WT/MIN(24)/42  
 
15 March 2024  
(24-2338) Page: 1/7 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26-29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
 
AFRICAN MINISTERS OF TRADE MEETING ON WTO ISSUES  
DECLARATION OF ABU DHABI ON WTO NEGOTIATIONS  
25 February 2024  
The following communication, dated 8 March 2024, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Cameroon on behalf of the African Group . 
 
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We, the African Ministers of Trade (AMOT), meeting in Abu Dhabi to prepare for the WTO 's 
13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) to be held in Abu Dhabi from 26 to 29 February 2024;  
 
Noted  with concern that Members  failed to take a Decision on the extension of the MC12 Ministerial 
Decision on the TRIPS Agreement to cover the production and supply of COVID -19 diagnostics and 
therapeutics has not been realized more than ten months since the deadline agreed at MC12;  
 
Observed  that failure to comply with Ministerial mandates of a developmental nature has become 
a common practice in the WTO;  
 
Concerned  about the severe food security crisis affecting many African countries, especially NFIDCs 
and LDCs, which has been exacerbated by the COVID -19 pandemic, natural disasters, and supply 
disruptions due to the geopolitical developments;  
 
Further concerned  about the steep price inflation of agri -food products, including fertilizers and 
fuel, and the impact on current and future production and supply of food;  
 
Noted with concern  the continued escalation in agricultural domestic support by some Members 
which cont inues to distort markets, and perpetuating and reinforcing existing asymmetries and 
imbalances in global agricultural trade;   
  
Commended  the progress made in achieving the objectives of the African Union Agenda 2063: "The 
Africa We Want", including the i mplementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA);  
 
Further recognise  the need to build coherence by ensuring that the African Group 's negotiating 
objectives at the WTO fully support continental objectives such as industrialization, structu ral 
transformation and integration of the African continent;  
 
Reiterate  the support of Africa for a rules -based and development -oriented multilateral trading 
system that works for all Members, addresses historical imbalances and delivers on the Sustainable  
Development Goals;  
 
Took note  that, due to the unprecedented challenges facing African countries and the economic 
impact of multiple global crises, the existing rules based multilateral trading system is in need of a 
reform that addresses inherent struct ural deficiencies while re -enforcing the principles of fairness, 
transparency and equity and also promotes inclusivity and development;  
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  Re-emphasise  our commitment towards WTO reforms that facilitate the effective, full, and inclusive 
participation of Afr ican economies in the multilateral trading system and its decision -making 
processes, enhances predictability and also leads to rebalancing of trade rules to create and preserve 
policy space needed for their structural transformation, industrialisation, eco nomic recovery and 
development.  
 
Underscore  that the foundational principles of the WTO must be respected and preserved, in 
particular its Member -driven and multilateral character, and decision -making by consensus in all 
WTO processes, including WTO Reform ; 
 
Deeply concerned  by the increasing introduction and application in key markets of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary (SPS) measures that are not based on science nor on relevant international standards, 
creating unnecessary obstacles to trade and having a devas tating negative impact on African 
exports;  
 
Further concerned  by the proliferation of WTO -inconsistent, unilateral and protectionist trade 
measures being imposed by some WTO Members under the guise of environmental sustainability. 
Such measures undermine the multilateral trading system, disrupt supply and production chains, 
distort competition, shift the burden of climate change mitigation to third countries that do not carry 
such historical responsibility for climate change whilst also undermining their n ecessary pursuit of 
sustainable development;  
 
Reasserted  the need to ensure that negotiating outcomes and rules at the WTO support 
development objectives, reinforce special and differential treatment and provide policy space to 
achieve African Continental ambitions, including industrialization, structural transformation and 
integration;  
 
Reiterated  concern with the widening digital divide which is negatively impacting African countries 
and their ability to fully harness e -commerce opportunities, and affirmed  commitment to the 
reinvigoration of the 1998 Work Programme on Electronic Commerce (WPEC) as agreed at MC12 
and as set out in WT/L/274 , and particularly in line with its development dimension;  
 
Committed  to strengthening coordination in the African Grou p at the WTO on our common positions 
and to ensure that development is an integral component of all negotiating outcomes for all African 
economies;  
 
Reaffirmed  support for the core principles of full participation, inclusiveness and transparency (FIT) 
in negotiation processes and our pledge to work constructively in multilateral negotiations to 
promote and defend Africa 's interests in line with the African Union 's Agenda 2063: The Africa We 
Want;  
 
