. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/17/Add.2 
1 December 2009 
 (09-6072) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
JAPAN 
 
Statement by HE Mr Koichi Takemasa
 
State-Secretary for Foreign Affairs  
 
Addendum  
  
 Ever since September this year when the new administration started in Japan, one of the most 
important diplomatic aims for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has been the WTO Doha 
Development Agenda.  I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate th at Japan will make its 
utmost efforts, in partnership with other count ries, in bringing the Doha Round to a successful 
conclusion in 2010, as was reaffirmed at the G-8 a nd G-20 Summit meetings in L'Aquila and again in 
Pittsburgh.   From this standpoint, I would like to focus on the following three major points.  
 Firstly, being one of the greatest beneficiaries of the open multilateral trading system, Japan is 
strongly committed to strengthening the WTO system.  The multilateral trading system under the WTO serves as the foundation of a sound development in global trade, complemented by EPAs and FTAs.  The central pillar of global trade remains to  be the WTO, and the current stagnation of the 
Round negotiations cannot be very healthy.  Japan  will continue to contribute to bolstering the 
functions of WTO, just as we have done in the previous rounds of negotiations. 
 
 Secondly, I want to look at the situation surrounding the WTO and its Doha Round.  Under 
the current economic and financial crisis, the WTO has been functioning fairly well to curb the 
momentum for protectionism.  We cannot, however, be  content with just that.  Without the relentless 
efforts by all of us, this system runs the risk of fa ltering in the time ahead.  The important thing now is 
for the countries reaping great benefit from the multilateral trading system, including emerging 
economies, to play a leading role in pushing the negot iations forward.  To this end, I call on Ministers 
of the WTO Members to engage also in negotiations directly, in a series of sectors, between relevant 
countries.   Thirdly, true to the name of the "Dev elopment Round", a successful conclusion of the 
Doha Round can bring benefit to all, and especia lly developing, countries.  In the face of the 
difficulties that followed the financial and economic cris is last autumn, it is crucial for us to give a 
boost to further integration of developing countries into global trade, and for developing countries to 
achieve economic development through trade.  Fo r that to happen, we need to create a round 
environment in which developing countries can enjoy th e fruits of liberalization.  Japan will play an 
active role in creating such an environment in de veloping countries.  In this context, Japan will 
continue to implement steadfastly our "Aid for Tr ade", including the development of infrastructure 
that has direct implications to trade such as por ts and the training of customs staff, providing WT/MIN(09)/ST/17/Add.2 
Page 2  
 
  US$12 billion in trade-related ODA and the next three years.  Japan will also work on improving 
market access for LDCs.   In closing, I would like to inform you that Japan will chair the APEC next year.  I envision the next year's APEC to be a forum where we sketch out ways to facilitate progress in making trade 
and investment in the Asia Pacific more liberalized a nd open.  I am convinced that such an effort also 
serves to complement the multilateral system embodied in the WTO.  
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