WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/W/23
14 September 2003
(03-4939)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth Session
Cancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  English
PARAGRAPH 18 OF THE DRAFT MINISTERIAL TEXT
(JOB(03)150/REV.2) – SMALL ECONOMIES
Joint Proposal by Landlocked Developing Countries1
(Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Bo tswana, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Kazakhstan,
 Kyrgyz Republic, Malawi, Mali, Mongolia, Paraguay, Rwanda, Swaziland, Uganda,
 Zambia and Zimbabwe)
The following communication, dated 13 September 2003, has been received from the
delegation of Paraguay on behalf of the above delegations.
_______________
Original Text
Small Economies
We reaffirm our commitment to the Work Programme on Small Economies and urge
Members to adopt measures that would facilitate th e fuller integration of small, vulnerable economies
into the multilateral trading system.  We take note of the report of the Committee on Trade and
Development in Dedicated Session on the Work Programme on Small Economies to the GeneralCouncil and the recommendations made therein. We instruct the Committee on Trade and
Development, under the overall responsibility of the General Council, to continue the work in the
dedicated Sessions with the aim of completing it as soon as possible but not later than 1 January 2005.
We instruct the General Council to report on progress and action taken, together with any further
recommendations as appropriate, to our next Session.
Suggested Text
Small Economies
We reaffirm our commitment to the Work Programme on Small Economies and urge
Members to adopt measures that would facilitate th e fuller integration of small, vulnerable economies ,
including landlocked developing countries , into the multilateral trading system.  We take note of
the report of the Committee on Trade and Development in Dedicated Session on the Work
Programme on Small Economies to the General Council and the recommendations made therein.  Weinstruct the Committee on Trade and Development, under the overall responsibility of the General
Council, to continue the work in the dedicated Sessions with the aim of completing it as soon as
possible but not later than 1 January 2005.  We instruct the General Council to report on progress and
action taken, together with any further recommendations as appropriate, to our next Session.
                                                     
1 The Landlocked Developing countries include a group of Developing Countries, Least-Developed
Countries and Countries with Economies in Transition.WT/MIN(03)/W/23
Page 2
ANNEX
LANDLOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES COMMUNIQUÉ
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Botswana, Bhutan, Burkina Faso,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Malawi, Mali, Mongolia, Paraguay, Rwanda,
Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Cancun, Mexico – 13 September 2003
1. The Ministers of the Landlocked Developing countries, attending the World Trade
Organization Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference, with the firm purpose of jointly
working with the WTO Members, agree to establish a substantial reform of the
multilateral trade system, with the objective of achieving more fair and equitable trade
rules, taking into special consideration the peculiar situation of the LandlockedDeveloping countries.
2. The Landlocked Developing countries, as small and vulnerable economies, are confronted
by unique geographical situation, that impart higher transport and transaction costs to
their goods and services, limiting their competi tiveness. In this context, efficient trade
facilitation and effective preferential market access for their products in the international
markets, are priorities for those countries, that calls for closer cooperation of the
international community and, particularly, of the WTO Members.
3. The recent International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Countries and
Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit
Transport Cooperation in the context of the Un ited Nations, held at Almaty, Kazakhstan,
on August 28 and 29, has recommended for consideration by the WTO the following
critical issues that will alleviate the difficulties faced by their goods and services today:
a. The fulfilment of paragraph 35 of the Doha Declaration, that mandates the WTO
General Council to review the work programme and make recommendations foraction to the Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference to address the issues related
to trade of the small and vulnerable economies and their full integration into the
multilateral trading system.
b. Trade is an important engine for economic development. There is therefore need for
special provisions to ease the handicaps and enable a greater participation of
Landlocked Developing countries in international trade, which is crucial for their
development prospects.
c. The significance of taking into consideration the request presented by Landlocked
Developing countries that the current negotiations on market access for agricultural
and non-agricultural goods and services should consider giving free access on tariffs
and quotas for all products originating from Landlocked Developing countries.
d. The need to provide effective trade facilitation to the Landlocked
Developing countries, which could expedite the customs procedures at border-
crossing and through transit countries, on the way to the sea ports.WT/MIN(03)/W/23
Page 3
e. The accession of Landlocked Developing c ountries to the WTO should be further
accelerated, taking into account their need for special and differentiated treatment
regarding their accession.
4. We welcome the accession of the Kingdom of Nepal to the World Trade Organization.
5. Finally, the Ministers request here in Cancun that a special work  programme and
Development Box be established under the auspices of the WTO General Council to
address the issues related to the trade of Landlocked Developing countries, particularly on
trade facilitation, transport, full market access, and financial assistance and capacity
building.
__________