WT/MIN(17)/ST/87  
 
4 January 2018  
(18-0052) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR S. KAYULA SIAME  
PERMANENT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, TRADE A ND INDUSTRY  
ZAMBIA 
There is no doubt that the Multilateral Trading System is going through the most difficult and 
challenging time, as evidenced by the lack of progress on the Doha Development Agenda and the 
emerging calls for protectionist measures as countries resort to pl urilateral negotiations under 
other trading arrangements at regional level and across continents.  
 
I wish to highlight that protectionist tendencies, in whatever form, if not arrested can jeopardise 
the smooth functioning of multilateral trading system an d undermine the firm commitment we 
made in 2001 to place development at the core of our work. Therefore, we need to resist such 
tendencies and consolidate our engagement within the multilateral framework to maintain stability 
in the global trading system. In view of the existing divergences, the time has come to show 
solidarity as WTO members and work together to sustain a rules based multilateral trading system 
that is transparent, inclusive, and consensus -based. We need to send a clear message to the worl d 
that multilateralism remains a core cornerstone for global stability, which we recommit to preserve 
at all cost. It remains important that we continue to pursue the development agenda to ensure 
that developing and least developed countries have a commens urate share of economic growth 
and development, if the global economy is to attain inclusive and sustainable growth in line with 
the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.  
 
Recently, there have been observations made and calls to reform the Multilateral T rading System 
in order to make it work. This has to be taken with caution as any drastic changes to the system 
may result in instability.  Let us remain focused and keep our energies on making substantial 
strides to conclude current issues under our mandat e. 
 
While more open trade can boost economic growth it is not a panacea for development. For this 
reason, my delegation will continue to call for a balanced rules based system that takes cognisant 
of the development challenges of developing and least devel oped countries. Therefore  Zambia 
wishes to state that concluding negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda remains a key 
priority and will support efforts being made to conclude negotiations, which Zambia considers to 
be an important undertaking for b alancing the current rules under the WTO.  
 
We therefore, cannot put aside the DDA in favour of new issues. We need to conclude and have 
outcomes on agriculture, non -agriculture market access and services, among other issues 
mandated for negotiations in 200 1. There can be no negotiations on new issues, until every 
member is brought to speed in understanding the implications and unless the necessary capacities 
are built with adequate policy space to accord each member state to take advantage of emerging 
oppor tunities.  
 
Making operational the provisions of Paragraph 44 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, that is to 
strengthen Special and Differential Treatment provisions in WTO agreements by making them 
more precise, effective and operational, remains a priori ty if we are to create the necessary policy 
space to foster structural transformation, diversification and industrialisation in line with the 
African Union Agenda 2063: "The Africa We Want ". 
 WT/MIN(17)/ST/87  
 
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  It is our strong conviction that any outcome document of this co nference should at the bare 
minimum re -affirm the Doha Ministerial Declaration and subsequent Ministerial Declarations, and 
provide a clear roadmap to decisively address the sticky issues in the DDA negotiations.  
 
Zambia calls for decisions in line with th e DDA and, in accordance with paragraph 31 of the Nairobi 
Declaration and other Ministerial Declarations and WTO mandates especially on:  
 
 Agriculture in particular on domestic support;  
 Special safeguard mechanism;  
 Cotton;  
 A permanent solution to public stockholding including existing and future programmes; 
and 
 Special and differential treatment proposals submitted in accordance with paragraph 44 of 
the Doha declaration.  
 
On Aid for Trade and the Enhanced Integrated Framework programme, development partne rs will 
do well to base their support on priority needs, projects and programmes identified by developing 
countries and LDCs. Zambia calls for increased efforts to improve infrastructure, services, 
technology and innovation to support genuine and pro -poor growth as well as intensified efforts to 
assist developing countries implement Category C provisions of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
 
We wish to thank the 28 cooperating partners that have made it possible for the EIF to sustain its 
activities and ta ke note that the needed funding for EIF to continue its operation is estimated at 
USD 274 million dollars out of which 93 million has been pledged and 181 million still needed to 
meet set objectives by 2022.  
 
Therefore, we wish to call upon cooperating par tners to continue to support this initiative and build 
upon work that is currently being done based on country specific priorities.  
 
In conclusion, Madam Chairperson, I wish to state that my delegation looks forward to an outcome 
that is clear with binding  decisions on issues of critical importance to sustaining the growth and 
development of least developed countries and in particular decisions that will further strengthen 
the multilateral trading system.  
 
 
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