. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/99 
16 December 2005 
 (05-6073) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
ESTONIA 
 
Statement by HE Mr Mart Laanemäe
 
Undersecretary for Economic and Development Affairs  
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
   First, I would like to thank the Government of Hong Kong for the excellent organization of 
this Conference, probably the best ever.  The WTO continues to grow into a truly worldwide 
organization, with membership soon to exceed 150.  If we take into account all the countries that will 
join in the foreseeable future it might be worthw hile to consider dropping the word "trade" from our 
name altogether.   Like Estonia, Madam Chair, most WTO Memb ers are smaller-scale countries, who can gain 
measurable advantages from a strong WTO.  Unlike Est onia, they are not necessarily integrated into a 
large economic arrangement like the single market of  the European Union, moreover they are mostly 
located far away from wealthy countries and so th ey might well need the WTO even more than my 
country does.  
 Smaller countries can play a major role in strengthening the WTO, because all WTO 
Members are equal.  In turn, the WTO has much to offer smaller countries.  For example, for a 
smaller country to have separate bila teral trade relations with many far away States is difficult, simply 
because compared to larger countries, smaller count ries lack the necessary resources.  By making full 
use of the WTO, smaller countries can overcome this disadvantage of scale.  This means there is a motivation for smaller countries to strive for WTO rules that are agreed, respected and followed by 
all, rules that will better enable the WTO to achieve  its aims:  to help producers of goods and services, 
exporters and importers conduct their business.   Our business here is to help their bus iness.  Conducting any kind of business requires 
ambition and stamina, so we must do our best to re gain the high ambition we had in Doha.  We must 
constantly ask ourselves if the negotiations themsel ves are reflecting this ambition.  Today, I am 
obliged to remind you that in Doha WT O Members worked hard to decide what
 to do in the present 
round of negotiations.  Now, more than four y ears later, we still do not seem to agree on when  to do it.  
Distinguished colleagues, that is a clear indication of a need for more ambition.  
 Unfortunately, it is a major undertaking to  envision how to increase our ambition in 
circumstances where the outside world seems to be lieve that our negotiations are focussed on one 
topic, on agriculture.  I do not have to remind you that the round has much broader substance.  Above 
all, this round of world trade negotiations is a development round.  Agreeing here in Hong Kong on a 
strong development package and meaningful aid for tr ade would be a satisfactory start.  But we can 
do more.  It is worthwhile for smaller countries to recall the experience of my country that substantial 
and sustainable economic growth requires a combina tion of factors, including increased agricultural 
and industrial exports, especially to neighbouring countries and in addition an open, competitive and 
healthy market for services. WT/MIN(05)/ST/99 
Page 2  
 
  Let us strive to regain our ambition for the Doha Round here in Hong Kong.  In doing so, we 
have a good chance not only to benefit all WTO Me mbers and indeed the whole world, but perhaps 
also to lay the cornerstone of a truly worldwide organization.  
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