Take note  of the informal processes by Members, through joint Statement initiatives on Electronic 
Commerce, Investment Facilitation for Development, Services Domestic Regulation, and Micro, 
Small and Medium Enterprises, and recognize  that some Members of the Africa n Group countries 
participate in these initiatives, while other Members have decided not to participate;  
 
Reaffirmed  the importance of granting a Permanent Observer Status to the African Union in all 
WTO bodies and Call upon all WTO members to support the African Union 's efforts to secure Observer 
Status in the WTO;  
 
Underscored  the importance of a successful MC13 that would contribute to enhancing the 
multilateral trading system and deliver on the development agenda, including long -outstanding 
mandates tha t can contribute to sustainable growth and development, especially in the current 
global economic environment.   
 
Having taken note  of the state of play report presented on behalf of the African Group by the 
Coordinator in Geneva responsible for WTO Matter s; 
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  Agreed to:  
 
1. Recall and reaffirm  the importance of implementing WTO Ministerial, and General Council 
Decisions and Declarations adopted since Doha in 2001, in a non -discriminatory manner, with 
development at the centre of the work programme;  
 
WTO Re sponse to the Pandemic  
 
2. Recognise  that a key lesson from the COVID -19 pandemic was the risk attendant to the 
concentration of production of essential goods among a limited number of countries;  
 
3. Reiterate  the critical role of the WTO in supporting ex pansion and diversification of production 
of essential goods and related services to enhance equitable access, promoting inclusive growth 
including industrialisation, development and building resilience;  
 
4. Underscore  the importance of a TRIPS trigger re ady mechanism to obviate the need to 
negotiate Waivers when faced with pandemics in future. Modalities should be agreed in order to 
operationalize the relevant paragraphs contained in the MC12 "Ministerial Declaration on the WTO 
Response to the COVID -19 Pa ndemic and Preparedness for Future Pandemics";  
 
5. Underline  the important role of the WTO to promote the transfer of technology and know -
how in order to diversify production across the world and to enable rapid scaling of new health 
innovations to advance  global health and drive economic development in a manner that is 
sustainable for the broader innovation ecosystem, and endorse the Africa Group proposal on 
technology transfer tabled in relevant WTO bodies ( WT/GC/W/883 , WT/GC/W/884 , WT/GC/W/885 , 
WT/GC/W/886 , WT/GC/W/887 , WT/GC/W/888 ); 
 
MC12 Decision on the TRIPS Agreement  
 
6. Deeply disappointed that Members could not deliver on the TRIPS Waiver as entailed in 
(IP/C/W/669/Rev.1 ), and note that some developed Members b locked the decision to extend the 
waiver to therapeutics and diagnostics;  
 
7. Emphasise that the decision is intended to support manufacturers in eligible Members to 
produce and supply vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics at affordable prices for eligibl e Members.  
 
8. Note  with concern that a Decision to extend the MC12 Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS 
Agreement to cover the production and supply of COVID -19 diagnostics and therapeutics  was not 
reached despite a clear Ministerial mandate;  
 
9. Urge  Members to reflect on w hy the membership failed to reach a multilateral decision on 
extension of the MC12 Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement to cover the production and 
supply of COVID -19 diagnostics and therapeutics and to accelerate full implementation of TRIPS 
Flexib ilities to facilitate the building of national and regional manufacturing capabilities in African 
economies, including other regions;  
 
Agricultural Trade Reform  
 
10. Reiterate  that long term resilience to future food crises and sustainable food security l ies in 
unlocking the productive capacity of African economies through addressing longstanding 
asymmetries and imbalances in the Agreement on Agriculture, and levelling of the playing field in 
international agricultural trade;  
 
11. Reiterate  our deep concer n with the slow progress in agricultural negotiations, including on 
cotton, and the persisting imbalances in the domestic support pillar, and call for a substantial 
reduction of trade distorting domestic support that takes account of the development needs of 
developing countries and LDCs, preserves existing flexibilities including those associated with low -
income and resource -poor farmers and the de minimis  for developing countries, and provides 
flexibilities to developing countries, especially Least -Developed and Net Food -Importing Developing 
Countries, to assist them to bolster their agricultural production and enhance their domestic food 
security during s evere food crises;  
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  12. Re-emphasise  the need for the formulation of adequate agricultural food security tools 
including through the establishment of a permanent solution on public stockholding that caters for 
the needs of all developing and least develope d countries and through adopting a meaningful Special 
Safeguard Mechanism that protects vulnerable farmers and caters for the needs of developing 
countries, particularly in Africa;  
 
