. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/20 
14 December 2005 
 (05-5980) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
CANADA 
 
Statement by the Honourable James Scott Peterson
 
Minister of International Trade  
   Canada congratulates and extends deep felt thanks to our Chairman John Tsang and to 
Hong Kong, China for your outstanding preparations  as host of this Ministerial Conference.  We 
welcome to the WTO those Members that have acceded since the Cancún Ministerial, Nepal, 
Cambodia, Saudi Arabia and Tonga.   If we are to succeed in delivering the ambitious outcome we set for ourselves in Doha, it is here in Hong Kong that Members must demonstrate our  resolve.  It is up to us as Ministers to 
overcome our differences, to achieve meaningful  progress, and to provide direction on the way 
forward. 
  As a trading nation, Canada understands clearly what  is at stake.  Trade is equivalent to some 
70 per cent of Canadian GDP and is linked to one in  five jobs in our country.  Canada knows the 
value of clear, predictable and enforceable trade rules, and the importance of the WTO in ensuring 
that these rules are applied equally to all Me mbers, regardless of size or economic might. 
  Canada's goals for this Round are clear. In agri culture, Canada seeks to rein-in subsidies and 
to achieve major improvements in market access.  Th is high level of ambition can only be achieved if 
countries have some degree of flexibility to accomm odate their different dom estic policy approaches 
and sensitivities.  Canada strongly supports both  our supply-managed se ctors and our broader 
community of agricultural exporters, including the Canadian Wheat Board. 
  If we are to achieve our objectives in the agriculture negotiations, Hong Kong must 
underscore the critical importance of agriculture  to the development goals of the Round and 
contribute to progress across all three pillars of the negotiations. 
 
 In NAMA, we seek real improvements in market access.  Hong Kong should provide the 
outline of a deal, including a tari ff-cutting formula, agreement on the treatment of unbound tariffs, 
and flexibilities for developing countries commensurat e with their needs.  We also believe that 
sectoral approaches on a critical mass basis will contribute to achieving the Doha Mandate. 
 
 Our officials need political direction on how best to raise the quality of commitments and level of ambition in the services negotiations.  Canada  feels that a plurilateral negotiating process can 
improve the quality of offers in this area and we urge Members to support such an approach in 
Hong Kong.  
 On trade rules, we will not be successful until there is an agreement that provides significant 
clarification, greater predictability and enhanced compliance.  WT/MIN(05)/ST/20 
Page 2  
 
  An agreement on trade facilitation will s upport good global governance and significantly 
reduce transaction costs.  Ministers must provide enough direction on this issue to let officials move to text-based negotiations soon after the Hong Kong Ministerial.   Most importantly, this must be a developmen t round.  Nearly three billion people live on less 
than two dollars a day.  Success means addressing the concerns of developing countries, including 
preference erosion, revenue loss, special products and special safeguard measures.  We understand 
their need for special and differential treatment, including less than full reciprocity.  We must support 
development through trade-related technical assistan ce and capacity-building.  Canada is pleased to 
chair the Task Force on an enhanced Integrated  Framework to find ways to deliver effective 
mechanisms through Aid for Trade. 
  Countries must also act outside the WTO to s upport development.  Ca nada recently untied a 
significant portion of its food aid and was among the first nations to pass access to medicines legislation.  Since 1 January 2003, we have provided duty-free, quota-free access for virtually all 
goods from least developed countries, along with gene rous rules of origin, and imports from LDCs 
have doubled in two years.  To date, Canada has pr ovided more than $2.3 billion  in debt relief to poor 
countries, and is committed to a further $1.3 billion.   The Canadian Investment Fund for Africa is 
providing $200 million in equity capital.  All of us , including Canada, must do more for development. 
  Early in the morning of 1 August 2004, we comp leted the script that was supposed to lead us 
to modalities here in Hong Kong.  Since then, there has been progress in some areas.  But in spite of 
outstanding leadership from our new Director General, Pascal Lamy, many are still treating 
Hong Kong as a dress rehearsal, hoping that we might  make up later for our lack of convergence. 
  Let us be clear.  We are not here for a dress re hearsal.  We have already had it.  We are now 
on stage.  It's opening night.  And we  better be good.  The world is watching. 
  Each one of us here has a unique opportunity and a unique responsibility to make this a better 
world, a world in which barriers to trade can be  battered down and new oppor tunities created for both 
developing and developed countries a like.  We have an opportunity to deliver on the promise of the 
Doha Development Agenda and make  the World Trade Organization a more meaningful and relevant 
force for progress. 
  We have time left.  It is up to us to make Hong Kong a success.  With more hard work, driven 
by ambition coupled with flexibility, I know we can succeed.  I know every Member will do its part.  
The world expects nothing less of us. 
 
__________