WT/MIN(17)/ST/109  
 
8 January 2018  
(18-0101) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT CIRCULATED  BY MINISTERS OF THE GRO UP OF  
SMALL AND VULNERABLE ECONOMIES  (SVES)  
GUATEMALA ON BEHALF O F SVES 
We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the Group of  Small and Vulnerable Economies 
(SVEs); having met on 9  December 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the margins of the 
Eleventh Session of the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference:  
 
Reiterate, pursuant to Goal 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG s), the importance of 
continued work for a fair, equitable, inclusive, transparent, non -discriminatory and rules -based 
multilateral trading system.  
 
Reaffirm the centrality of development in the World Trade Organization (WTO).   
 
Emphasize that effective special and differential treatment, a key principle of multilateralism, must 
not be undermined.  
 
Reaffirm the importance of the Work Programme on Small Economies contained in Paragraph 35 of 
the Doha Ministerial Declaration and Paragraph 41 of the Hong Kon g Ministerial Declaration.  
 
Note the progress achieved on SVEs priorities, especially the work conducted in the CTD's 
Dedicated Session including on the challenges and opportunities experienced by Small Economies 
when linking into global value chains in tr ade in goods and services and in challenges small 
economies experience in their efforts to reduce trade costs, particularly in the area of trade 
facilitation, and look forward for the future work under the Work Programme.  
 
Note the destruction caused durin g this year's unprecedented hurricane season, particularly to 
SVEs, and acknowledge that recovery and redevelopment will take many years.  
 
Call on the full flexibility of the multilateral trading system to be deployed regarding the 
reconstruction measures that may be taken by the affected Members, so that these be considered 
compatible with the WTO Agreements without altering the rights and obligations of WTO Members.   
 
Recognize that a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) can contribute to 
recovery and growth in world trade and in the global economy.   
 
Reiterate the need for the preservation of development -centred  negotiations and the continued 
safeguard of the principle of the Single Undertaking for the achievement of a balanced and 
development oriented outcome in the negotiations that is sensitive to the development objectives 
of SVEs.  
 
Further reiterate the need for Members to continue to addres s in a substantive and meanin gful 
manner, the needs of small and  vulnerable economies, and to adopt specific measures that will 
facilitate their fuller integration into the multilateral trading system.  
 
Urge Members to commit to preserve the flexibilities  that have already been identified and 
recognized in the process of the trade negotiations including in Agriculture and NAMA, and provide 
enhanced flexibilities for SVEs in other negotiating areas in view of their special needs and 
circumstances, as part o f any future outcome.   WT/MIN(17)/ST/109  
 
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  Call for Members ' commitment to continue to address in all areas of WTO work, in a substantive 
and meaningful manner, the needs of small  and vulnerable economies (SVEs) and to favourably 
consider the adoption of such measures that w ould facilitate our economies ' fuller integration into 
the multilateral trading system.  
 
Reaffirm the need for special consideration and targeted assistance to be given to SVEs, inter alia , 
in the areas of Aid for Trade, Trade and Transfer of Technology; Trade Facilitation, Trade Finance 
and Development Assistance which are priorities for special consideration by the WTO and 
anticipate that the appropriate attention will continue to be paid to these issues in the on -going 
work of the WTO.  
 
Emphasize the ne cessity for the continued inclusion of SVEs in the consultations held within the 
regular bodies and the negotiating groups on issues relating to the work of the Organization.  
 
Stress the importance of continuing the constructive engagement to find concrete  and appropriate 
solutions to respond to th e trade -related issues of Small and  Vulnerable Economies.  
 
Express appreciation to the Government and people of Argentina for their warm and generous 
hospitality and for their contribution to a successful Eleventh  Session of the World Trade 
Organization Ministerial Conference.  
 
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