  and the Modality to be used to  calculate the Utilization Rate" . These 
two issues should be finali sed by the Committee and ultimately adopted by the General Council to 
serve as a guideline for implementation of the decision of preferential rules of origin for LDCs.  
 
We have noted an increasing interest by some members to negotiate on some of the new i ssues 
particularly "e -commerce" .  Much as it has been hailed by many speakers during our recent Public 
Forum that e -commerce will enhance the participation of SMEs in international trade, it still 
presents a lot of challenges once you delve into the detail s of this subject especially for small 
developing economies and LDCs. We are yet to be convinced that e -commerce will substantially 
benefit SMEs in weak economies where productive capacity is still low; export base is not yet 
diversified, some basic physic al infrastructure such as broadband connectivity and reliable 
electricity is still a challenge.  For example, the majority of the population in Africa still live in 
areas where there is no electricity. How will they benefit with e commerce in that regard?  There 
are many other questions which remain unanswered to date and we don’t think the adoption of 
"differential treatment"  alone in setting global rules will be a solution as far as e -commerce 
challenges are concerned. In our view, e -commerce is a very br oad subject, needs to be 
disentangled and every aspect be dealt in its respective WTO technical body as per the current 
mandate. Consequently, a more intensive debate and discussions is needed that will involve other 
relevant international institutions dea ling with specific issues related to information technology.  
 
Regarding Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), we also attach great importance to this 
critical segment of economic players in our economies.  Most of our MSMEs in LDC and developing 
countries are in agriculture sector particularly engaged in agro -processing.  If we members of WTO 
are enthusiastic about the growth of MSMES, we need to effectively address challenges particularly 
in agricultural sector which most of them are well captured in the Doha Development Agenda.  
 
On fisheries, as a member of the ACP group my delegation reiterates the position of the group that 
fisheries subsidies should be disciplined multilaterally. This will curb the current increasing harmful 
fishing habits and illegal practices aggravated by huge subsidies leading to overcapacity.  It is our 
view that all members need to demonstrate a sense of urgency in this matter to protect our global 
common resource which is swiftly depleting.    
 
Our delegation remains posi tive and ready to engage as the preparations for MC11 begin to 
intensify.  
 WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  28. Tunisia  
 
It is vital that we reach  a fair and balanced outcome to the trade negotiations, an outcome that 
preserves the achievements of the developing countries and gives priority t o the development 
dimension in our preparatory work for the 11th Ministerial Conference in 2017 . 
 
My country believes that we should measure this fair and balanced outcome  through the existence 
of real opportunities for developing countries to benefit from  the possibilities and gains generated 
by the multilateral trading system.  
 
And yet, the fact is that some of the most critical issues for many developing countries are being 
increasingly marginalized or left pending as the negotiations are reconfigured  following each 
Ministerial  Conference.  
 
I would now like to comment on  a number of issues of specific interest to my country:  
 
First, as regards the revival of the negotiations on agriculture, we agree with the comments of the 
Chair of the Committee on Agric ulture, Ambassador Vangelis Vitalis of New Zealand, that domestic 
support is a priority area for the negotiations, and indeed,  a key potential outcome for the 
11th Ministerial Conference planned for  December  2017.  
 
However, we must be careful to ensure tha t small -scale agriculture and food production, which are 
common in my country, are not affected. Flexible  and suitable  modalities need to be maintained  
and devised  so that the developing countries, in particular the net importers of agricultural 
products, can take and maintain measures aimed at encouraging the production of f ood products 
destined for local consumption, including the market price support policies for th ose products.  
 
Similarly, we believe that the issue of net -food-importing countries has no t, generally speaking, 
received enough attention. We take this opportunity to highlight the matter, so that this issue can 
be addressed as it needs to be during the preparation of our post -Nairobi work programme.  
 
Second,  as regards non -agricultural market  access (NAMA), we believe that it is essential to 
maintain adequate flexibilities for the developing countries. To that end, less -than-full reciprocity 
and the thorny issue of tariff preference erosion should be dealt with properly during our future 
work and consultations.  
 
