. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/ST/109 
16 December 2011 
 (11-6858) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011 Original:   English 
 
  
EGYPT 
 
Statement by H.E. Dr Mahmoud Eissa 
Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade 
 
 
If we are here to chart a future path, let us agre e that there is only one way forward and that is 
to conclude the DDA. Not since 1947 has a round been allowed to die, and we sure will not allow that 
to be the fate of a round that was destined to deliv er, in every way and in a single undertaking, evident 
development deliverables.  As far as Egypt is con cerned the Development priority and mandate of the 
DDA remain supreme.   
We remain apprehensive towards any new approaches that would erode our multilateral 
structures only to be replaced by plurilateral ones. Creating a system of two tiers discards the very 
principles of inclusiveness, transp arency and full participation which form the very basis of 
multilateral consensus building.  It is theref ore high time for those of us with outstanding 
responsibilities to rise to the occasion, and if we were to enter into an undesirable period of 
hibernation, then this would only mean pickin g up the pace from where we have left off on the 
premise of our development agenda. 
 
Turning to the WTO's regular work, we have so me concrete suggestions to make in this 
regard. We propose an intensive work program for the WTO that would entail: 
 First:  Advancing the WTO's role in monitoring  trade measures that have been taken in the 
face of global economic crises and opt for a more muscular approach to this exercise to 
counter protectionism and safeguard a fair and equitable trading regime. 
 
Second:   We need to launch a reform agenda for the WTO. 
 An agenda that would ensure that no discrimination is admissible and that all 
Intergovernmental Organizations  be granted permanent observe r status and be allowed to 
contribute to the work undertaken by the WTO. 
 An agenda that improves the inclusiveness, tr ansparency and efficiency of the multilateral 
decision making process. 
 An agenda that would "Consolidate and Ma instream Development in the WTO" as 
suggested by the African and Arab Groups. 
 An agenda that would strengthen the central role undertaken by the CTD, the focal point 
entrusted to coordinate and to consider of all work on development undertaken by the 
WTO. 
 An agenda that would ensure that a Devel opment review of all special and differential 
treatment provisions is undertaken and one that would allow the establishment of the 
Monitoring Mechanism and keep under review and strengthen all such provisions. 
 WT/MIN(11)/ST/109 
Page 2  
 
  Third:  We need to launch a work program to safeguard the interests of the most vulnerable 
and the net food importing developing countries.  Th is is a necessity if we are to ensure that 
food security is attained for LDC's and NFIDC's especially in the face of the rising tide of food prices and price volatilities.  The NFIDCs, African, and Arab Groups have proposed a "WTO work programme to mitigate the impact of the food market prices and volatility on 
LDCs and NFIDCs". We underscore  the extreme importance of this initiative to be part of the 
future developmental work of the WTO. 
 
Fourth:  The WTO purview over Regional Trade Agreements needs to be strengthened by 
finalizing the review of the Transparency Mechanism to address the persistent systemic 
concerns raised by developing countries.  We do not subscribe with the pervaded so called 
principles that have been suggested to "subsid iarize and multilaterilize pr eferences".  This is 
not the direction that we should be taking a nd is definitely not how the WTO and RTA's 
should move from co-existence to coherence.  Th at specific and systemic issues raised with 
respect to RTAs on the basis of the Enabling Clause should remain within the ambit of the 
CTD and shall be reported to the Ge neral Council for appropriate action. 
 
Fifth:  Aid for Trade is an important initiative.  We have always stressed that fostering this 
initiative remains contingent upon improving Aid mobilization and monitoring.  
 
Before I conclude, I would like to emphasi ze the importance Egypt attaches to the 
participation of the Arab League as observer in th is conference, and also that of Palestine as a 
permanent observer in the WTO.   
Finally, I would like to congratulate the Russian  Federation, Samoa, Vanuatu and Montenegro 
for their successful accession to the WTO.  
 
 
__________