WT/MIN(13)/ST/40  
5 December 2013  
(13-6686)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Ninth Session 
Bali, 3-6 December 2013  Original: Spanish  
 
  STATEMENT BY H.E. MR MIGUEL ARIAS CAÑETE 
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT 
SPAIN 
 Allow me to begin by thanking our host, Indonesia, for the exceptionally high standard 
of its organization, and by expressing my apprec iation to Roberto Azevêdo, who, in the months 
leading up to this Ministerial Conference, proved that he was worthy of our full confidence in him as the new helmsman of the WTO. 
 I should also like to welcome Yemen to the Organization. 
International trade and investme nt: driving forces for growth 
 The current situation of the world economy, characterised by economic weakness in Europe 
and a slowdown in growth in many emerging co untries, requires fresh impetus to be injected 
into the liberalization of global trade. 
 In Spain, market opening is once again bearin g fruit. Our country has already emerged from 
the recession and returned to growth as a result  of buoyant trade. In terms of export growth 
and vitality, Spain now ranks first in the Eurozone and third among the world's major economies. 
Bali and the DDA 
 This Ministerial Conference affords us the opportunity to relaunch the multilateral trading 
system, in which Spain is a firm believer. 
 All issues for discussion at this Conference have their own merits. 
 The Agreement on Trade Facilitation will elimin ate unnecessary barriers to trade. The proposals 
on agriculture reflect the concerns expressed by Members during the preparatory process for the Conference, while the texts on developm ent embody the commitment of all Members 
to this objective, in particular for least developed countries. 
Post-Bali and the future of the WTO  The world has seen many changes since 1995 an d since the launch of the Doha Development 
Round in 2001. DDA talks frequently focus on problems that arose a considerable time ago. 
We need to be much more flexible when addr essing and endeavouring to resolve new issues. 
Most importantly, we cannot proceed without delivering results. 
 The prerequisite for the WTO to be able to successfully address the remaining 
Doha Development Agenda issues, as well as other new issues, is a successful 
Ministerial Conference. We believe that such an outcome is possible and want to help to secure it. 
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   On that basis, we hope to be able to continue moving forward towards the conclusion of the 
Doha Development Agenda and a balanced, "win-w in" agreement. The WTO will then be able 
to tackle the new challenges thrown up by the 21st century. 
 New issues to be addressed include the establishment by the WTO of a global framework for 
officially supported export credits and of rule s on export taxes, as well as a framework 
affording legal stability to international investors, which is a key factor for the development of developing and least developed countries. 
 The WTO must prove capable of addressing all of these issues. However, in order to achieve 
this, we must reach an agreement in Bali. Only in this way will we manage to keep multilateralism alive as the backbone of trade rules. 
 
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