For my delegation, it is essential that nothing should affect the policy space that a number of 
developing countries have when formulating and implementing their economic and social 
development polic ies, particularly in the case of infa nt industr ies. 
 
Third,  on the matter of preference erosion, an issue relevant both to agriculture and to NAMA, we 
believe that a satisfactory and fair trade solution should be found to offset, at least in part, the 
loss of longstanding preferences for all products of interest to certain developing countries.  
 
Fourth,  regarding services, we are in favour of progressive liberalization in accordance with the 
relevant provisions of the WTO Agreement on Trade in Services, as well as the granting of 
appropriate f lexibilities to developing countries, taking into account the sectors of export interest 
to those countries.  
 
Finally,  on the subject of WTO Rules issues, I would like to stress that we support the acceleration 
of negotiations aimed at prohibiting certain forms of fisher ies subsidies that contribute to 
overcapacity and overfishing. At the same time, it is crucial to grant  appropriate special and 
differential treatment that takes account of the major importance of the fisheries sector for the 
developing coun tries in terms of job creation and food security.  
 
We must remain focused on our main objective, which is to help the developing countries benefit 
from the globalized economy and to be able to use trade as leverage for sustainable development.  
 
Lastly, and without creating unrealistic expectations, I think that the next Ministerial Conference in 
2017 will give us the opportunity to show that WTO Members can continue moving the multilateral 
trade negotiations forward, and, in doing so, restore confidence in the Organization and our abili ty 
to overcome difficulties.  WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 42 - 
 
  29. Uganda  
 
At the outset, I would like to associate my delegation with the statement delivered by the 
Ambassador of Morocco on behalf of the African Group; and Rwanda on behalf of the ACP group. 
We we lcome Hon. Setipa, Minister of Trade Kingdom of Lesotho.  
 
Minsters in Nairobi agreed to prioritize all the remaining issues in the DDA. They also committed 
themselves to address the marginalization of LDCs in international trade and to improve their 
effective participation in the multilateral trading system.  
 
Yesterday, during a session organized by UNCTAD on Infrastructure and Inclusive Trade in Africa, 
we learnt that the situation of Africa is far from rosy. Our trade deficit is increasing; annual growt h 
is at 3%; industrialization is low and to some extent there is a degree of de -industrialization. We 
also learnt that infrastructure is a major challenge, which would requ ire up to USD 90bn to fix. Can 
you imagine  the entire electricity consumed in sub - Saharan Africa by a population close to 800M 
people is comparable to that consumed by Spain? It therefore means that, there are things we 
must do first in order for us to reach a platform of rulemaking in some new areas as is being 
suggested. For instance, we must address the question of structural transformation and 
industrialization in line with Agenda 2063 of the African Union. This is the only way we can address 
issues of employment, sustainable development and inclusive growth.  
 
I suppose the question w ould then be: What is it that the WTO can do? There is wide consensus 
among our constituency, that we can and should use trade policy instruments to promote the 
industrialization of Africa. This is what should preoccupy us in the Special Session of the CTD . 
Otherwise we shall continue to produce what we cannot consume and consume what we cannot 
produce. This approach in the Special Session would give true meaning to the recognition of the 
need for all our peoples to benefit from the increased opportunities and welfare gains that the 
multilateral trading system generates and would respond to the concerns of those on the street 
that are agitating against free trade.  
 
It is important to recall that as an African and an LDC, almost 80% of our people derive thei r 
livelihood through subsistence agriculture. It therefore means that issues of food security and rural 
livelihood are issues of fundamental importance to us. We have observed increasing calls about 
MSMEs and SMEs and how new multilateral rules should be d eveloped in this respect. Mr. 
Chairman, has it occurred to us that in fact most of the so called MSMEs and SMEs we have in 
LDCs are actually engaged in agriculture or agro based enterprises and that if there is no 
fundamental reform of this sector, there i s no amount of new rules that will have a positive impact 
on their lives. Towards that end therefore, if there is really good faith in the need to address the 
concerns of MSMEs and SMEs much attention has to be paid to Para 13 of the Doha Ministerial 
Decla ration with the view to substantial reductions in trade -distorting domestic support. That said, 
we agree with Morocco that the basis of the discussion should be Rev 4 taking into account all the 
flexibilities that have already been agreed for LDCs.  
 
