WT/MIN(15)/ST/57  
21 December 2015  
(15-6784)  Page: 1/1  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: French  
 
  STATEMENT BY H.E. MR BERTRAND DE CROMBRUGGHE 
AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE 
BELGIUM  
Belgium fully endorses the statement made by the European Union. 
 On behalf of my country, I would like to emphasize the symbolic value of this first WTO ministerial meeting to be held in Africa. Our Organization is built on the virtuous link that we know exists 
between trade and development. What therefore co uld be more appropriate than meeting here in 
Nairobi, in Kenya, a dynamic country that is not only a driving force in the region, but a proven supporter of the multilateral trading system. A he artfelt thank you for your magnificent welcome, 
all to the beat of the drums! 
 What is more, you are receiving us on a birthday: the WTO is 20 years old today. Despite the 
Organization's current difficulties, we believe it is still our best guarantee for an open and reliable 
multilateral trading system.  The WTO continues to seduce. We are joined at th is meeting by Liberia and Afghanistan, to whom 
we wish a warm welcome. By acceding to the Organization, these two LDCs are voting in favour of 
trade liberalization, which is the best policy of all for promoting economic development.  
Nevertheless, the WTO is still suffering from growing pains, which appear to be linked to the 
different levels of development within the Organization. Certain countries have managed to lift their populations out of poverty, while others are still experiencing difficulties. The world economy 
currently benefits from numerous poles of growth, and yet the characteristics of these poles differ. 
The search for solutions that are acceptable to all, and at the same time, is complicated. In these circumstances, each of us must now, more than ev er, agree to take on responsibilities; each of us 
m u s t  p l a y  a  p a r t  i n  e n s u r i n g  t h a t  t h i s  t r a i n  w e  a r e  o n  r u n s  s m o o t h l y ,  a s  i t  i s  i n  o u r  c o l l e c t i v e  
interest that it moves forward as well and as fast as it possibly can. 
 In this respect, fresh ideas have been put forward. I would like to mention the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement concluded in Bali. Its implementation is, in our view, essential. For the first time, all of 
us, regardless of our individual level of development, came together and said, "Let's make life easier for economic operators and, where countries  lack the capacity to do this, let's provide 
assistance". This united and innovative approach is one we applaud. 
 We do not doubt that the WTO will continue to deliver. There is no better tool to promote fluid trade, non-discrimination and fairness. We must focus with renewed energy on the essentials and 
dare to take a more effective approach concerning the Doha Development Agenda. There are 
possibilities in the area of agricultural export compet ition. We call for addition al efforts in favour of 
LDCs, in the form of duty-free quota-free ar rangements, appropriate rules of origin and 
preferential access to services markets or in respect of cotton. 
 But above all, let's give ourselves the chance of a future. It falls to us to define the WTO work 
programme. One thing we must do is include ongoing DDA issues, in particular agricultural 
domestic support and rules. Another is to tackle the challenges arising from the differences in levels of development and the fast pace of globalization. Let's assess the situation and be bold enough to take the multilateral approach to new issues that it requires. 
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