. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/34 
1 December 2009 
 (09-6103) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
SURINAME 
 
Statement by HE Mr Clifford Paul Marica
 
Minister of Trade and Industry  
   It is a great honour for me to address you on the occasion of this Seventh Session of the 
WTO Ministerial Conference. 
 
 The current global recession, which was preced ed by an immense financial crisis, puts an 
even greater responsibility on us, Ministers of Trade,  to deliver tangible results to our constituents.  
These are not easy times, which will require even more cooperation and commitment of Ministers 
responsible for trade.  We have promised development through the Doha Round but have yet failed to 
deliver while the world is waiting impatiently. 
 
 If we still want to finalize the trade negotia tions successfully on the basis of a consensus 
model, we will have to create a credible environm ent, which will only be possible if we focus on the 
following issues:  
• The needs of the LDCs and small and vulnerable economies; 
• the need to transfer technology; 
• the financing problems faced by some Members; 
• the importance of historical preferences; 
• the development of industrial capacity; 
• the adverse effects the recession has on services sectors of many WTO Members; 
• trade facilitation; 
• subsidies;  and 
• the Aid-for-Trade initiative. 
  I take this opportunity to call upon all parti es to re-energize the Doha negotiations as soon as 
possible and to make sure that, as agreed, deve lopment is at the core of the negotiations. 
 
 Furthermore, I would like to emphasize the importance of the imminent conclusion of the 
WTO dispute on the EU MFN Tariff for Bananas.  Although we welcome these developments, we as 
the Caribbean want to make clear that far too little consideration has been given to the immediate threats to our economies.   Many WTO Members, especially the ACP countries, have an economic structure with 
dependency on commodities like cotton, rice, sugar and bananas.  I request special attention within 
this setting to ensure the sustainability of the trad e of the vulnerable developing countries in these 
commodities and that of the related industries.  But th e core principle here is that free trade should not 
disrupt the lives of millions around the world who have no viable alternatives. WT/MIN(09)/ST/34 
Page 2  
 
   After a regrettable sequence of lost opportun ities, we should now use the Doha Round to send 
a message that the WTO has an incl usive approach in order to eliminate the perception that the WTO 
is an organization which is not beneficial to all par ties.  Inclusiveness will also generate trust which is 
a basic ingredient if we are to achieve con sensus on the difficult issues which we are facing. 
 
 Just as we can no longer ignore the under-develope d regions and their potential lost markets, 
the responsibility lies upon us also to agree on a common approach to fight global warming.  The 
economic effects of global warming are clear and call for immediate and long-term action.  The natural resources of green countries should be seen as a valuable asset in our fight to combat the 
devastating effects of global warming.  So trade ta lks can no longer take place outside the context of 
the environment.  Let us use wisdom in Copenha gen by establishing a workable plan of action and 
adjust our behaviour accordingly.    Global economic recovery will be accompanie d by a fundamental shift towards a green 
economy.  This implies major investments into newer and cleaner technol ogies.  The WTO should 
also become an instrument to encourage balance in this transformation so that all regions of the global 
economy become an integral part of the new green global economy.  Let us make sure that, right from 
the beginning, these technologies and the related investments reach all corners of the globe. 
  Mr Chairman, let me conclude by saying that I believe that by seriously addressing these issues, we can make a start in restoring the credibility of our Organization. 
 
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