13. Endorse  the Africa Group positions advanced in Geneva on domestic sup port PSH 
(JOB/AG/229 ), and SSM ( JOB/AG/205/Rev.1 ); 
 
14. Call on WTO Members to work towards credible response to the systemic cause of food 
insecurity and deliver a meaningful food security and livelihoods package at MC13, including the 
extension of  the Bali Peace Clause on PSH to developing countries, including LDCs;  
 
Food Security  
 
15. Take note  of the progress in discussions under the dedicated work programme in the 
Committee on Agriculture established to examine the implementation of the Marrakes h Decision on 
Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least -Developed 
and Net Food -Importing Developing Countries pursuant to the MC12 Ministerial Declaration on the 
Emergency Response to Food Insecurity;  
 
16. Recognis e the special needs of LDCs and Net Food Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs) 
for further flexibilities to address their food security challenges that are exacerbated by climate 
change and further compounded by the COVID -19 Pandemic and current geopolit ical developments, 
to assist them to bolster their agricultural production and enhance their domestic food security 
during emergencies and severe food crises;  
 
17. Re-emphasise  the need for a Ministerial decision at MC13 that responds to the immediate 
and urgent challenges of food insecurity and loss of livelihoods. The outcome should: provide policy 
space needed for LDCs and NFIDCs to enhance their agricultural production and productivity; 
enhance access to finance for food imports and bolstering productio n in LDCs and NFIDCs; and 
ensure the accessibility of LDCs and NFIDCs to international food markets.  
 
18. Call on  WTO Members to commit to increasing support for the provision of technical and 
financial assistance to developing country Members including th rough international and regional 
financial institutions with a view to improving their agricultural productive capacity, infrastructure 
and access to agricultural inputs.  
 
WTO Reform and Dispute Settlement System  
 
19. Reaffirm  that WTO reform must take into account the long -standing concerns of developing 
countries contained in the Doha Development Agenda, improve the functioning of the WTO to make 
it more inclusive, and should preserve and safeguard its core principles as ensh rined in the 
Marrakesh Agreement, in particular, consensus decision -making, its multilateral and Member -driven 
character, and the principle of special and differential treatment;  
 
20. Underscore  that WTO reform must adopt a development -oriented approach, m ust promote 
development and inclusivity and must deliver on outcomes that support the integration of Africa in 
the global economy on terms that enable Africa 's industrialisation and job creation;  
 
21. Stress that the processes towards WTO reforms, includin g the reform of the dispute 
settlement system, must be Member -driven, open and fully respect the principles of full participation, 
inclusiveness and transparency (FIT), and that any recommendations or decisions must be agreed 
upon by consensus;  
 
22. Under score that Dispute settlement reform must address fully the accessibility challenges of 
African countries.  
 
23. Reiterate that WTO reform must prioritise strengthening of the nexus between trade and 
industrial policies and rebalancing of trade rules to ava il the policy space to support structural 
transformation, economic diversification and industrial development of African countries. This is WT/MIN(24)/42  
 
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  critical in supporting the continent 's regional integration efforts under the AfCFTA, enhancing the 
qualitative inte gration of African economies in global value chains and building resilient economies;  
 
24. Endorse  the Africa Group submissions on Policy Space for Industrial Development 
(WT/GC/W/868 ), A Development Perspective on Institutional Reforms of the WTO ( WT/GC/W/895 ) 
and  the submission on Strengthening the WTO to Promote Development and Inclusivity 
(WT/GC/W/778/Rev.5 ) and call on the Africa Group Members to build on these submission in 
advocating for a development -centred perspective to WTO refo rm;  
 
25. Call for concrete outcomes at MC13 on a framework to recalibrate some rules within certain 
WTO Agreements and avail policy space and tools to support the structural transformation, 
diversification and industrialisation of developing countries and  to confront global challenges such 
as climate change, food insecurity, the digital divide and overconcentration of production. A 
multilaterally agreed framework, as opposed to the unilateral approaches currently proliferating 
among the well -resourced and powerful, will strengthen the multilateral system and is all the more 
urgent given the scale of the global polycrises;  
 
26. Emphasise  that WTO Reform outcomes should in no way either constrain the policy tools and 
space that developing countries, including  LDCs need to respond to global economic challenges, 
introduce onerous obligations on limited capacities of developing countries and LDCs, nor restrict 
tools and flexibilities available to developing countries and LDCs under the WTO agreements;  
 
27. Re-emphasise  that the discussions on reforms, including on transparency, should take into 
account the capacity constraints of African countries, and must not add new obligations to Members 
that are not within the scope of the existing agreements.  
 
