WT/MIN(17)/43  
 
11 December 2017  
(17-6817) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017    
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. AM BASSADOR XAVIER CARI M 
CHAIRMAN, WTO GENERA L COUNCIL   
MC11  OPENING SESSION  
10 DECEMBER 2017  
It is an honour to have the opportunity to address you at the opening of this Eleventh Session of 
the Ministerial Conference. On behalf of the WTO membership, let me express our deep gratitude 
for the hospitality and generosity of the Argentinian people and authorities for hosting us.  
 
This Ministerial Conference comes at a cri tical juncture, taking place as it does against a backdrop 
of uncertainty in global markets, and growing anxiety amongst citizens across the world who are 
increasingly contesting the benefits of international trade and trade agreements, and putting  
multila teralism to the test.  
 
The history of the multilateral trading system has been made up not only of setbacks and 
advances, but also of renovation and adaptation to changing circumstances and emerging 
challenges. It is precisely in these times of uncertainty  that WTO Members should come together 
to send a clear signal about the importance they attach to international cooperation. This is also 
the time to discuss the kind of multilateralism that will be needed to meet the most pressing 
challenges facing the gl obal economy and society today, and to consider how best the WTO and its 
Members can make a positive contribution in that respect.  
 
Indeed, Argentina's offer to host this Ministerial Conference and its efforts to ensure its success 
and smooth running are a testament to the value that WTO Members still attach to the multilateral 
trading system and to international cooperation. The presence later this afternoon of several 
Heads of State from this region is further evidence of the high -profile attention that our work 
receives.  
 
Throughout its history, the WTO and the GATT before it has played an important role in managing 
international trade relations. Today, this is pursued mainly through the regular, everyday work of 
the organization and through the proceedi ngs of the various WTO Councils and Committees. While 
this work does not often grab the headlines, it does ensure the continued functioning of the 
organization. These bodies oversee the implementation of existing WTO Agreements, they provide 
a forum for Me mbers to discuss trade and development matters of interest to them, and they 
enhance transparency in multilateral trade relations through their reporting and monitoring 
functions.  
 
Today, Ministers, I have the honour to present to you the Reports of the Ge neral Council and its 
subsidiary bodies. These Reports show the work that has been undertaken since our last 
Ministerial Conference, particularly in respect of the mandates that Ministers provided at previous 
Ministerial Conferences.  
 
Allow me to highligh t the following: In January this year, the Amendment to the TRIPS Agreement 
entered into force, and in February the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) entered into force. Over 
the course of the year, we saw steps being taken by some Members to implement th e Nairobi 
Ministerial Decision on Export Competition, which was a landmark achievement in the history of 
agriculture reform for WTO Members.  
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  Let me also note the successful conclusion of the Sixth Appraisal of the Trade Policy Review 
Mechanism and the ad option by the General Council in July this year of its Amendment.  And I 
recall the Sixth Global Review of Aid for Trade that took place in July this year, under the theme of 
Promoting Trade, Inclusiveness and Connectivity for Sustainable Development.  
 
The Reports I submit to you today also record the work done in the respective regular bodies on 
monitoring the implementation of LDC -related decisions, including the submission of notifications 
regarding the Services Waiver, improvements of Duty -Free Quota -Free coverage, and some 
positive developments in the rules of origin regimes of some preference -granting Members.  
 
The Reports show that the decisions taken by Ministers direct the day -to-day work of our 
Organization and can have a positive impact on the trade and development objectives of the 
Membership.  
 
For your information, the General Council also agreed at its l ast meeting this year, to forward a 
draft decision for your adoption regarding the Work Programme on Small Economies.  
 
