. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/83 
2 December 2009 
 (09-6143) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   Spanish 
 
  
PERU 
 
Statement by Mr Eduardo Ferreyros
 
Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade  
   I should like first of all to express my thanks  for the hospitality of the people and of the 
Government of Switzerland and to express my specia l appreciation to the Director-General, Mr Pascal 
Lamy, for his leadership of the WTO during the last five years. 
  Our presence here at this meeting is a respon se to the need to renew our commitment to free 
trade and to the operation of this Organization, in particular now that we find ourselves in a difficult 
and complex global economic environment.  
 Against this background of difficulties and challenges, Peru is continuing to opt for 
modernization, social inclusion, democratic ins titutions and a model of de velopment characterized by 
economic and trade liberalization at all levels.  The policies that we have impl emented and, above all, 
the continuity and consistency of such policies ha ve enabled my country to achieve uninterrupted 
growth over a period of eight years at an annual rate above 6 per cent of GDP. 
 
 The objectives are clear:  to ensure access to th e markets of our main trading partners;  to 
establish fair and predictable trading rules and discipl ines that are fully compatible with the WTO;  to 
diversify the markets for our exports;  and to attract  investment and technology so as to modernize our 
production structure, reduce the technological gap and continue to strengthen Peru as a reliable 
trading partner with a high degree of competitiveness. 
 
 For Peru, political and economic integration in to the international arena through open trade 
policies is a key factor in continuing along the path of growth and development.  That is the vision 
that my country has in deciding how to confront th e challenges of poverty and inequality.  To achieve 
that, a stronger WTO and multilateral trading system  are indispensable elements.  Peru can provide 
evidence of the benefits for a developing country of  a multilateral trading system based on predictable 
and transparent rules that are full y respected by all the Members. 
  Peru agrees with the statement by the Directo r-General that the current multilateral trading 
system has been an "insurance policy" against the th reat of protectionism.  However, it considers that 
this system requires substantial reforms for greater market access and clearer and less discretionary 
rules.  The reforms pending that we are examini ng in the framework of the Doha Round, such as 
(1) the reform of the system of patents so as to in corporate the requirement of the dissemination of the 
origin of genetic resources and traditional knowledge;  (2) the liberalization of tropical and alternative 
products;  (3) the elimination of fishing subsidies th at contribute to excess capacity and overfishing;  
(4) greater mode 4 commitments in the provision of services;  and (5) an improvement in the 
disciplines of the Anti-dumping Agreement are only so me of the examples that might be mentioned. 
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   For Peru the protection of biodiversity under th e patents regime of the TRIPS Agreement is a 
priority and Peru has worked hard to demonstrat e in what way the current regime does not allow 
proper protection to its genetic resources a nd the traditional knowledge of its indigenous 
communities.  Consequently, Peru welcomes the repor t of the General Council on its examination of 
the relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 
protection of traditional knowledge and folklore, and also the work undertaken by the 
Director-General to intensify the consultative process on the ques tions still pending relating to 
application.  However, it is the view of our country  that there has not been sufficient advance on this 
fundamental matter.  
 Similarly, in view of the proximity of the C openhagen Summit, Peru wish es to emphasize that 
trade liberalization and the preservation of the envir onment must not be incompatible tasks;  on the 
contrary, they must support one another in th e achievement of sustainable development. 
  My Government is aware that the situation an d circumstances of each country vary greatly.  
However, it is clear that we all - the countri es that make up this Organization - have common 
objectives and interests as to how to improve the qua lity of life for our peoples, using the instrument 
of free and fair trade with transparent and predicta ble rules.  Accordingly, Peru wishes to reiterate 
once again its commitment to a speedy and successful completion of the negotiations in the 
framework of the Doha Development Agenda  with ambitious and balanced results in all  the areas of 
negotiation, supplemented by the benefits that de rive from the Aid-for-Trade initiative.  Such a 
conclusion is essential, especially in the current situat ion of crisis that has shown an erosion in recent 
years of the rules and disciplines of the multilateral trading system.   As Members we must reverse this situation by  improving and strengthening our Organization.  
It is true that the WTO was established in an inte rnational economic context different from the current 
one.  Yet, the solidity of its principles and objectiv es have ensured its full effectiveness as the guiding 
body of international trade.  However, this Organi zation must continue to evolve and adapt itself to 
international economic realities.   Consequently, my country welcomes all the initiatives whose objective is to strengthen the 
WTO. 
 
 Much still remains to be done.  We have reached  the time for decisions, but are in the middle 
of a delicate international situation, in which th e political signals that we send out now will be of 
particular importance for the markets.  We must not  lose sight of the fact that what we agree and, 
above all, what we fail to agree in the cont ext of the multilateral trade negotiations will have 
significant implications for the devel opment and welfare of our peoples. 
  That is the ultimate objective that we are pursuing in this Organization.  It requires 
commitment and political will on the part of each  one of us, and can only be achieved through a 
healthy and fair system of international trade.  
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