WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/L/648 
15 June 2006 
 (06-2892) 
 Original:   English 
  
 
12
TH  MEETING OF APEC MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRADE 
 
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, 1-2 June 2006  
 
Communication from Viet Nam 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 9 June 2006, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Viet Nam.  
 
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I would like to inform you that the 12th Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade 
(APEC MRT 12) has been organized successfully on 1-2 June 2006 in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.  
One of the main subjects of the Meeting is strengthening the Multilateral Trading System, including 
APEC's contribution to the WTO Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations. 
 Understanding the importance of the DDA to global economic development and the APEC 
objective of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, MRT 12 has issued a Statement on 
the Doha Development Agenda, which shows A PEC economies' commitment to the multilateral 
trading system and to a successful conclusion of th e DDA negotiations by the end of 2006.  As the 
Doha Round now is at a critical juncture, APEC economies do expect that our statement will help 
summon necessary political will to speed up a nd conclude the DDA process successfully. 
 I am sending you herewith the Statement fo r your consideration and circulation to WTO 
Members.  We also look forward to further coope ration with the WTO in future APEC activities to 
support the multilateral trading system.   
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  WT/L/648 
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  12
TH MEETING OF APEC MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRADE 
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIET NAM, 1-2 JUNE 2006 
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT 
ON DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA (DDA) NEGOTIATIONS 
 
 
1. We, the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade, gathering for our 12th Meeting in Ho Chi 
Minh city, Viet Nam, strongly reaffirm our economie s' commitment to the multilateral trading system 
and to a successful conclusion of the WTO Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations by the 
end of 2006. 
2. The DDA round offers so much potential bene fit for global trade, economic growth and 
development by delivering concrete  results that expand trade flows.  A strong market access result, 
among. others, is a prerequisite for successful conclu sion. of this Round, as it has been in previous 
Rounds.  We, therefore, commit ourselves to summ on the necessary political will to conclude the 
negotiations with an ambitious and balanced outcome  across the board and we call on all other parties 
to do likewise. 
3. Our Leaders agreed last November that break ing the impasse in the agriculture negotiations, 
in particular market access, w ill unblock the key areas, including non-agricultural products and 
services.  This is still the case.  Urgent action is n eeded to drive the process of reaching agreement on. 
agriculture and NAMA modalities by the end of June.  At the end of July we need to see the overall 
shape of the package and have draft texts to wo rk for a final result at the end of the year. 
4. As we approach the end of June, APEC ec onomies are ready to meet the challenge of 
agreeing ambitious modalities, based on the gui dance agreed in the 2004 Frameworks and 
supplemented at Hong Kong.  To do so, we must ensure that the flexibilities provided for in NAMA 
and agriculture do not undermine subs tantially improved market access. 
- In NAMA, we agreed last year to pursu e a simple Swiss formula.  We support a 
formula with two ambitious coefficients  applying to developed and developing 
Members delivering real and meaningful market access improvements.  We are committed to continue work on sectoral in itiatives using a critical mass approach and 
non-mandatory basis, with the aim to deliver results over and above those which would be achieved by the formula modality. 
- In agriculture, we have agreed to make  effective cuts and disciplines in trade-
distorting domestic support a nd have a range of numbers on the table.  On export 
competition we have agreed to the para llel elimination of all forms of export 
subsidies by 2013 with serious front load ing, although work is still needed on 
disciplines on the other elements of export competition.  Market access lags behind, where the issues of a tariff formula, along with other issues such as sensitive products 
and :special products must be taken t ogether to ensure substantial market 
opportunities that generate new trade flows while addressing sensitivities of Members.  More work is required to est ablish effective provisions on S&D treatment, 
including special products and SSM. 
5. Each of us is ready to contribute to the end of June milestone by supporting strong formulas 
that deliver meaningful new opportunities for ou r economies to prosper and develop.  APEC 
Economies account for close to 50 per cent of world tr ade – we cannot afford to lose this opportunity 
for global growth.  We intend to stay personally involved in the development of modalities and the 
outlines of the package by the end of July.  When we next meet in November, we will need to give the 
negotiations is final push towards conclusion.  WT/L/648 
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  6. We appreciate the contribution and efforts made by the Director-General of the WTO Pascal 
Lamy to advance the DDA Round ne gotiations and extend our fullest  support and cooperation to both 
Director-General Lamy and the chairs of the WTO negotiating groups. 
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