WT/MIN(17)/ST/95  
 
4 January 2018  
(18-0059) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY MR. AND Y SUTHERLAND  
DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR  FOREIGN TRADE  
BELIZE 
Belize is a proud member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and a member of the broader 
African -Caribbean -Pacific (ACP) group of states. Belize therefore associates itself with the positions 
and interests being advanced by the ACP Group. Despite not havi ng a presence in Geneva, Belize 
has been making every effort to participate meaningfully in the Multilateral process.  
 
Of particular concern to Belize are the flexibilities which we consider necessary to address the 
disparities and weaknesses of small dev eloping countries and in particular the small island 
developing states. As you may be aware, Caribbean populations live at the mercy of nature, and 
whose entire economies can be severely devastated almost overnight by hurricanes. This was the 
case recently  in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017 in the eastern 
Caribbean. Here the point of vulnerability of our small states stands out because although the USA 
was badly damaged by these hurricanes its economy remained largely intact, while i n the 
Caribbean the production systems must first be rebuilt before trading can resume. Belize is also 
prone to the harmful effects of Climate Change and natural disasters therefore we fully support the 
proposal from the six OECS countries regarding flexib ilities for Caribbean, Small and Vulnerable 
Economies recovering from natural disasters.  
 
We therefore look forward to some favourable outcomes on the key issues of interest especially to 
the smaller WTO members. It is generally understood that not much ca n be expected from MC -11 
in terms of positive outcomes. We feel that more focus should go to the issues of concern to small 
economies like Belize and the CARICOM. From the ACP perspective, the following issues have been 
identified for attention going forwa rd: fisheries subsidies; services; micro -small and medium 
enterprises (MSMEs); special and differential treatment; and electronic commerce (E -commerce).   
The proposed disciplines on fisheries subsidies are important for addressing overfishing, and 
Illegal , Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing but we must take account of the Caribbean’s 
high level of dependence on fisheries resources and the need for SDT to ensure the survival of our 
small scale fishers and the development of our Fishing Industry.     
 
Similarly , Agricultural subsidies remain an outstanding concern to most small states.  We must be 
prepared to infuse adequate flexibilities in our outcomes because they matter most at this point, 
where the DDA seemingly have lost its impetus; and in order to advance global Agricultural trade 
OTDS must be effectively addressed while preserving the flexibilities for the for the Small and 
Vulnerable.  
 
Services clearly has prominence in trade and economic development, but the existing market 
access concessions  available to small developing countries under trade agreements cannot be 
accessed primarily due to the domestic regulations being incompatible with the discharge of 
obligations.  Even if we cannot get new commitments here in Buenos Aires, it would be wort hwhile 
if we at least settle for a comprehensive work programme for 2018 and beyond, and in which 
obligations are to be implemented in favour of the small and vulnerable economies and Small 
Island Developing States that constitute a large segment of the AC P and actually predominate in 
the Caribbean. We support the call made by the Ministers of the Small and Vulnerable Economies, 
in their declaration for full flexibility of the multilateral trading system. This is Belize’s advice to 
MC-11 as we move forward with the agenda at this 11th Ministerial Conference.  
 WT/MIN(17)/ST/95  
 
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  It is therefore important to leave this Conference with an assurance that priority will continue to be 
given to our identified areas and programmes in the work ahead.  
 
 
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