. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/6 
14 December 2005 
 (05-5946) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
 
UNITED KINGDOM ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENCY 
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 
 
Statement by the Rt. Honourable Alan Johnson
 
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry  
 
  We join other Members in welcoming Saudi Arabia to the WTO community and look forward 
to the accession of Tonga during the Conference. 
 
 We meet this week in the spotlight of worl d opinion and with the hopes of millions invested 
in our deliberations.  The question being asked is  whether we can use this opportunity – with all 
149 Members sitting down together – to make substantial steps forward in delivering on the mandate for a development
 round as we agreed in Doha over four  years ago.  The answer has to be 
"yes". 
 
 This has been an important year for development.  In our G8 Presidency role, the UK has focused attention on Africa, where we have made substantial progress on aid and debt.  We now need a step change on trade to unlock the development potential of the DDA.  
 Since July we have held the Presidency of the EU.  The 25 Member States recognize that 
trade reforms can deliver increased global prosperity and offers huge potential for us all.  But the real 
prize is for the world's poor, for whom trade offers the only sustainable route to poverty-free 
existence.   That is why the European Union wants to see an ambitious outcome to this Round next year 
which delivers on the development promises, in cluding unfettered market access for all the 
least-developed countries, as well as an end date for all
 forms of export support. 
  We also want a balanced round, with pr ogress on NAMA and services as well as agriculture, 
making sure we integrate effective special and differential treatment. 
 
 Only through the WTO, with all of us on the trade pitch playing by th e same rules, can we 
advance these priorities.  So, this week represents a genuine opportunity.   What should we be looking to achieve in the next few days?  We all understand that it is 
crucial to conclude the Round in the next twelve months.  We must keep this timescale in mind, 
using the Conference to put in place the structure of a final deal on all the central issues, as well as a 
specific development package.  This will re quire tough decisions and strong leadership. 
  In recent days several WTO Members have  indicated a willingness to bolster their 
programmes on aid for trade.  We warmly welcom e this, as we do progress on other aspects of the 
emerging development package such as duty- and q uota-free access for LDCs and progress on cotton. 
 WT/MIN(05)/ST/6 
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  We must not let the prospect of another meeti ng early next year act as an excuse to put off the 
difficult decisions this week.  If we are to fulfil th e potential of the DDA, we still have a mountain to 
climb.   To stand any chance of reaching the peak next  year, we need to get well beyond base camp 
this week.  And that means moving beyond the level of ambition in the current texts.  The stark 
alternative is that we miss our deadline, and w ith it the chance of a truly successful outcome.  This 
could pose a real threat to the principle of multilateralism.   We bear a heavy responsibility which all of us must discharge by being prepared to negotiate 
meaningfully and in relation to poorer countries, wi th a steely determination to correct the imbalance 
that has weighed so heavily against them.  
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