RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/GC/W/87
15May1998
ORGANIZATION(98-1948)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Geneva, 18and20May1998
DRAFT MINISTERIAL TEXT SUBMITTED BYTHE DIRECTOR-GENERAL
1. ThisSecond Session oftheMinisterial Conference oftheWTO istaking place ataparticularly
significant timeforthemultilateral trading system, when thefiftieth anniversary ofitsestablishment
isbeing commemorated. Onthisoccasion wepaytribute tothesystem 'simportant contribution over
thepasthalf-century togrowth, employment andstability bypromoting theliberalization andexpansion
oftradeandproviding aframework fortheconduct ofinternational traderelations, inaccordance with
theobjectives embodied inthePreambles totheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade andtheWorld
Trade Organization Agreement. Weagree, however, thatmore remains tobedonetoenable allthe
world 'speoples toshare fullyandequitably inthese achievements.
2. Weunderline thecrucial importance ofthemultilateral rules-based trading system. Wereaffirm
thecommitments andassessments wemade atSingapore, andwenotethatthework under existing
agreements anddecisions hasresulted insignificant newstepsforward sincewelastmet.Inparticular,
wewelcome thesuccessful conclusion ofthenegotiations onbasic telecommunications andfinancial
services andwetakenoteoftheimplementation oftheInformation Technology Agreement. Werenew
ourcommitment toachieve progressive liberalization oftrade ingoods andservices.
3. Thefiftieth anniversary comes atatimewhen theeconomies ofanumber ofWTO Members
areexperiencing difficulties asaresult ofdisturbances infinancial markets. Wetakethisopportunity
tounderline thatkeeping allmarkets open must beakeyelement inadurable solution tothese
difficulties. Withthisinmind, wereject theuseofanyprotectionist measures andagree toworktogether
intheWTO asintheIMFandtheWorld Bank toimprove thecoherence ofinternational economic
policy-making withaviewtomaximizing thecontribution thatanopen, rule-based trading system can
make tofostering stable growth foreconomies atalllevels ofdevelopment.
4. Werecognizetheimportanceofenhancingpublicunderstandingofthebenefitsofthemultilateral
trading system inorder tobuild support foritandagree towork towards thisend. Inthiscontext
wewillconsiderhowtoimprovethetransparencyofWTOoperations.Weshallalsocontinuetoimprove
ourefforts towards theobjective ofsustainable development.
5. Werenew ourcommitment toensuring thatthebenefits ofthemultilateral trading system are
extended aswidely aspossible. Werecognize theneedforthesystem tomake itsowncontribution
inresponse totheparticular trade interests anddevelopment needs ofdeveloping-country Members.
Wewelcome thework already underway intheCommittee onTrade andDevelopment forreviewing
theapplication ofspecial provisions intheMultilateral Trade Agreements andrelated Ministerial
Decisions infavour ofdeveloping country Members, andinparticular theleast-developed among them.
6. Weremain deeply concerned overthemarginalization ofleast-developed countries andcertain
small economies, which hasbeencompounded bythechronic foreign debtproblem facing many of
them, andrecognize theurgent needtoaddress thisissue. Inthiscontext wewelcome theinitiatives
taken bytheWTO incooperation withother agencies toimplement inanintegrated manner thePlan
ofAction fortheleast-developed countries which weagreed atSingapore, especially through theHigh-WT/GC/W/87
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Level Meeting onLeast-Developed Countries heldinGeneva inOctober 1997. Wealsowelcome the
report oftheDirector-General onthefollow-up ofthisinitiative, towhich weattach greatimportance.
Wecommit ourselves tocontinue toimprove market access conditions forproducts exported bythe
least-developed countries onasbroad andliberal abasisaspossible. WeurgeMembers toimplement
themarket-access commitments thattheyhaveundertaken attheHigh-Level Meeting.
7. Wewelcome theWTO Members whohave joined since wemetinSingapore: Congo,
Democratic Republic ofCongo, Mongolia, Niger andPanama. Werecall thataccession totheWTO
requires fullrespect ofWTO rules aswellasmeaningful andcommercially viable market access on
thepartofacceding candidates. Wewelcome theprogress made with31applicants currently negotiating
theiraccession andrenew ourresolution toensure thattheaccession processes proceed asrapidly as
possible.
8. Fullandfaithful implementation oftheWTO Agreement andMinisterial Decisions isimperative
forthecredibility ofthemultilateral trading system andindispensable formaintaining themomentum
forexpanding global trade, fostering jobcreation andraising standards ofliving inallparts ofthe
world. When wemeetattheThird Session weshallfurther pursue ourevaluation oftheimplementation
ofindividual agreements andtherealization oftheirobjectives. Such evaluation would cover, inter
alia,theproblems encountered inimplementation andtheconsequent impact onthetrade and
development prospects ofMembers.
9. Inaccordance withparagragh 2ofArticle IIIoftheWTO Agreement, wehavedecided to
establish abroad-based process among WTO Members under theauspices oftheGeneral Council with
aviewtoidentifying measures forachieving further progressive trade liberalization, while enabling
ustorespond totheinterests andconcerns ofallMembers andtokeeptherules-based WTO system
abreast ofthelatest developments intheworld economy. Theprocess should commence work atthe
beginning of1999, withareview ofprogress bytheGeneral Council inJune1999, andonthebasis
ofconsensus, prepare, forourconsideration attheThird Session,
(a) recommendations concerning:
(i) theissues relating toimplementation brought forward byMembers;
(ii) thenegotiations already mandated thatwillallow them toproceed effectively
onschedule;
(b) recommendations, onthebasis ofconsensus, concerning future work:
(i) already provided forinexisting agreements anddecisions taken atMarrakesh;
(ii) onthebasis ofthework programme initiated atSingapore, recognizing that
theGeneral Council istoreceive recommendations fromtherelevant working
groups, which willbeimportant tofurther consideration in1999;
(c) recommendations onthefollow uptotheHigh-Level Meeting onLeast-Developed
Countries;
(d) recommendations onother matters proposed andagreed tobyMembers concerning
theirmultilateral trade relations; andWT/GC/W/87
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(e) recommendations concerning theorganization andmanagement oftheworkprogramme
arisingfromtheabove,includingitsscope,structureandtime-frame,aimedatachieving
overall balance among theinterests ofallMembers.
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