   
  
WT/MIN(24)/ST/125  
26 February  2024 
(24-1691) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
  
STATEMENT BY HON. DR HASHIL ABDALLAH  
PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE  
TANZANIA  
It is with great pleasure and hono ur to address this Thirteenth Ministerial Session of the World Trade 
Organization (WTO). At the outset, allow me to convey fraternal greetings to you all from 
H.E. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan , the President of the United Republic of Tanzania. I further wish to 
congratulate you Hon. Minister, H.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi on your election to Chair this 
Thirteenth WTO Min isterial. Let me also , on behalf of the Government of the United Republic of 
Tanzania , express our gratitude to the Government of the United Arab Emirates and indeed the 
people of this great country for the warm hospitality accorded to my delegation since our arrival 
here in Abu Dhabi.  
 
I would also like to congratulate  Dr Ngozi Oko njo-Iweala for her enthusiasm in advancing the work 
of the Organization since assuming her duties as the Director -General. In the same vein, I wish to 
commend the WTO Secretaria t's role in supporting Members during preparations and the 
organization of this very important meeting.   
 
The United Republic of Tanzania as one of the founding Members of the WTO will always stay firm 
in support of  the multilateral trading system. At this  important moment, when the global economy 
continues to face uncertainties, Tanzania supports a multilateral rules -based trading system that 
provides both protection and opportunities for all Members especially the least developed, small and 
vulnerable amo ng them. We believe that WTO has a significant role to play in ensuring global 
sustainable development is attained. At this juncture, we have an opportunity to promote a 
Multilateral Trading System with the right trajectory by enhancing WTO efficacy to exe cute its 
mandate starting with taking stock the implementation of previous Ministerial decisions.  
 
Tanzania supports WTO reform that ensures balanced interest of Members and with particular 
attention to support developing countries and LDCs to achieve the broad objective of inclusiveness 
and promoting sustainable development as enshrined in the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the 
WTO. In this regard, we would like to insist that an acceptable reform outcome should be balanced, 
and take into account the dif ferent needs of Members according to their economic and development 
asymmetries. Moreover, the reform should aim to rectify certain trade rules which somewhat 
contributed to the de -industrialization of some Members.  
 
On the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, I wish to emphasize that the fishing industry is an important 
economic activity for our country. Tanzania has a coastline of about 2,304 Km2 long, territorial Sea 
of about 64 Km2 and the EEZ of 223 Km2. The fishery sector employs about 103,253 direct fishers 
with total fish landings of about 100,000 tonnes. Like many other developing countries and LDCs, 
the industry is a main stay employment for communities surrounding water bodies, hence a source 
of incom e and food for both rural and urban livelihoods that has impact to the country economic 
growth.  
 
Discipline on fisheries subsidies should not abandon the development objective of countries that rely 
on artisanal and small -scale fisheries for economy and po verty alleviation. Looking in the draft text, 
on the "overcapacity and overfishing (OCOF) " it will be unbearable to let all Members comply with 
at a similar scale.  However, we remain committed to the common objective of sustainable marine 
resources and the refore will ensure that fisheries resource s are harvested in a sustainable and 
friendly manner. Further, it is of paramount importance to ensure the agreement encompasses WT/MIN(24)/ST/125  
 
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  adequate special and differential treatment including technical assistance and capaci ty building 
provisions for  LDCs and developing countries.  
 
Some of the effective and appropriate special and differential treatment which should feature in the 
agreement include the exclusion from discipline of artisanal and small -scale fishers; ca pping f or 
developing countries with small subsidies program support; and de minimis  threshold of 1 % of global 
capture for developing countries.  
 
With regards to the differentiation as stated in article A.1.1 of the draft text, it is inconsistent with 
the spirit a nd the letter of the agreement, considering it will be applied by large subsidizers. If such 
a measure is permitted, its scope of application should be confined within Members ' exclusive 
economic zones.  
 
In response to the ongoing food crisis diversificati on of production, and value addition together with 
agro-related strategic and targeted measures to increase productivity , particularly in traditional 
staple foods,  is critical for developing countries and LDCs.  This should be done with a view to increase 
economic resilience and enhance the productive capacities needed to create jobs, generate 
sustainable livelihoods, contribute to food security, increase incomes and improve quality of life. We 
need to enhance cooperation and work on building productive capa cities aiming at strengthening the 
domestic and regional food and agricultural value chains of developing Member states particularly 
the LDCs.  
 
Moreover, it is critical that MC13 outcome on agriculture builds on Decisions taken at MC12, 
prioritizing food security. Subsequently, WTO interventions and collaboration with relevant 
international organizations and external partners should be holistic by addressing the needs along 
the supply chain, including new technologies related to the production of basic foo dstuffs, 
processing, storage and marketing of agricultural commodities of which in turn will positively affect 
the productivity, competitiveness livelihoods of farmers and rural communities in developing 
countries and LDCs.   
 
On public stockholding, it is recommended to find a mutual acceptable permanent solution for food 
security purposes, taking into consideration of food security as an important aspect in economic and 
social welfare while  preventing market distortions and ensuring appropriate transparent  mechanism.  
 
On Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM), we may recall that most of developing countries and LDCs 
are not entitled to Special Safeguard (SSG) as enshrined in the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. Even 
those few developing Members with SSG entitlemen ts, have found it onerous to use this policy 
instrument. Therefore, a simplified SSM a rebut for Members to address surge of imports of 
agricultural products, suppressing domestic prices and production. Developing countries should be 
allowed to temporarily increase tariffs beyond their bound rates when addressing vulnerabilities 
caused by surges of  agricultural imports suppressing domestic prices.  
 
On electronic commerce moratorium, we call on the WTO to continue with efforts of conducting the 
economic impact assessment of the moratorium, in collaboration with other institutions with relevant 
expertise on electronic commerce. This will elucidate Members ' understanding on issues relating to 
the existing digital d ivide, the current and future poten tial loss of revenues from customs duties 
suspension on electronic transmissions.  
 
However, we recognize the need for further discussion on the implications of the moratorium on 
developing and LDC Member States and wish to insist on the consideration to incorporate the variable 
geometry before any further extension is provided.  
 
It will be a remiss of my address to conclude without urging Members for an expedited reform 
process on dispute settlement mechanism, with a view to restore a full functioning two tier system.  
A reformed dispute settlement should be accessible to all Members, irre spective of their geographical 
differences and development asymmetries. My delegation looks forward to a successful MC13 with 
concrete outcomes.  
 
In conclusion, we associate ourselves with the statements of the LDCs Group, African Group, G33 
and ACP Group , as delivered by respective coordinators of the groups.  
 
__________  