On ne w issues or other approaches: As we have said in the past, we have no problem with 
discussing any element that members may want to. However, that discussion has to meet two 
criteria; it has to be explicitly mandated by Ministers; and has to have been agree d by consensus. 
We cannot however simply want to create new facts on the ground, through inter alia wishing 
away Para . 1(g) of the July Framework, such as we have witnessed with the re -naming of some 
divisions in the Secretariat.  
 
On the issue of e -commer ce: We have taken note of the many proposals that have been submitted 
by the members. We also recognize that advancements in this particular sphere may have a 
positive impact on growth and development. However we also know that rules, in and of 
themselves alone, will not make Uganda or many other poor countries e -commerce ready. It is 
therefore important that as we engage in this process, that we respect the mandate that we have 
in the 1998 Work Program on E -Commerce.  
 WT/GC/M/164  
 
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  30. Ukraine  
 
As Ukraine pointed out at the  last GC meeting in July, we all should follow Ministers clear 
instructions from Nairobi stated in paragraph 31 of the Ministerial Declaration to advance our work 
in agriculture, NAMA, services, development, TRIPS and rules.  
 
At the same time we note the priorities of some Members in specific issues. In this regard Ukraine 
remains firm in assigning agriculture as a priority sector. Substantial reforms on agriculture should 
remain a core pillar for our common goal of holding a successful 11th Ministerial Co nference. 
Ukraine commends the hard work of the Chair of COASS to deepen the discussions on these 
important issues.  
 
We believe that existing agricultural market access preserves an excess of protectionist tools. 
Ukraine sees an urgent need to address thes e issues in order to establish fair and more predictable 
market access in the global agricultural market.  
 
Many Membe rs are considering the ways to "cut water"  in market access to narrow the difference 
between the bound and applied level of t ariffs rather  than make "real cuts" . They argue that 
efforts to cut tariffs and open markets are also taking place in other negotiating fora, such as 
preferential trade agreements.  
 
Nevertheless, tariff escalation (tariffs increasing along processing chains), tariff p eaks (high tariffs 
amidst generally low tariff levels) and other specific characteristics of AG market access remain in 
force as the key trade and economic factors, determining the global agriculture trade. Also analysis 
of many existing agreements coverin g trade in agriculture issues indicates that this sphere is still 
characterized by large number of trade restricting measures.  
 
Equally, domestic support remains of great importance for Ukraine.  Misuse and extreme use of 
domestic support creates price vol atility, overproduction and generally unpredictable and trade -
unfriendly consequences for other Members. U kraine supports the concept of " levelling  the playing 
field" in agricultural support policies.   
 
Ukraine is willing and ready to engage in meaningful , creative exchanges to uncover the best 
possible outcomes. We realize this is not a simple task and it has many political distractions. 
However, we place our voice firmly behind strengthen multilateral trade system.  
 
31. United States  
 
After months of reflect ion, sharing of views, and frank conversations, there is an apparent impulse 
among many in the Membership to begin to become more concrete on ways forward for the 
negotiating arm of the WTO and to look ahead to our next Ministerial Conference at the end of  
next year.  
 
Overall, the United States is optimistic on  the state of play in the WTO. It’s always important to 
have a long -term perspective, even when consumed by the day -to-day demands on our attention, 
and it is hard not to conclude that the WTO has had  the most productive five year period in its 
history.   
 
