WT/MIN(17)/ST/13  
13 December  2017 
(17-6887) Page: 1/1 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original:  French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR  ALOYSIO NUNES FERREI RA FILHO  
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS  
BRAZIL 
It gives me great pleasure to take part in the first WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in 
South  America – especially  in Argentina, Brazil's strategic partner, which I thank for its hospitality.  
The rules -based multilateral trading system embodied in the WTO remains the cornerstone of 
Brazil's international integration , as we engage more deeply  in bilateral and regional negotiations.  
We witnessed intense discussion s in Geneva both on the outstanding Doha Round issues and on 
other matters that need to be address ed in order to bring the WTO agenda  up to date . 
We acknowledge that several of the issues on the table are new to the WTO and that some topics 
are not ripe enough for a full harvest in Buenos Aires. In such cases, we will have to consolidate 
the path we have already walked  and provide  a roadmap for taking the discussions forward under 
a balanced approach  responsive to everyone's interests . We support the adoption of a Ministerial 
Declaration that encompasses  these ideas and objectives.  
Brazil has always advocated for development  to be placed  at the forefront of our considerations . 
Our overriding priority is therefore to address domestic support in agriculture, including cotton – 
two topics on which the mandates are absolutely  clear.  
We became engaged with  public stockholding for food security purposes, hence its inclusion, in all 
good faith, in our  proposal on domestic support and cotton.  
These issues  under the agricultural pillar , which are critical for the developing countries, are now 
at the heart of the difficulties in moving ahead with the entire range of topics dealt with at  the 
WTO. Let us then take advantage of this Conference to engage in a frank discussion on agriculture.  
Brazil reaffirms its support for a n outcome  on fisheries subsidies , pursuant to  the 2030 Sustainable 
Development Goals.  
Turning to  micro, small and medium -sized enterpri ses, we support the establishment of a work 
programme as proposed by the Group of Friends of MSMEs. We are also in favour of the Chair 
arranging an open -ended ministerial meeting on the matter during th is Conference.  
As to investment facilitation, we suppo rt the launching of a multilateral discussion  process , as 
proposed by the Friends of Investment Facilitation for Development . 
Brazil is also committed to the discussions on other topical issues, such as e -commerce and 
women's empower ment.  
Madam Chair, Mr D irector -General, at a time when the multilateral trading system and our 
Organization are facing a spate of challenges, it is not enough  to state our support for or to 
proclaim their centrality. The most important thing is to translate fine words i nto genui ne 
willingness  to make concessions  and to assume any costs they might entail . 
You can count on Brazil to make  this Ministerial Conference a success and to strengthen the WTO 
and trade multilateralism.  
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