. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/27 
1 December 2009 
 (09-6099) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
UNITED KINGDOM 
 
Statement by Mr Gareth Thomas MP
 
Minister of State, Department for International Development  
   I would like to make three comments today based  on three crises the world is facing;  the 
economic crisis and the recovery, poverty in the developing world, and climate change. 
 
 First, the DDA and the WTO's protectionism monitoring are critical steps towards long-term 
economic recovery after this deep financial cr isis, the DDA alone boosting the global economy by 
around $170 billion annually.   However, the UK is disappointed that WTO Member s have not yet been able to take the final 
steps to agree an outline deal. 
  We welcome commitments at the G-20, the Delhi ministerial, the meeting of African Ministers in Cairo and elsew here to conclude the Round in 2010. 
 
 But I hope that when Ministers meet early next year for a stock-take, these ambitions will be 
turned into real action.   If we do not make progress soon, we will miss our 2010 target and that would be a great loss 
for the global economy and the world's poorest.  
 For example, Cambodian garment exporters ar e facing tariffs of over 30 per cent in some 
markets, and West African cotton farmers are losing $75-100 million every year because of subsidies in bigger countries.   We believe lack of progress will delay achieve ment of the Millennium Development Goals, 
the target date for which is now only five years away. 
  We must also continue to resist resorting to  protectionist measures which could appear even 
more attractive as unemployment rises, and would jeopardize the recovery.  
 The WTO's monitoring provides a vital role in supporting this commitment and we welcome 
the WTO's latest report showing that we have lim ited the damage from protect ionism to 1 per cent of 
world trade.   However, this figure cannot be allowed to grow any larger.  WT/MIN(09)/ST/27 
Page 2  
 
   Second, independently of the progress of the DDA, the UK remains strongly committed to 
ensuring progress on Aid for Trade;  indeed the cu rrent global downturn has made it all the more 
important.   We share a responsibility to help the world's poorest trading partners benefit more from open 
markets and adjust to the cha llenges that come with this. 
  We need to help developing countries build  up their resilience and competitiveness so they 
can emerge stronger and fitter from the recession.  
 It is therefore timely to move into a new phase of Aid for Trade. 
  We need to sustain momentum and focus energy on delivery and results.   This is why we, in the UK's new White Pa per on international deve lopment launched this 
summer, committed ourselves to spend £1billion a year for trade and growth over the coming years. 
  It is also why we are doing more in some cr itical areas - notably support for the EIF, trade 
facilitation and regional integration.   Our third pressing crisis - climate change - also requires an appropriate trade response. 
 
 We must respect our open trading system a nd avoid any charge of closet protectionism. 
  And we must encourage technology transfer, focusing on meeting that vital Doha goal of 
liberalizing trade so that green goods and services are accessible globally. 
 
 I would urge Members to consider creative op tions to help us make rapid progress on this. 
  The opportunities are too large and the challenges too pressing to wait.  
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