WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 81/Rev.1  
14 June 2022 
(22-4638) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY HON. MS LUCIA IIPUMBU  
MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIALI SATION AND TRADE  
NAMIBIA  
Revision  
First, let me congratulate His Excellency, Ignazio Daniele Giovanni Cassis , President of the Swiss 
Confederation  and H.E. Kassym -Jomart Tokayev , President of Kazakhstan  for hosting the 12th WTO 
Ministerial Conference . 
This Ministerial Conference is taking place in our  time when the Coronavirus pandemic has ravaged 
communities globally. In addition, the geo -political situation  and financial uncertainty has further 
exacerbated the significant slowdown in global growth contributing to high costs in food commodity 
prices and energy.  
According to the World Economic Outlook of April 2022, Fuel and food prices have increased rapidly,  
hitting vulnerable populations in low -income countries hardest. Multilateral efforts to respond to the 
humanitarian crises, to prevent further economic fragmentation, to maintain global liquidity, manage 
debt distress, tackle climate change, and end the p andemic, are essential.  
Namibia 's economy has equally suffered a notable decline in trade flows where prospects for growth 
are constrained. According to Bank of Namibia 's economic outlook on the domestic market, the latest 
economic growth estimate of 0.9 % for 2021 represents a deterioration from 1.5 % published in the 
December 2021 Economic Outlook update. Downward adjustments were made to the 2021 growth 
estimates for various industries, especially for non -metallic mineral products (mainly cement) for 
const ruction, wholesale and retail trade and financial and insurance services.  
The risks to domestic growth remain dominated by the impact of the Covid -19 pandemic, but also 
include swings in rainfall pattern as well as high prices for energy products such fuel  and gas and 
supply disruptions around the world. The possible new waves of corona virus infections, supply chain 
disruptions and the slow pace of vaccinations in Namibia are also associated risks to domestic 
growth.  
Namibia is one of the founding Members of the World Trade Organisation since 1 January 1995 and 
a Member of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) since 15 September 1992. In this 
regard, we remain committed to multilateralism, to promote equitable development, growth, and 
prosperity for  all WTO Members especially, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Developing 
Countries.  
However, it is very disappointing to note that, since WTO's Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha, 
Qatar, in November 2001  in which the fundamental objective was to imp rove the trading prospects 
of developing countries yet to date has not been fulfilled. We still have long outstanding issues to 
be addressed.  
To mitigate some of these challenges, the WTO should play its pivotal role to address long 
outstanding Ministerial  Decisions that have negatively affected small economies to grow and mitigate 
global challenges such as addressing food security concerns (decline in production due to import WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 81/Rev.1  
 
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  surge of agricultural commodities that are heavily subsidised from Developed Coun tries) 
deteriorating terms of trade and devastating effects of the COVID -19 Pandemic.  
In recognition of the different levels of economic development of WTO members, it may be time to 
prioritise necessary flexibilities in policies for developing countries t o create opportunities for 
industrialization and diversification of their economies.  
Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) are an integral part of the WTO Agreements , without the 
application of this principle, it will be difficult to bridge the developm ent gap between WTO Members. 
Namibia fully supports maintenance of the Special and Differential Treatment principle, which is at 
the centre of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) for inclusive growth of developing countries.  
As such, we must renew our commitment to the DDA mandate, which at the core, aims to mould a 
multilateral trading system that should deliver on redressing imbalanced economic development 
across the WTO Members. Our efforts must lead to the creation of a fair, equitable multilateral 
trading system that enables developing countries to create opportunities for our people.  
Food Security remains our priority to address socio -economic challenges facing our countries such 
as poverty and hunger in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)  1: End poverty in all its 
forms everywhere and Goal 2, which aims to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030  as 
universal access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food at all times of the year . Supplemented by our 
very own efforts under the Har ambee Prosperity Plan II, Social Progression pillar that calls for – zero 
death from hunger and poverty. We cannot have a declaration on Trade and food Security without 
addressing the longstanding issues pertaining to public stock holding for food security  purposes, the 
two are intertwined and must be addressed concurrently.  
Still on Agriculture, it is important to highlight that Agriculture is the sector from which 70% of the 
Namibian population derives their livelihoods. In addition, Namibia is extremely vulnerable to and 
negatively affected by climate change. Therefore, support the call for developing countries to find a 
permanent solution to public stock holding for food security reasons and reduce trade distorting 
domestic support as a result of subsidi es by Developed countries. In this regard, rules set at a 
multilateral level have the potential to either create opportunities for our communities or an enabler 
for long lasting poverty.  
On Fisheries subsidies, my country considers fish a vital source of f ood, nutrition and foreign 
currency earnings. Hence, appreciate the efforts by WTO Members to conclude the negotiations on 
fisheries subsidies ahead of the 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022.  
The outcome on fisheries subsidy negotiations, should addr ess the capacity constraints and the need 
for policy space to build and develop domestic fishing industries. This could be achieved through a 
negotiated outcome on Special and Differential Treatment (SDT).  
Furthermore, National authorities should be allowe d to determine Illegal Unreported and 
Unregulated (IUU) and, situation of overfished stock, in their respective Exclusive Economic Zone 
(EEZ) and through Regional Fisheries Marine Organizations (RFMOs).  
On WTO 's response to the pandemic and Trade Related I ntellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Waiver, 
Namibia is one of the co -sponsors to the waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS agreement for 
the prevention, containment, and treatment of covid -19, we need to be pragmatic, flexible and work 
in solidarity with a view to ensure timely, equitable, and secure access to safe, effective and quality 
COVID -19 vaccines and other therapeutics for the treatment and containment of COVID -19. 
In this regard, Namibia appreciates your efforts and hard work in your capacit y as Director General 
of the WTO in finding mutual grounds on the process you initiated and progress made thus far 
regarding the outcome of talks between the European Union, India, South Africa and the United 
States (“the Quad”) to reach an agreement to wa ive patents on Covid -19 vaccines.  
With regards, to the issues pertaining to the appointment of Appellate Body Members, Namibia 
wishes to re -emphasize that priority must be given to resolve the impasse on the appointment of 
Appellate Body Members. The appoi ntment will ensure that the Body continues to function and 
maintain independence, integrity as well as impartiality in resolving disputes.  WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 81/Rev.1  
 
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  In conclusion, Namibia remains committed to multilateralism and remains open to engage positively 
and constructively in finding the best possible landing zones with a view to address challenges to 
the benefit of people and bring confidence to the Namibian nation that WTO can still deliver on its 
mandate.  
We wish all of us a fruitful and successful Ministerial Conference that would address outstanding 
issues to the benefit of our people . 
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