. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/33 
1 December 2009 
 (09-6091) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
BANGLADESH 
 
Statement by HE Mr Muhammad Faruk Khan (MP
) 
The Honourable Commerce Minister  
   Bangladesh fully endorses the statement by Tanzania, made on behalf of LDCs. 
 
 We have gathered here at a very critical j uncture of the world economy and perhaps the worst 
time since the 1930s.  The global financial crisis coup led with the impact of climate change threatens 
our existence more than ever.  While the scenar io is common to all WTO Members in varying 
degrees, it is distinctly scary for LDCs like Banglad esh where the challenges ar e extremely daunting.  
Our exports in the last quarter have experienced a slump of around 12 per cent, exports of textiles and 
apparel which constitutes 80 per cent of our total expor t has declined by 27 per cent in the month of 
September than that of the same period last year.  Number of workers going abroad have declined by 
a drastic 40 per cent.  All these are manifestations of a gloom that looms heavily on us.   We do not have the necessary resources to c ope with the paramount challenges facing us.  
Therefore, we need the sincere support and coopera tion of our development partners.  They must 
deliver on their commitments made at various international forums, including the G-20 Summit. 
  We observe with deep frustration that delay in the DDA outcome is denying the LDCs of 
DFQF market access.  We continue to face significa ntly high tariffs for our major exports to some 
developed countries.  Therefore, we call upon Members to sincerely engage for an early conclusion of 
Doha Round. 
 
 Undoubtedly, Bangladesh is one of the most dispro portionately affected countries.  Therefore, 
we urge WTO Members to work towards a balanced outcome in addressing DAC issue while respecting the development dimension which is the centrepiece of the current Round.  
 Further, in terms of human exposure, Bangladesh  is most vulnerable to floods, third most to 
tsunami and sixth most in terms of cyclone.  Th erefore, Bangladesh is a doubly disproportionately 
affected country.  We must be compensated thr ough trade as well as for adaptation to and mitigation 
of climate change.  
 We urge Members for an early adoption and operationalization of the LDC Services Waiver 
Decision.   Restrictions imposed by many countries on export of food items have caused great suffering to millions of food-insecure people in the LDCs during the recent food crisis.  In order to ensure food 
security of the LDCs, restrictions should not be  imposed on export of food grains to LDCs. 
 WT/MIN(09)/ST/33 
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   LDC Ministers agreed on the following principles in Dar es Salaam.  We call upon all WTO 
Members to adopt them:   First, to operationalize the core principle of  S&D Treatment and the development dimension 
of Doha by granting all LDCs more preferential treatment than non-LDCs. 
 
 And, to address the issues of concern to LDCs  on a priority basis and to have an "early 
harvest" on DFQF market access, services waiver and cotton issue.   In this regard, there must be clarity on DF QF both on product coverage of 97 per cent and the 
phasing-in of the remaining 3 per cent well before the conclusion of the Round.  The DDA outcome 
must not backtrack on its development commitments.   We cannot afford the stalemate on the DDA.  All of us, particularly the major trading 
Members must be forthcoming.  They cannot absolv e themselves of the moral responsibility they have 
towards the teeming millions across the world. 
 
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