. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/116 
16 December 2005 
 (05-6111) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
HUNGARY 
 
Statement by HE Dr Tibor Szanyi
 
Political Secretary of State, Ministry of Economy and Transport  
   On behalf of the Government of Hungary let me express our deep appreciation to the 
authorities and people of Hong Kong, China for the warm hospitality and excellent working 
conditions created for this Conference. 
  My delegation came to Hong Kong with th e expectation that earnest and inclusive 
negotiations shall enable as to adopt a Ministerial De claration suitable to pave the way to a successful 
outcome of the Doha Development Agenda in 2006.  Our negotiations are conducted in the 
framework of a single undertaking that requires an ultimate balance within and across the different 
negotiating areas.  Creating this required balance necessitates the demonstration of responsibility by 
all WTO Members.  Responsibility in terms of trad e negotiations means not only the formulation of 
demands but also the readiness to contribute to the outcome of the talk s in accordance with the 
individual development level of the participants.  
 The EU has lived up to this responsibility by making serious offers in all negotiating areas.  
At the end of October, following a series of unilateral steps to move the negotiations forward, we submitted a very ambitious and comprehensive offe r covering the entire negotiating agenda.  The EU 
offered substantial real new market access opportuniti es in agriculture, non-agricultural market access 
and services, the elimination of export subsidi es and substantial reducti ons in domestic support, 
notwithstanding the fact that the EU's agricultura l population almost doubled since the establishment 
of limits in the Uruguay Round.  The fact that in agri culture the EU went to the limits of its room for 
manoeuvre demonstrates our dedication to the success of the Doha Development Agenda.  We set out 
with equal clarity the conditions necessary for a bala nced result, including full parallelism in export 
support, real market opening in NAMA and servi ces and appropriate protection for geographical 
indications.  This also shows that the EU plays with open cards. 
 
 We are concerned about the lack of progress in  areas other than agriculture, mainly due to 
reservations by some of our partners.  The arguments  used against liberalization are in sharp contrast 
with our own experience.  Hungary, on its part, went through an all embracing, rapid pro cess of 
structural reforms, that included the radical ope ning of our markets to foreign goods, services and 
investment.  In fact, these moves greatly contri buted to the success of our integration into the 
European and the world economy.  We have no reason to believe that the case would be different for 
emerging economies.  Moreover, such market openings may give a stimulus to South-South trade that 
– according to analysts – carries great potentials but is yet burdened with substantial barriers.   In Hungary's view it is essential to preser ve the emphasis in the DDA on the development 
dimension, in particular, the focus on the needs of  LDCs and other weak and vulnerable developing 
countries.  These members should not be required to make reduction commitments in the different market access areas, should obtain meaningful tr ade benefits and enjoy ap propriate flexibilities in WT/MIN(05)/ST/116 
Page 2  
 
 implementing their obligations.  That is why Hunga ry attaches particular importance to adopting a 
significant development package here in Hong K ong.  This should contain duty- and quota-free 
market access for all LDC products, immediate re lief for African cotton producers, adoption of 
special and differential treatment proposals to improve the flexibilities available for LDCs and a 
substantial aid for trade instrument.  In this c ontext we welcome the extension for LDCs of the 
implementation period under the TRIPS Agreement a nd the permanent solution to improve access to 
life-saving medicines in poorer countries.   My delegation has every hope that with the ne cessary political will and collective effort we 
shall be able to agree, in addition to a meaningf ul development package, on a Ministerial Declaration 
that envisages equivalent levels of ambition in all areas of the work progamme and reflects the 
interests of the entire membership.  We are convin ced that only such a declaration may be able to 
serve as a springboard for the successful c onclusion of the Doha Development Round. 
 
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