Following MC8, when we collectively pledged to try to do things differently, we have successfully 
concluded a series of important new multilateral agreements – and I highlight the TFA and 
agriculture  export competition in this regard. We have concluded a new plurilateral ITA, and 
launched negotiations on a plurilateral EGA, which  we hope to conclude this year.  And just weeks 
ago, a diverse group of developed and developing countries announced, appropr iately, during the 
Our Oceans Conference in Washington, their intention to conduct negotiations in the WTO on a 
plurilateral fisheries subsidies agreement.  
 
This group – whose vanguard Members are Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, New 
Zealand , Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Singapore, Switzerland, Uru guay, and the United 
States – is looking forward to working together to address the urgent challenges facing global 
fisheries and taking action with the goal of eliminating harmful subsidies, inc luding those subsidies 
that contribute to overfishing and overcapacity, and subsidies linked to illegal, unreported and 
unregulated (IUU) fishing.   WT/GC/M/164  
 
- 44 - 
 
  Our objective is to work with each other and with other like -minded participants to conclude an 
ambit ious, high standard agreement. We have been encouraged by indications of interest by many 
other Member s about the work of the group. Even as we work on the plurilateral fish initiative, the 
United States looks forward to working in parallel with all WTO Members to make progress toward 
a multilateral fish agreement in the WTO.   
 
Beyond fisheries subsidies, there appear to be a lot of ideas beginning to circu late on what next for 
the WTO. Digital economy, MSMEs, and so on.  
 
However, we should also be  aware of our current reality: the WTO is in a perfectly natural and 
healthy period of consolidation and re -grouping in which opportunities for big multilateral 
negotiated outcomes  are not immediately apparent. We are in a different place than in the lead -up 
to the last  two Ministerial Conferences, where the viable targets for big deliverables were fairly 
obvious.  
 
So as we look ahead and continue discussions on issues to be negotiated, whether new or old, in 
the lead up to MC11 and beyond, it is important to recognize t hat a period of consolidation and 
regrouping can be extremely important – in fact indispensable – to charting a course for the WTO’s 
future.  
 
I took note of Roberto’s two suggestions for moving ahead: (1) clarity from proponents, and  
(2) flexibility from a ll Members.  I would add a third, which is perhaps implicit in the DG’s 
suggestions, but meri ts, I think, specific mention. Whether they relate to new issues or old issues, 
no idea will succeed if it does not reflect new thinking.  
 
Since the issue has been  raised by a couple of delegations, I should mention the strong support of 
the United States for plurilateral approaches  as one of the tools in the WTO' s tool box.  
 
Plurilaterals have always been a part of the GATT and WTO landscape.  Demonstrably, pluril aterals 
have produced some of the most important WTO outcomes in its recent history, includi ng the ITA 
agreement at MC -10. Plurilaterals offer one place where forward leaning Members can work 
together to keep the WTO relevant and vibrant, even as broader d eadlock s show little sign of 
abating. And finally, existing plurilaterals have shown active participation by developing countries, 
so any notion of such negotiations being inconsistent with development goals is rebutted by the 
composition of negotiations t hemselves.  
 
As we move forward, in the remaining months of the Obama Administration, the United States will  
continue to be fully engaged. As one reflection of this engagement, Ambassador Froman will visit 
Geneva in mid -October in order to interact directly  with Members.  
 
To conclude, we appreciate the comments from the Director General and other delegati ons we are 
hearing here today. They will give us much food for thought, as we prepare for further work 
together on the path forward for the WTO.  
 
32. Uruguay  
 
After a careful internal analysis and assessment of the situation and following discussions with 
Argentina, Uruguay has decided to step aside so as to give Argentina the opportunity to host the 
next Ministerial Conference. This was no easy decision, as pre parations were already under way in 
Uruguay, generating certain expectations.  
Uruguay also took into account the need to settle the matter swiftly and to start working towards 
the Ministerial.  
Uruguay believes that Argentina is an excellent choice to host the Conference, and it can count on 
our full support. I should add that the venue is also convenient for us in view of the proximity and 
ease of travel between Uruguay and Argentina.  
I extend my congratulations to Argentina and assure it once again of our support.  
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