. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/ST/37 
16 December 2011  
 
(11-6616) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011 Original:   English 
 
  
ZAMBIA 
 
Statement by the Hon. Robert Sichinga 
Minister for commerce, Trade and Industry 
   Let me begin by congratulating Minister Aganga on his election as Chairperson of this Conference.  It is my delegation's confidence that  you will steer the work of this Conference to a 
successful conclusion.  Zambia also welcomes th e accession of the Russian Federation, Samoa, 
Vanuatu and Montenegro to the WTO.   In the same vain, we wish to congratulate the Director-General, Mr Pascal Lamy for his 
dedication to the cause of the WTO, and apprecia ting the expectations of the least developed 
countries. 
 
 Zambia concurs with the many speakers before me who have stated that we are meeting against a backdrop of a series of global challenges, th at have and continue to threaten the stability of 
the global economy.  It is evident that not even the strongest economy can separate itself from these 
challenges which, no doubt, require global solutions.  In order to safeguard global economic stability, 
we cannot over-emphasize the need for upholdi ng the fundamental principles of the multilateral 
trading system, which are predictable.   The relevance of the WTO, as well as its ma ndate in facilitating negotiations on the creation 
of a freer and fairer trading order, that is res ponsive to the dynamics of the new global economy, can 
only be achieved if clear political guidance is give n to respond to the challenges that confront the 
individual economies.  The current impasse, over the DDA cannot be beneficial to any Member of the 
WTO.   Hence, Zambia calls for substantial progress to  be made in the negotiations under the DDA, 
which have stalled and are at an impasse for a decade now, making the DDA the longest negotiations 
since the inception of GATT.  This is totally un acceptable to Zambia and I believe many delegations 
will share our sentiments.  Clearly, narrow constituent interests have overridden the original objectives of the DDA, thereby delaying the conc lusion of the Round and denying the development 
benefits that could accrue to the majority poor.  
 While it is acknowledged that the recent economic  crises have contributed to the change in 
the global economic landscape, these are more recent events;  and are all the more reason for a new 
economic order.  Consequently, Zambia calls on al l concerned delegations to show flexibility and 
political leadership, in order to resolve the gatewa y issues that are at the heart of this impasse. 
 WT/MIN(11)/ST/37 
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   Zambia seeks progress on the following basis: 
 Operationalizing areas where agreemen ts have so far been reached; 
 prioritizing issues of concern to LDCs, as  elaborated in the Hong Kong Ministerial 
Declaration and reaffirmed in the Dar es Salaam Ministerial Declaration, which include duty-free and quota-free market access (DFQF) with the accompanying simplified and transparent rules of origin, implement commitments on cotton, 
operationalize the services waiver; 
 strengthening special and differential treatment provisions, making them precise, 
effective and operational; 
 enhancing technical assistance and capacity-building support to LDCs. 
 Zambia, therefore concurs with the call for strengthening of the regular bodies of the WTO, 
with particular focus on their development manda te, in order to achieve a balanced rules-based 
system. 
 
 The nations of the world are at different levels  of development, hence the need for differential 
treatment and a call for aid directed at building supply capacity, including the support for infrastructure development.  I see this as the only sure way to attaining sustainable development and 
effectively integrating into the multilateral tradi ng system.  Zambia, therefore wishes to thank all 
cooperating partners who have been  generous in their support to LD Cs in general and Zambia in 
particular and urge them to continue contributing to the Global Trust Fund and the Enhanced 
Integrated Framework (EIF).   Further, Zambia endorses the statements made to this Conference by the following groups:  
LDCs, African Group, ACP group, Friends of  Development (G-90 plus BRICs) and the 
informal group of developing c ountries;  and adopts their statements as its own position. 
  It must be understood that my country is alread y at the bottom of the pile.  Poverty levels are 
as high as 84 per cent in some of our rural areas.  Surely, we cannot and should not be expected to 
give in anymore.  Our people also seek to achie ve economic advancement just like those in more 
economically advanced nations.  The economic reality  is that we ALL need each other - the more 
developed economies need the LDCs' basic raw material s for their industries to survive.  Similarly, 
the LDCs need the advanced technology and sophi sticated capital equipment for their economic 
development.   In conclusion Chairperson, Zambia calls for a WTO that remains focused and is steadfast in 
championing the Aid-for-Trade initiative as a monito ring platform.  On our part, Zambia is fully 
committed to ensuring that this exercise yields  results that will enhance the effectiveness of 
Aid-for-Trade initiatives.  
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