WT/MIN(17)/ST/69  
 
18 December 2017  
(17-7011) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR . ROBERT DUFTER SALAMA  
AMBASSADOR PERMANENT  REPRESENTATIVE  
MALAWI 
Almost 16 years ago, Doha generated high hopes and enthusiasm to all of us. A hope of 
sustainable economic growth and prosperity among millions of people. These hopes should not 
fade away. This is why our mandate was and still is to address the development deficit we 
inherited from the Uruguay Round. This means that our negotiations fail if the final o utcome does 
not lead to the establishment of a fair, equitable and pro -development rules -based multilateral 
trading system which enhances trade potential of developing and Least Developed Countries like 
Malawi. The system should also create appropriate pol icy space for our continued development 
agenda. For Malawi, these negotiations are of particular importance because of the enormous 
potential benefits that will be derived from concluding this Round.  
 
Addressing poverty and creating incomes and employment to our people particularly Women and 
Youth is our goal. The Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs) clearly stipulates this. My country is 
on a transformation and development path, however there are a number of challenges that 
constrain attainment of this age nda. One of them is unpredictable Market Access. Trade barriers 
are significantly increasing which are coming in different forms most of which are not tariff related.  
 
According to the WTO (2017) report, despite all efforts, the LDCs ' share of exports in i nternational 
trade dropped to below 1% for the first time since 2007. However, we all recognise that, in order 
to create meaningful and ambitious market access opportunities on a lasting basis, there is no 
alternative to delivering on the Doha commitments for LDCs in the framework of the multilateral 
trading system. It is my delegations hope that, MC11 can be another opportunity to deliver on 
these pressing issues.  
 
As a country that has premised its development agenda on a trade -based economic strategy, 
Malawi is committed to the WTO and its ability to help create an international trade environment 
and rules based system as an integral part of the global economic and trade governance. 
Therefore, we cannot allow the Doha Development Agenda negotiations to li nger indefinitely. On 
the contrary we must work together with a heightened sense of urgency to close the gaps in all 
negotiating areas. Of course, we as LDCs have a responsibility to play a part but such a pursuit 
should be commensurate with our level of d evelopment.  
 
Agriculture, which is the mainstay of the Malawi economy, remains central to the round in 
determining its development dimension.  Malawi supports the concerns and proposals of the LDC 
countries in calling for a reaffirmation of the mandate give n in the General Council Decision of 1st 
August  2004, and confirmed by the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration of December  2005.  
 
Importantly, to address cotton issues ambitiously, expeditiously and specifically, in relation to all 
trade distorting policies  affecting the sector in all three pillars of market access, domestic support 
and export competition. Malawi associates itself with the position of the C4 Countries on Cotton.  
 
Turning to the issue of Electronic Commerce and the digital platform, Malawi su pports the Africa 
group position that we continue the exploration of issues under the 1998 WTO Work Programme 
on Electronic Commerce (Work Programme), and my delegation will not agree to go beyond the 
current structure or institutional arrangement of the W ork Programme. E -commerce, and the 
digital economy have not been static, and Malawi like most WTO Members is still coming to grips WT/MIN(17)/ST/69  
 
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  with what appears to be very profound changes brought on by the digital transformation of which 
e-commerce is integral. Malaw i therefore sees that the evolution of the sector makes it necessary 
to continue the exploratory discussions under the Work Programme. It is my delegations view, 
that the current Work Programme has not been adequately tested to warrant a change in its 
structure.  
 
At present, the multilateral rules as they are, are constraining our domestic policy space and 
ability to industrialize. The critical areas for industrialization include: the use of local content 
requirements; infant industry protection, among oth ers. These policy instruments which are 
developmental are being denied to developing countries.  
 
This is the very reason why today Chairperson, we have the Doha Development Agenda to redress 
the imbalances inherited from Uruguay Round. Therefore, Chairperson, we should not lose focus of 
the principles and mandate agreed in Doha. Issues of interest to LDCs should be given priority if 
all countries are to equitably benefit from the multilateral trading system.  The WTO rules should 
contribute to the industrialization and structural transformation of our economies.  
 
Given our geographical challenge as a landlocked country, Malawi has a vital stake in the 
negotiations and implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement. Malawi is among one of the 
countries that has ratified the Agreement. We are mindful of the mandate which explicitly links the 
undertak ing of commitments to the provision of technical assistance and capacity building. We 
therefore, call on our developed country partners to commit to providing technical and financial 
assistance to help address trade facilitation challenges. This will ensur e that LDCs like Malawi fully 
realize the gains from implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
 
I cannot leave this podium without commending the WTO and its partners for the Aid for Trade 
Initiatives such as the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) p rojects that have supported the 
integration of LDCs like Malawi into the Multilateral Trading System. We are confident that 
initiatives such as the Enhanced Integrated Framework and Aid for Trade will help Malawi address 
its supply -side constraints as well  as the building of institutional capacities.  
 
The guiding principles of the programme, including ownership by least developed countries, and 
the financial commitments being made are a recipe for success. On behalf of my delegation I urge 
donors to improve  on pledges made to Phase 2 of the EIF in Nairobi and to come forward with 
substantial pledges here in Buenos Aires and beyond.  
 
Chairperson, in closing, I wish to reiterate the c ommitme nt of my government to the multilateral 
trading system and urge all t he key players in the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) to look 
beyond their interests and consider the impact the collapse of the negotiations would have on 
LDCs like Malawi.  In conclusion, Mr Chairman, allow me to associate my delegation with 
statements mad e by the LDC group, African group, Africa Caribbean and Pacific group and G90 
and their declarations that have been adopted at this meeting with the intention of advancing the 
Doha Process.  
 
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