WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/24 
14 December 2005 
 (05-5987) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
ISRAEL 
 
Statement by HE Mr Ehud Olmert
 
Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Trade , 
Industry and Labour  
   On behalf of the Government of the State of Israel, I would like to begin by thanking 
Hong Kong for the hospitality it has extended to us a ll.  I would also like to express our appreciation 
to the Director-General of the WTO, Mr Pascal  Lamy, the Chairman of the General Council, 
HE Ms Amina Chawahir Mohamed and to the WTO Secr etariat, who have worked so hard to organize 
this meeting and who are facilitating a consensus on the Ministerial Declaration which is in front of us 
for discussion, here in Hong Kong.  
 Israel attaches great importance to the curre nt multilateral negotiations mandated by the Doha 
Development Agenda (DDA).  Israel is of the view that it is imperative to reach timely and successful 
conclusion of these negotiations, so as to preserve th e relevance of the WTO and its ability to respond 
to global economic developments as  well as to the needs of its Me mbers.  Israel is committed to 
contribute its part towards the realization of this end. 
 
 As we negotiate under the framework of the Doha Development Agenda, we must bear in 
mind and follow the core principles that led the WT O and the multilateral trading system to consistent 
and progressive liberalization throughout the year s namely:  a rule-based system;  consensus-based 
decision-making mechanism;  non-discrimination;  transparency;  progressive liberalization;  and 
special and differential treatment for developing countries.  It is only by respecting the above-
mentioned principles that WTO Members will be in a position to make the necessary compromises 
and trade-offs that are so important for a successful conclusion of the Doha Round.   Israel welcomes the decision to amend th e intellectual property agreement and the 
implementation of paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and public health.  We agreed in 
Doha to find an expeditious solution for Members with insufficient or no manufacturing capacity in 
the pharmaceutical sector, which could face difficulties in making effective use of compulsory licensing under the TRIPS Agreement.  Israel has always supported those goals and continues to do 
so.  The agreement to amend the TRIPS provisions confirms once again that Members are determined to ensure the WTO's trading system contributes to  humanitarian and development goals.  This, we 
hope will assist countries, in need, to obtain affordable medicines. 
  Israel recognizes the long-term objective of establishing a market-oriented trading system through reform in order to prevent distortions in th e world agriculture markets.  Israel reiterates its 
commitment to this reform, while emphasizing the sign ificance of the agriculture sector in today's life,  WT/MIN(05)/ST/24 
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 economy, culture and as an instrument for rural and regional development.  Therefore, non-trade 
concerns are an essential element of this sector and sh ould be an integral part of any future agreement 
on agriculture.  As we work towards further reform in agricultural markets, we should take account of 
the direct link between levels of support in  the agriculture sector and new market access 
commitments, so as to allow fair trade. 
 
 On agriculture, the Chairs' report attached to the ministerial text conveys a good picture 
regarding the state of play of negotiations.  Howe ver, we reserve our positi on regarding some of the 
notes in that report.  As in the past, we maintain that a reasonable balance be tween all three pillars of 
the negotiations must be struck, before we could sh ape a final agreement.  In this regard, it may be 
difficult for us to support a result that does not provide sufficient flexibility in the market access 
pillar.   Israel is highly interested in the negotiati ons on the liberalization of Non-Agricultural goods 
(NAMA).  Indeed, Israel is of the view that all WTO Member countries, developed, as well as 
developing Members, should be ready to accept upon themselves new and meaningful market access 
commitments for Non-Agricultural goods, as well as to eliminate Non-Tariff Barriers.  In NAMA, Israel seeks an ambitious outcome of the negotiations.  We agree that substantial progress has been made on elements such as the formula for furthe r reduction of tariffs, produc t coverage and mark up 
for unbound tariff lines, although mu ch remains still to be done. 
 
 Israel is also committed to further liberalizati on of the world services markets.  Israel was one 
of the members that submitted their initial offer in time and is now ready to negotiate further 
commitments, in the light of developments in the DDA as a whole.  We are satisfied with the fact that 
request and offer approach remains as the core meth od for the conduct of negotiations, while allowing 
for other approaches, such as plurilateral in itiatives, to supplement this core approach. 
 
 Israel considers the Rules negotiations as a key component of the Doha mandate.  We 
therefore support to move to text-based negotiations in a short period of time, in particular with 
respect to Anti-Dumping.   Israel believes in the primacy of the multilate ral trade negotiations as the prime tool for the 
expansion of trade and global prosperity.  At the same time, Israel believes that its regional and 
bilateral agreements, concluded within the frame work of Article XXIV of GATT 1994, complement 
the multilateral obligations and allow further trade li beralization and enhancement of political ties.  
Indeed, exposure to foreign competition through b ilateral agreements has paved the way to the 
extension of greater liberalization vis-à-vis  other WTO Member countries. 
 
 Moreover, Israel attaches importance to a successful outcome on Environmental issues in 
general and in particular the fulf ilment of the mandate under paragra ph 31.iii of the Doha Declaration.  
We support the continuation of the work towards the identification of environmental goods for the 
reduction or as appropriate  elimination of tariffs and NTB's in this area. 
 
 Israel is committed to a positive outcome of  the Doha Development Round.  While it is 
evident that not enough convergence has emerged among us, so as to allow for a more operational text 
to be produced, we remain ready to work towards a satisfactory conclusion of the Round.  We urge all 
of us to continue conducting the process in a tran sparent and inclusive manner, as to enable small 
delegations with limited resources, such as Israel, to  effectively participate and contribute to the 
process.  WT/MIN(05)/ST/24 
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  Before concluding, on behalf of the Governme nt of Israel, I would like to extend a warm 
welcome to the most recent acceding Members of this Organization since the last Ministerial Meeting - Nepal and Cambodia.  We also welcome Saudi Arabia and Tonga who ha ve just completed the 
WTO accession process.  It is now expected, that the recently acceding countries implement fully the 
commitments they took upon themselves in their prot ocol of Accession.  May I take this opportunity 
to express Israel's support in the efforts made by countries who are now in the process of accession to 
the WTO, which entails the full adherence to WTO principles and the fulfilment of the requirements 
and obligations as set forth in the WTO Agreements.  
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