WT/MIN(15)/ST/111  
6 January 2016  
(16-0097)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: French  
 
  STATEMENT BY H.E. MR JUDE HERVEY DAY 
MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY 
HAITI 
The 10th Ministerial Conference of the WTO is of particular significance because this is the first time 
that the meeting is taking place on African soil. On behalf of the Haitian Government, my delegation is pleased to take part in the proceedings and thanks the Kenyan Government and people for their welcome and hospitality. I also wish to thank the WTO Secretariat and in particular 
the Director-General, Mr Roberto Azevêdo, for their efforts in preparing this event. 
 My delegation acknowledges that trade can act as a catalyst for development and poverty 
reduction. To achieve this, what we need is a st rong multilateral trading system, based on fair 
rules so that we can complete the Doha Round, and, above all, live up to the development promises made on behalf of the developing countries and LDCs in particular. 
 
Twenty years after the creation of the WTO and 14 years after the launching of the Doha Round, 
my delegation notes that the consensus and political will needed to conclude this round of negotiations are still lacking. On the other hand, our Organization is extremely important as a 
forum for negotiation and dispute settlement, among other things. Haiti thus reaffirms its 
commitment to the multilateral trading system.  
Since it is being held for the first time in Africa, this Conference must deliver development 
outcomes. My delegation accordingly encourages all Members to support the draft decisions from the LDCs, the ACP Group and the G-90. 
 
The waiver for services and service suppliers from LDCs will not achieve its objectives unless MC10 adopts a concrete decision for its implementation. In Haiti's case, services account for more than 50% of GDP and are therefore a sector that is vital for the country's economy. Haiti therefore 
hopes that its services and service suppliers, as well as those from other LDCs, will effectively 
benefit from preferential treatment in develope d country markets and in those of developing 
countries that can grant such treatment. 
 
As does every other LDC, Haiti enjoys preferen tial access to developed and some developing 
country markets. However, it is faced with complex rules of origin that make it difficult to take full 
advantage of these preferences. My delegation accordingly urges the Members in question to 
simplify their rules of origin for imports from LDCs and make them more flexible. 
 Turning to agriculture, the Haitian delegation firmly believes that it is important to adopt binding 
disciplines for the orderly elimination of all forms of subsidy with trade-distorting effects on the 
sector. Haiti supports the adoption of a decision on the special safeguard mechanism.  
The fisheries sector is critical for poverty reduction, among other things, in that it ensures food 
security in Haiti and many other developing country Members. The Haitian delegation therefore urges MC10 to adopt binding subsidy and transparen cy disciplines to regulate fishing, without, 
however, denying the possibility of appropriat e flexibilities for Members that need them. 
 Concrete development results are undoubtedly th e most eagerly awaited outcomes from MC10. 
Since the Doha Round is a round for development, the Haitian delegation is hoping for significant 
outcomes on the G-90 special and differential treatment proposals. This would send a strong signal WT/MIN(15)/ST/111 
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  and would show that the decisions of our prestigiou s Organization are in line with the Sustainable 
Development Goals adopted and that it is in a position to address the needs of its most vulnerable Members, including the LDCs.  
The Haitian delegation urges Members to pursue their work after Nairobi on all outstanding 
Doha Round issues. Like the other LDCs, Haiti will need more assistance from the WTO in order to participate fully in the negotiations whilst strengthening its infrastructure so as to increase its 
capabilities. I take this opportunity to congratulate donors that have pledged to contribute to the 
funding of Phase Two of the Enhanced Integrated Framework.  Haiti calls for maintaining the flexibilities for LDCs in the Decisions and Declarations issued since 
the launching of the Doha Round. It is not in favour of introducing new topics in the ongoing 
negotiations.  
I also take this opportunity to congratulate Liberia on its accession to our Organization and look 
forward to welcoming Afghanistan very shortly.  
I will conclude by reiterating that the Republic of Haiti endorses the statements made on behalf 
of CARICOM and the LDC and ACP Groups.  
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