28. Call for the restoration of a fully functional two -tier dispute settlement mechanism that 
addresses the concerns of developing countries and is accessible to all Members, in order to  
re-establish trust, security and predictability in the WTO;  
 
Nontariff Barriers to  Exports (SPS and Environmental Measures)  
 
29. Take note  of discussions under the work programme established pursuant to the MC12 SPS 
Declaration, and call on Members to report on progress in the discussions by MC13, with a particular 
focus on the practica l implementation of Article 10 on special and differential treatment and 
addressing the continued application of SPS measures as unilateral and protectionist measures that 
have trade implication;  
 
30. Note with deep concern  the increasing introduction and application by some developed 
Members of SPS measures that are not based on science nor on relevant international standards, 
creating unnecessary obstacles to trade and having a devastating negative impact on African 
exports;  
 
31. Call on Members to devel op a framework by MC13 that addresses the application of SPS 
measures that are inconsistent with WTO provisions, and firmly reassert the principle of science and 
evidence -based measures and harmonisation with the relevant international standards, guideline s 
and recommendations;  
 
32. Reiterate  our commitment and support to climate mitigation and adaptation targets and 
stress  that the multilaterally agreed principles of equity and common but differentiated 
responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR -RC) must be respected and upheld, including in 
the regulation of international trade, as agreed and reflected in the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement;  
 
33. Further noting  that the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development as well as 
the UNFCCC articulate that measures taken to combat climate change should not constitute a means 
of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on internation al trade;  
 
34. Deeply concerned with  the increasing proliferation of WTO -inconsistent, unilateral and 
protectionist trade -related "environmental" measures with extra -territorial application that impose 
unnecessary and unjustified costs and barriers to trad e, such as carbon border adjustment 
mechanisms (CBAM) and deforestation measures that are being imposed (or being considered) by 
some WTO Members. Such measures undermine the multilateral trading system, disrupt supply and WT/MIN(24)/42  
 
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  production chains, distort compet ition, shift the burden of climate change mitigation to third 
countries that do not carry such historical responsibility for climate change, and undermining their 
necessary pursuit of sustainable development;  
 
35. Call for concrete outcomes at MC13 that wi ll foster coherence between trade policy, 
development and multilateral environmental agreements and their objectives and principles to 
ensure that trade -related environmental measures do not become unnecessary barriers to trade, 
distort competition, disgui sed forms of protectionism, nor impede economic development;  
 
36. Support  pursuing multilateral dedicated discussions on certain environmental measures that 
could significantly impact trade.  
 
Development of African Countries, Including LDCs  
 
37. Call on MC13 to deliver development oriented outcomes that benefit developing countries, 
including LDCs and provide the requisite policy space to among others, promote industrialisation, 
address digital divide, promote effective technology transfer to deal with iss ues of global commons 
such as pandemics, food security and climate change;  
 
38. Further call  for a reinvigoration of the Work Programme on Small Economies that takes 
account of the lingering impact of the COVID -19 Pandemic and the food crisis on their econ omies 
and urge Members to take concrete trade related measures to address their concerns and provide 
them the necessary policy space to pursue development objectives;  
 
39. Reaffirm  that special and differential treatment is a treaty embedded right availab le to all 
developing countries including LDCs and must remain an integral part of all WTO Agreements and 
future instruments;  
 
40. Note  the progress in special and differential treatment negotiations and reiterate  our 
commitment to seek meaningful outcomes on special and differential treatment, in line with 
paragraph 44 of the Doha Declaration and on the basis of the 10 Agreement Specific Proposals on 
special and differential treatment submitted by the G -90;   
 
41. Stress  the need to ensure that special and differential treatment is strengthened in all WTO 
Agreements to provide the necessary flexibilities and policy space that African countries need to 
achieve their economic development objectives;  
 
