. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/20 
1 December 2009 
 (09-6096) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 
 
Statement by HE Sheikha Lubna AL QASSIMI
 
Minister of Foreign Trade  
   Let me first express my warmest thanks to the Swiss and Geneva authorities for hosting the 
Seventh Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference. 
 
 I trust that the number "Seven" will favourably in fluence our works at this Conference, but let 
us not leave success to luck.  Rather, let us rede dicate ourselves to taking the actions necessary to 
deliver the outcome that the Organization deserves, and that the world economy needs at this critical 
time.  
 Fortunately, the benefits and desirability of  WTO membership are now unquestionable.  
Amidst the economic crisis, the WTO has proven its worth to doubters.   I am delighted that the time of existential qu estions is past and consensus seems to have 
recently emerged on how to strengthen our Organizati on.  Is the WTO weak?  Certainly not.  Does it 
need to be strengthened?  Surely!  Can this be achieved by magic or without our active engagement?  
Absolutely not.   Behind the frosty concept of the State and in ternational organizations there are real humans 
looking for growth, well-being and dignity.  That is why we consider free trade not just as an end in 
itself, but rather tied to crucially important human  values and welfare goals captured in the WTO's 
founding charter.  So, we have no right to disappoint them. 
  Accordingly, we reiterate the call of the Director-General " to devise and announce exit 
strategies to remove trade restrictions and pr oduction subsidies that {some Members} have 
introduced temporarily to counteract the effects of the crisis, and start implementing those strategies 
as soon as domestic economic recovery takes hold. " 
  Conscious of recent developments in the gl obal economy, the UAE has successfully managed 
to limit the impact of the harshest phase of the downturn and has succeeded in achieving a remarkable 
economic performance without recourse to any protectionist measures. 
 
 By doing so, the UAE strongly affirms its attachment to a fair multilateral trading system.  Nonetheless, in the short run and in concert with GCC countries, the UAE has already signed a series 
of FTAs, the last one just a few weeks ago with New Zealand, and with more still being negotiated 
since we believe that FTAs can serve as important "stepping-stones" to progress at the WTO and such will lead to freer multilateral trade in the medium term. 
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   In order to move the trade system ahead, we  need to seriously accelerate the pace and ensure 
that meaningful negotiations emerge, and real ex changes among Members, so as to speed up not only 
global economic recovery but also a successful outcome of the DDA negotiations.  The WTO Ministerial Conference provides a platform for sending a number of strong signals to the world and for delivering an emphatic message beyond th ese walls to uplift people's faith in an open 
international trading system and a peaceful world. 
  Kant, one of the greatest philosophers of Enli ghtenment, indicated unambiguously in his work 
on Perpetual Peace among nations that trade brings  about peace and that peace will be maintained 
through trade.  On this note, we call for more s upport for the efforts of developing and less-developed 
countries to address the economic slowdown, and to facilitate in the meantime WTO accession to 
such countries, with special reference to Arabic  countries who have voiced their concerns on this 
issue.   The hope, as tenuous as it can be, is to mitigate the harsh reality of international trade with 
our ability to envisage and implement a globalized world with a human face. 
  May these few lines help renew our interest in  the question of development and cooperation 
in the global trading environment;  as evident as th ese statements may seem, it would be useful to 
constantly keep them in mind.  For in disregardi ng these thoughts we run the risk of letting them sleep 
quietly and forever. 
 
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