. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/ST/134
13 September 2003
(03-4921)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth Session
Cancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  French
BURKINA FASO
Statement by H.E. Mr. Benoît Ouattara
Minister of Trade, Enterprise Promotion and Handicrafts
At the outset, I should like to associate myself with those delegations that have already taken
the floor to express my deep sorrow at the tragic death of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden,Her Excellency Anna Lindh.  I offer my most sincere condolences to the bereaved family, the
Government and the people of the Kingdom of Sweden.
Allow me to warmly thank the President, the Government and the people of Mexico for their
welcome and the hospitality that has been extended to us since our arrival here in the beautiful City ofCancún.
I should also like to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, on your election to the chairmanship of
our Conference.
The Round of multilateral trade negotiations launched in Doha has been dubbed the
Development Round.  This has kindled a great deal of hope in least-developed countries likeBurkina Faso.
I should like to pay tribute to the Chairman of the General Council for his efforts to find a
consensus on the negotiating issues.  Thanks are also due to the Director-General of the WTO and his
team.
Burkina Faso supports the positions expressed by the LDCs, the ACP and the African Union
on the different issues under negotiation.  However, we should like to lay stress on the following
points.
On the question of agriculture:
With regard to market access, Burkina Faso proposes a substantial reduction in the duties
applied to agricultural products by the developed and newly industrialized countries.
We also wish to see a sharp reduction in tariff escalation on the basis on the degree of product
processing.
We recommend unrestricted duty-free and quota-free access to developed country markets for
all tropical products originating in the LDCs.WT/MIN(03)/ST/134
Page 2
As regards domestic support, our proposals are as follows:
- A substantial reduction in support measures capable of creating distortions on the
market;
- a critical review of the use of Green Box and Blue Box measures.
Lastly, with regard to export subsidies, we propose their rapid elimination and the
introduction of a discipline on export credits.
There is one matter to which my country attaches the greatest importance at this Fifth
Ministerial Conference, namely the sectoral initiative in favour of cotton, on which three othercountries of West and Central Africa have the same vision as Burkina Faso.
I take this opportunity to thank all those delegations which have supported us, while
expressing the hope that a favourable solution can be found at the conclusion of this Ministerial
Conference.
Concerning market access for non-agricultural products, Burkina Faso proposes the
following:
- Improved market access for products from developing and least-developed countries;- maintenance of the preferences granted to the developing countries and the LDCs.Concerning the Singapore Issues, we call for the continuation of the process of clarification of
the questions raised in paragraphs 25 and 26 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.
Finally, I welcome the favourable outcome recently achieved in connection with the trade-
related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) and public health.  Indeed, the promotion of
access for all, at affordable prices, to essential medicines is a measure capable of bringing relief to
millions of sick people, particularly in Africa.
That concludes my delegation's contribution to the work of the Conference.
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