. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/5 
30 November 2009 
 (09-6055) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   Spanish 
 
  
MEXICO 
 
Statement by HE Mr Gerardo Ruíz Mateos
,  
Minister of the Economy of Mexico  
   As never before, we are meeting here with a sense of urgency.  While modern technologies 
have made our peoples increasingly rich in informat ion and millionaires in expectations, the greatest 
crisis in 70 years has brought about a de terioration in their living conditions. 
  Consequently, Mexico has decided, in order to increase its competitiveness, not to await the 
completion of the Doha Round to continue its trade lib eralization.  At the same time, it has acted and 
will continue to act with firmness against any form of unfair competition.  
 The Government of President Calderón is im plementing a programme of trade facilitation, 
which in one of its facets will lead us to reduce the average tariff for industrial goods from 
10.4 per cent in 2008 to 4.3 per cent by the time his term of office finishes at the end of 2012.  By then two thirds of our tariff headings will be at zero.  
 The multilateral trading system is facing ur gent challenges which, unless they are overcome 
and solved, will have adverse effects on th e recovery of the international economy. 
  Unfair trading practices that include tari ff and non-tariff barriers to  exports and imports, 
subsidies for and restrictions on production and expo rts and exchange policies that distort trade all 
threaten the sectors and enterprises of countries th at act in accordance with the rules of the 
multilateral trading system. 
  The result of such unfair practices is that count ries resort to protectionist measures so as to 
defend their basic interests, such as employment and the welfare of their citizens.  Thus, the question 
that we must ask is the following: 
 
 Is the WTO system and its dispute settlement me chanism sufficiently flex ible and effective so 
that our producers will be guaranteed fair play a nd can survive dumping, subsidies and other unfair 
practices that greatly distort trade?  
 Clearly, economic processes change more rapidly than established WTO rules and 
procedures.  Consequently, we consider th ere to be an urgent need to revise, inter alia , the procedures 
of the dispute settlement mechanism, so that th ey reflect the new realities of the international 
economic environment.   The solution to such ch allenges must not await the completion of the Doha Round, since what 
is in the balance is the multilateral trading system it self.  However, it is imperative to make the final 
push to conclude the Round as soon as possible. WT/MIN(09)/ST/5 
Page 2  
 
   
 We must take advantage of this 7
th Ministerial Conference so as to give a decisive impetus to 
this process and we must find new areas of action at the highest level to ensure its follow-up. 
  Consequently, Mexico will be attentive to any ca ll, at any time, at any level, to participate in 
the negotiations of the Round. 
  At the same time, we need to accelerate bilate ral and multilateral contacts in order to identify 
clearly where our differences lie.  
 In the face of the challenges that the new economic situation presents any advance requires 
political commitment and urgent action by all.  I call upon you to work together to reinvigorate the 
system and achieve our objective of reaching a successful conclusion to the Doha Round in 2010. 
 
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