WT/MIN(15)/ST/27  
18 December 2015  
(15-6745)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: Spanish  
 
  STATEMENT BY H.E. MR JOSÉ LUIS CANCELA 
UNDER-SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF URUGUAY 
URUGUAY  
I would like to begin by thanking the Government and the people of Kenya for their hospitality at 
this meeting and for the excellent organization of the Conference. 
 I would also like to welcome Afghanistan and Liberia as new Members of this Organization. 
 
Uruguay expressly wishes to thank the Director-General for his efforts, and the General Council Chair (the Ambassador of Mexico), the facilitators (the Ambassadors of Colombia, Norway and 
Kenya), the Negotiating Group Chairs and the Secretariat for all their work. 
 I cannot deny that Uruguay is feeling extremely frustrated. Uruguay views the multilateral system 
and the WTO as institutions that are critical for international governance. We fully support an 
organization that helps to provide greater predictability in a volatile and uncertain international climate conducive to protectionist tendencies.  
The global economy is struggling to make a full recovery. Trade traditionally acts as an engine for 
growth, yet the figures for recent years show ve ry poor performance, including in 2015, and our 
region is by no means immune in this respect. A dynamic World Trade Organization with clear and 
transparent rules is vital for triggering a new virtuous circle of international growth. 
 I recall that agriculture was included for the first time as a multilateral discipline under the GATT 
Uruguay Round and was one of the Round's main  achievements. Article 20 of the Agreement 
mandates the reform process for the sector, and 20 is the number of years that have passed by without any progress. An outcome in agriculture is vital to ensure the validity and preservation of the Organization's negotiating function. We are fa cing a turning point in the life of the WTO. 
 
We have, regrettably, seen a very significant reduction in the level of ambition in agriculture, and this has once again prevented us from achieving outcomes in the domestic support and market 
access pillars, which are fundamental. As if this failure were not enough, we now risk failing to 
achieve an outcome in export competition, something which is, technically speaking, within our reach. I call upon all of you here to support the growth and development of the world economy 
and urge you to demonstrate the political will needed to leave this room with an agreement in 
hand.  An agreement on export competition would be a succ ess for this Ministerial Conference. In addition 
to its direct value, it may eventually guide our post-Nairobi work, helping us to attain outcomes in 
the other two pillars of the agriculture negotiations.  
The time has come to level out the playing field between agricultural and industrial goods. This 
would create a win-win situation, especially for developing countries.  
We cannot support an outcome that constitutes a step backwards or a regression in the disciplines 
on agriculture. We have heard legitimate concerns  about food security and will have to discuss this 
matter at a later date. This country of three million inhabitants, which is able to produce food for 50 million, can make a decisive contribution to resolving the world's food security problems. 
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  Uruguay remains optimistic. We are a small country that historically supports multilateralism and 
we will continue to do so. Bilateral and multilateral trade agreements cannot replace the multilateral system, and we will therefore continue  to contribute to strengthening the multilateral 
trading system. 
 
Lastly, I would like to announce Uruguay's intention to submit an offer to the LDCs within the framework of the services waiver. Uruguay hopes that this offer will contribute to the more 
intensive integration of these countries into the international economy. 
 
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