WT/MIN(17)/ST/106  
5 January  2018 
(18-0097) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E.  MR VICTOR ASTURIAS  
MINISTER OF THE ECONOMY  
GUATEMALA  
The WTO is an important driver of development . It establishes  rules that ensure stability, 
certainty, predictability and, above all, fairness in the trading relations between its Members.  
 
Nowadays, it is difficult to imagine a world without the WTO, its Agreements and its dispute 
settlement system, which is binding  on all Members . Guatemala is convinced of the importance 
and necessity of continuing to strengthen the WTO's institutional framework  and develop and hone 
the Organization's trade disciplines.  
 
Guatemala there fore reiterates its commitment to contribute in a constructive manner  to 
discussions on the measures needed not only to bring a swift conclusion to the outstanding 
negotiations, but to improve transparency and strengthen the WTO dispute settlement system.  
 
As a frequent user of the dispute settlement  system, Guatemala is particularly interested in 
discussing and adopting  measures aimed at making panel and Appellate Body proceedings more 
efficient, since the fundamental principles set out in the WTO Agreements depend on the effective 
implementation of , and compliance with , this system . 
 
Guatemala will also continue to purposefully contribute to resolving any problem that affects the 
proper functioning of the WTO institutional framework, including the dispute settlement system.  
 
In this respect , Guatemala wishes to remind WTO Members that the cr eation of this multilateral 
Organization  was the result of an exercise in international cooperation . It follows on that  the 
proper functioning of the WTO today depends on mutual understanding among  its Members and on  
the strengthening of that international cooperation . 
 
Madam Chair, Guatemala  supports the continuous reform and development of disciplines that seek 
to improve trading conditions among WTO Members . More specifically, it would like to see greater 
and bette r access to agricultur al and non -agricultural markets ; the removal of all forms of export 
subsidy ; the elimination of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overfishing and illegal, unreported 
and unregulated fishing ; and the elimination of all production -support programmes that distort 
international markets.  
 
Guatemala is also open to discussing and exploring new issues within the WTO forum, since it 
considers it important to adapt to  the current conditions in which trade operators conduct their 
business . It is, for instance, interested in issues such as electronic commerce , investment 
facilitation and measures in favo ur of small and medium -sized enterprises . 
 
Indeed, Guatemala hopes that the Members of this Organization will recognize the specific needs 
of small, vulnerable economies  when designing trade disciplines , so as to allow for their full 
integration into the global economy.  WT/MIN(17)/ST/106  
- 2 - 
  Guatemala recognizes the huge amount of work carried out and progress achieved in all the 
negotiating areas . It is important to continue working just as hard in the negotiations, with a view 
to achieving more concrete results at the next WTO Ministerial Conference.  
Last but not least, Guatemala would like to thank the Republic of Argentina, the host of this 
Minist erial Conference, for organizing this event and for its generous hospitality.  
 
__________