WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 126 
12 June 2022 
(22-4566) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY MR JOHN CHEN -CHUNG DENG  
CHIEF TRADE REPRESENTATIVE  
SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN , PENGHU , KINMEN AND MATSU 
Thank you, DG Dr.  Ngozi, for your leadership and dedication that keep us moving.  
Even though some constraints on international travel remain, we are gathered here in Geneva, giving 
our best to deliver as much as possible. This has certainly demonstrated our determination to 
revitalize the WTO and maintain the multilateral trading system.  
The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu has been fortunate to enjoy 
an outstanding economic growth regardless of the COVID -19 pandemic. In 2021, our GDP growth 
was 6.45%, one of the best performing WTO Members in the world.  
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, our export and import reached USD$ 446.4 billion and USD$ 
381.5 billion in 2021 respectively. Both of the figure grew by more than 30%.  
• Our semi -conducto r sector is one of the best examples to illustrate this point.  
• Even during the peak of COVID -19, we still kept our market and trade open and free. We 
did not stop deepening trade and economic ties with our partners. We applied to join the 
CPTPP based on th e fact that we are capable and willing to adhere to its high standards.  
We also engaged in dialogues to build economic partnerships with many trading partners on 
investment agreement, with a view to connect our businesses with overseas markets.  
We continu e to perform well because we continue to adopt the following two things:  
First, we have been a strong supporter of the rule -based multilateral trading system .  
• In 2020, we lifted the import ban on pork with ractopamine by establishing the MRL.  
• In 2021, we lifted the import ban on food products from Fukushima and surrounding 
prefectures.  
• These decisions are integral parts of our efforts to further harmonize our trade regime with 
international standards and remove long -standing barriers to our tr ading partners.  
• Through these examples, we are demonstrating a pattern of complying with international 
trade rules and commitments that we made. We don 't abuse the system.  
 
Secondly, we are determined to safeguard a free, fair, open, transparent, and predi ctable 
trade and investment environment .  
Coming to the MC12 agenda, we would like to share our thoughts on some of the issues.  
On fishery subsidies,  
• We understand fully its complexity.  WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 126 
 
- 2 - 
 
  • While we have high seas fishing fleets that are global industry lead ers, we too have many 
domestic small -scale fishing communities and underserved fishermen that deserve extra 
help.  
• We support the elimination of fishery subsidies to vessels engaged in IUU fishing.  
On trade and public health and TRIPS waiver,  
• We believe that keeping supply chain normal and the free flow of essential goods and related 
services is paramount. Necessary, urgent measures should be taken in a WTO -consistent 
manner.  
• An effective distribution of vaccines, medicine, and diagnostics is crucial to g lobal economic 
recovery. More ambitious measures to boost the production and fair distribution of medical 
goods and related supplies is urgently needed.  
• On TRIPS waiver, we support a text -based discussion that focused on vaccines.  We are in 
the position th at the scope of waiving TRIPS Agreement Article 31 requirements should have 
its limits, so that the integrity of the patent system can be maintained. It is our sincere hope 
that WTO members can reach agreement on the text promptly.  
On WTO reform,  
• WTO refor m is a long -term goal that a balanced outcome can only be reached when we 
identify our priorities and methods first.  
• We are supportive of any proposals that restore a fully functioning dispute settlement 
mechanism.  
• We are one of 123 Members that propose t o start the selection processes for filling vacancies 
on the Appellate Body as soon as we can.  
Finally, I want to talk about our expectations of the WTO. To revitalize the multilateral trading system 
and to ensure that trade remains the drive for growth, w e have to make sure that all Members play 
by the rules, in order to uphold free and fair trade.  
No Member should be exempted from following the rules. Neither should any Member arbitrarily 
prevent the importation of certain products without timely notific ations or justifiable reasons. Our 
pineapples, wax apples, and sugar apples have all fallen victims of such blunt and unreasonable 
actions.  
The WTO had its remarkable achievements pushing for global trade liberalization, and now we need 
to deliver concret e results and present a reinvigorated WTO, one that adapts to modern trade and 
promotes sustainable and inclusive development, and most importantly, one that guards free and 
fair trade and responds to our societies ' needs.  
Transparency is key to the faithf ul implementation of the WTO Agreement. We have been working 
with several Members to raise the issue in the WTO, and I urge all my colleagues to pay attention 
to arbitrary, un -transparent measures which restrict trade and harm the rules -based system. Such 
as: 
• excessively large subsidies, public aid to state -owned enterprises and uncompetitive firms 
that create massive manufacturing capacity . 
• Sudden, unjustified and unprovoked SPS, registration measures against foreign companies . 
Finally, I would like to reiterate that we will continue to work with all Members to make WTO MC 12 
successful . 
__________