42. Commit  to work with all parties to ensure special and differential treatment provisions are 
precise, operational and effective and enable African countries, particularly LDCs in Africa, to 
effectively advance their development needs and, promote industrial developmen t, structural 
transformation and diversification as entailed in Agenda 2063;  
 
43. Stress  the importance of fully operationalising  the mandate of the Committee on Trade and 
Development as a focal point for consideration and coordination of work on developm ent in the WTO;  
 
44. Encourage  WTO Members to support LDCs in their economic development endeavors to 
ensure a smooth transition to developing country status, and thereby call on Members to agree a 
meaningful "Transition Package" ahead of MC13;  
 
Fisheries  Subsidies  
 
45. Reaffirm  the need for a balanced outcome that delivers on the mandate as captured in SDG 
14.6 and WTO Ministerial mandates;  
 
46. Underline  the importance of Common but Differentiated responsibility in the negotiations and 
their outcomes, and the need for effective special and differential treatment for developing countries 
in order to ensure food security, protect the livelihoods of coastal communities and provide policy 
space to develop and strengthen their fisheries industries and capacities for economic and social 
development as mandated;  
 
47. Underscore  the importance of a de minimis  threshold of 1 percent and sufficient transitionary 
periods to accommodate the development objectives of African countries, and call for an outcome WT/MIN(24)/42  
 
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  that exempts artisanal and small -scale fisheries from commitments and from certain provisions of 
the Agreement;  
 
48. Stress  that the disciplines must target harmf ul subsidies that contribute immensely to 
overfishing and overcapacity;  
 
49. Re-emphasise  that an outcome on the fisheries subsidies negotiations must not undermine 
the right of coastal States and fully respect their territorial integrity and sovereignty a nd that 
exemptions be made for small -scale and artisanal fishers without restrictions within the 200 nautical 
miles and in EEZs;  
 
Aid for Trade and Enhanced Integrated Framework  
 
50. Urge  Members to strengthen and improve the Aid -for-Trade initiative and e nsure that it 
contributes towards achieving its trade -related and capacity -building objectives, removing supply -
side constraints, developing infrastructure and facilitating the integration of developing economies, 
particularly LDCs, in regional and global trade;  
 
51. Underscore  that the design and focus of Aid -for-Trade initiatives must primarily be demand -
driven and be consistent with priorities and national development plans of recipient countries;  
 
52. Acknowledge  the contribution of the Enhanced Integra ted Framework (EIF) Program to LDCs 
initiatives and efforts to build capacity on the export supply side;  
 
E-commerce  
 
53. Acknowledge  the Facilitator -led discussions on the Work Programme on Electronic 
Commerce and endorse  the submission of the Africa Grou p on  "Reinvigorating the work under the 
WPEC, a development approach to the WPEC" ( WT/GC/W/875/Rev1 ); 
 
54. Reiterate  our call for the development dimension to remain at the core of the Work 
Programme on Electronic Commerce as agreed at MC12, and urge the relevant WTO bodies 
mandated under the Work Programme to also accelerate their work in that regard;  
 
55. Underscore  that consideration of the development dimension of e -commerce should take 
into account the economic, financial, and development nee ds of developing countries,  the digital 
divide, technology transfer, and industrialisation in the digital area and ensure better integration of 
developing countries and their enterprises in global e -commerce;  
 
56. Note  that in spite of the previous extens ion of the E -Commerce moratorium, no progress has 
been made to limit the moratorium only to MSMEs;  
 
57. Call for the establishment of Fund to support efforts towards closing digital divide and 
promoting the emergence of new MSMEs in the digital economy, w ith contributions from developed 
countries and developing countries in a position to do so as well as the international financial 
institutions, private sector, and donors.  
 
Accessions  
 
58. Pledge  support to African countries in the process of WTO accession and urge Members to 
desist from making unreasonable requests on African acceding countries to extend any commitments 
made as a result of their membership to the AfCFTA or that are inconsistent w ith their levels of 
development;  
 
59. Reaffirm our call on Members to fully implement the 2012 General Council Decision on LDC 
accession "Streamlining and Operationalization of the 2002 LDC Accession Guidelines", in particular, 
benchmarks set for average tariff bindings on goods and market access for services.  
 
Abu Dhabi,  United Arab Emirates on 25 February 2024.  
 
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