. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/97 
16 December 2005 
 (05-6072) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   Spanish 
 
 
 
COLOMBIA 
 
Statement by HE Mr Eduardo Muñoz
 
Vice Minister of Foreign Trade  
 
  On behalf of the Republic of Colombia, I should like to thank the Hong Kong, China authorities for their warm hospitality and to express our gratitude for the excellent arrangements for 
this Ministerial Conference. 
 
 This round is the Development Round.  We do not  believe that anyone would disagree with us 
if we were to define development as the achievement  of higher standards of living or to state that 
trade policy is but one of many ways of reaching this goal.  Where a cleavage of views does, however, seem to emerge is in relation to how such developm ent is to be achieved.  To this extent, we note 
differences as regards development objectiv es in the context of the Doha Round. 
 
 For many countries, these development objec tives are achieved through their exemption from 
or low degree of participation in market access commitments for both goods and services.   We, on the other hand, believe that the real c ontribution that this round of negotiations could 
make to developing countries is the commitment by developed countries to open their markets to the 
goods and services in which countries such as ours have  comparative advantages.  We also believe 
that this is the opportunity to reduce barriers to trade between developing countries.   It is Colombia's hope that developed countries will substantially eliminate both distortions to 
trade in agricultural goods and tariffs, in particular those which restrict trade in tropical products and 
substitute products for illicit crops.  We are also hoping for the elimination of tariff peaks on light 
industry products such as textiles, made-up ar ticles and foodstuffs.  Furthermore, we seek the 
scheduling of market access commitments which facil itate the mobility of persons for the provision of 
services unrelated to foreign direct investment.  
 As far as Colombia is concerned, this is wh at must be the real scope of the Development 
Round.  The trade-related assistance package cannot, by any manner or means, act as a substitute, but 
it can prove to be an ideal complement.   We wish to reiterate our readiness to take the steps required to ensure a successful outcome to 
this Ministerial Conference and to the Round.  Ho wever, we are somewhat disappointed to note that 
full modalities for negotiating market access commitments  were not able to be established in time for 
this Conference.  In spite of this, however, we do not wish to lower our level of ambition for the 
Round.   Special and differential treatment for developing  countries is an integral part of the Doha 
Ministerial Declaration and the WTO Agreements.  Its application in market access negotiations has 
translated into less than full reciprocity in tariff reduction commitments.  Caution is, however, 
required when applying this principle so that it does not translate into lax rules which lead to greater WT/MIN(05)/ST/97 
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discrimination within an Organization the unde rlying principle of which is precisely non-
discrimination.   Colombia has experienced the harmful effect s of discrimination.  Bananas, one of our 
country's major export items, is an example of how the developed world, citin g development support, 
accords different treatment to the exact same produc t when imported from different origins within the 
developing world.  We have categorically reject ed this situation and call upon this Ministerial 
Conference to find a satisfactory solution.   Special and differential treatment must addr ess the difficulties faced by developing countries 
in implementing their obligations.  However, such treatment must not become a loophole for 
circumventing such obligations, rather, quite the re verse, it should be an instrument for facilitating 
compliance.   We recognize the special status of least de veloped countries and support their special and 
differential treatment proposals, in particular their request for bound duty-free and quota-free access 
to the markets of developed countries.  This, much more than technical assistance, would be the most conducive step towards capacity-building in such countries.   We will continue striving to ensure that  the Doha work programme is completed as 
scheduled.  However, for this to happen, all Members must undertake co mmitments which allow a 
balanced final outcome.  Colombia undertakes to ma ke such a contribution, for the benefit of all 
Members, and expects similar inputs from all other Me mbers to ensure that this Round really does 
become a true Development Round.   Before concluding, I wish to thank the WTO Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation 
and the International Trade Centre for their exce llent work on capacity-building for developing and 
least developed countries.  Colombia has been a beneficiary of their programmes to disseminate WTO 
principles and rules.  As far as technical cooperation is concerned, special mention should be made of 
the work of the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL), from which we have received timely, 
quality advice.  This institution provides legal advisory services and rights protection services for 
developing and least developed c ountries, which is of paramount importance within the multilateral 
trading system.  Many thanks to the donor c ountries which have made its work possible. 
  Finally, Colombia is honoured to attend this, the Sixth Ministerial Conference, and, like other 
Members, foresees a successful outcome, which would be a step on the path towards a better world, 
with freer trade and welfare gains for all peoples. 
 
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