WT/MIN(17)/ST/74  
 
18 December 2017  
(17-7016) Page: 1/1 
Ministerial  Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY PROF. E LISANTE GABRIEL LAIZ ER 
PERMANENT SECRETARY  
TANZANIA  
Tanzania strongly believe that the WTO is still a relevant body to deliver on fair, inclusive and rule 
based multilateral trading system. The entry into force of the Trade Facilitation Agreement in 
February 2017, elimination of agriculture export subsidies , and improvements on Trade Related 
Intellectual Property Rights -TRIPS are some of the recent demonstrations that the WTO can deliver 
positive results.  Our collective effort needs to be stepped up to ensure that these issues are 
implemented timely and con tribute in improving peoples’ livelihood in the entire WTO membership.  
 
In this regard , my delegation expresses concern on the slow  progress  of negotiations on the 
remaining DDA issues and members not fully implementing some of the previous decisions whic h 
were adopted since the launch of DDA. My delegation therefore urges all of us to honour our 
obligations that we have committed. In these circumstances, we call for conclusion of negotiations 
of the outstanding issues as opposed to recalibrating the Doha development agenda by adding 
more issues. Consistent to the July framework and the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration, my 
delegation believes that such a move will overload the DDA and therefore undermines its 
conclusion. Hence, we would not support the inclu sion of new issues at this point of in time.  
 
The WTO Dispute Settlement and Understanding (DSU), has for long been heralded as one of the 
effective pillars in the WTO. The well -functioning of DSU was mainly attributed by the 
independence nature of the Dis pute Settlement Body (DSB). The appointment of Appellate Body 
Members was done on time and taking into account the reflection of groups and regional 
representations. However, currently we have noted with concern some distortions on this well -
established pi llar particularly by the actions of some members to block the process of appointing 
new Appellate Body Members. We call upon members to rescue DSU from becoming defunct. 
Members should exercise flexibility and caution, allowing the appointment process of n ew 
Appellate Body Members to continue without being interfered.     
 
We call for the MC11 to come up with a Ministerial Declaration that further unifies the membership 
and strengthen the multilateral trading system. A Declaration that guides the future wor k of the 
WTO by reaffirming the DDA and subsequent agreed work programmes. Tanzania reiterates that 
any outcome from MC11 and decisions should ensure meaningful integration of the LDCs into the 
multilateral trading system and global economy at large. This can be achieved through addressing 
the supply side constraints; structural transformation, industrialization and trade diversification.  
 
Finally, as we align ourselves with the statement of LDCs Group, African Group, G33 and ACP 
Group we would also like t o register our support to the Republic of South Sudan to obtain an 
observer status in the WTO while in the process of accession. We urge other members to offer 
flexibility by accepting their application and welcome our dear brothers and sisters to our enla rged 
WTO family.  
 
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