Allow me also say a few words about the work programme on electronic commerce . This issue has 
received a great deal of attention since M C10. In the preparatory period to MC11, eight textual 
proposals in the form of draft Ministerial decisions were received from Members seeking specific 
outcomes on e -commerce at this Ministerial Conference. The proposals cover a range of positions 
of Member s and, in broad terms, vary from maintaining the current work program as it is; to 
formalizing the dedicated discussion under the current work program; to establishing a new 
working group to consolidate all discussions on e -commerce; and to establishing a working group 
with a mandate for future negotiations. Of course, in their detail, each proposal is distinguishable 
from the others. The proposals also express varying positions on the question of the moratorium 
on customs duties for e -commerce that, as you  know, expires at this Session.  
 
As Chairman of the General Council, I conducted consultations on the matter over several months 
with a view to making a recommendation to the Conference. Unfortunately, we were unable to 
converge on a single recommendation  to Ministers and, therefore, all eight proposals are before 
you, for your consideration. My last report to the General Council on e -commerce contains a 
detailed account of these conversations.  
 
I should also note that another moratorium expires at this Se ssion of the Ministerial Conference – 
the one related to TRIPS non -violation and situation complaints. At MC10, the Ministers directed 
the TRIPS Council to continue its examination of the scope and modalities for TRIPS non -violation 
and situation complaint s and agreed that, in the meantime, Members would not initiate such 
complaints under the TRIPS Agreement. The TRIPS Council considered the matter at each of its 
regular meetings since MC10 but did not reach a final agreement on its recommendations. You, 
Ministers may therefore also need to consider this issue in the course of this Session.  
 
On another important matter, Members were also engaged in a process of drafting a possible 
outcome document for this Ministerial Conference; that is, a draft Ministerial  Declaration. Despite 
the challenging environment and limited time to undertake this work, Members agreed to take up 
the challenge and to make their best efforts. We did indeed register good progress but here, 
again, we were unable to bridge all the differ ences amongst Members, some of which were highly 
sensitive.  
 
As time was running out, my assessment was that there was no longer a basis to productively 
continue the drafting exercise on the opening paragraphs of a possible Ministerial Declaration, and 
we suspended further work. It is also important to bring to your attention that at the time of the 
suspension of our work in Geneva, Argentina, the Host of the Conference, expressed its intention 
to pursue work on the Ministerial Declaration.  
 
I should also indicate that in addition to the General Council’s Report that is before you, Ministers 
have the Reports that the Director -General, as Chairman of the Trade Negotiations Committee, 
provides to the General Council on the state of the negotiations. The Direc tor General’s Report is 
also accompanied by the Reports of each of the Chairs of the Negotiating Groups. These Reports 
all show that Members have expended enormous effort to deliver outcomes on the negotiating 
issues that would be acceptable to all.  
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  Both the progress and the remaining challenges are reflected in these reports prepared by the 
Negotiating Group Chairs, on their own responsibility. The Reports are on the table for your 
consideration, alongside all the proposals that Members have submitted fo r the attention and 
possible action of the Ministerial Conference, including a draft text on Fisheries subsidies.  
 
The process of strengthening the WTO is ongoing. In the WTO, an organisation where all decisions 
are made by consensus, inclusivity and tran sparency are critical ingredients for the trust and 
cooperation that is needed to meet our challenges. To make progress, our interactions will require 
that we listen to each other carefully and demonstrate a greater sensitivity to the challenges we 
confron t, particularly the developmental challenges of the poorest amongst us.  
 
In the next few days, you, the Ministers, will be called to consider and take action and possible 
decisions, where appropriate, on a wide range of matters. Your deliberations will de termine the 
path forward for the WTO and will guide our work in Geneva.  
 
For my part, as Chairman of the General Council, I will work with you, Madame Chairperson, to 
assist you, the Director -General, the Ministers and the Members in making this Ministeria l 
Conference a success. It is auspicious that this Ministerial Conference takes place in Buenos Aires, 
"the city of fair winds". It is my hope that these winds will help us navigate a safe passage to a 
consensual, constructive outcome that puts the organiz ation on a positive track for the future.  
 
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