. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/ST/11
10 November 2001
(01-5589)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth Session
Doha, 9 - 13 November 2001Original:  English
GERMANY
Statement by H.E. Dr. Axel Gerlach
State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
Let me begin by thanking our hosts, His Hig hness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khelifa Al Thani, and
the organizers of this Conference for their great commitment.
At this time in particular, following the terrorist attacks on the United States,  it is right for us
to come to Doha to launch a new world trade round.  The members of the international community in
east and west, north and south are thus giving an important signal of unity and solidarity.  The
civilized world cannot and must not allow its agenda to be dictated by international terrorism.  In the
current world economic situation, the continuation of liberalization on the basis of a rule-basedmultilateral world trading system and of a genuine development dimension is more important than
ever, both politically and economically.
The inclusion of China and Taiwan, which we will decide at this Conference, will also help to
strengthen the multilateral WTO trading system.  This is another way in which the Doha Conference
will become a milestone on the way to a genuinely global world trading system.
The coming decision on the start of a new world trade round will set the course for the future:
- In economic terms, we want further liberalization of world trade to stimulate fresh
growth and employment.  What the world economy needs now is a signal of
confidence in the future.
- It is also important that all WTO Members benefit appropriately from future
liberalization.
A key objective of the EU for the new round is therefore greater involvement of the
developing countries in world trade through market access, improved rules and
technical assistance.  With its "everything but arms" initiative, the EU has already
taken a substantial unilateral measure to benefit the least-developed countries.
- In political terms, it is important to strengthen the WTO and to adapt the world
trading system to new challenges.  Strong and reliable world trade rules benefit all
WTO Members, but especially the small ones, since they then have the possibility to
enforce their rights.  But we need to develop the rules further and to keep them up to
date.  Therefore, the EU has always advocated a broad agenda for a new round which
opens up the WTO for the so-called "new issues".  These are:  trade and environment;
trade and social development;  trade and investment;  and trade and competition.WT/MIN(01)/ST/11
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I must once again emphasize one point:  we ar e not pursuing any protectionist goals.  Nor do
we aim to threaten comparative competition advantages of the developing countries.  We have a
different objective;  globalization offers great opportunities for economic development, but it also
involves risks.  It is important for us to develop the opportunities of globalization to the benefit of all
WTO Members and to minimize the risks by utilizing our scope for policy-making and rule-setting.
This Conference can give a three-fold signal:- A signal of political continuity, economic stability and an open, rule-based system of
world trade;
- a signal of the desire of the international community to work together to shape a
framework for the world economy, and thus to help the fight against terrorism;
- and a signal of our readiness to tackle the challenges of globalization and to seek an
appropriate balance of interests between industrial and developing countries.
If the Conference is to reach a successful co nclusion, it will be important to cover all the
major issues in an overall package.  All – and I emphasize:  all – the participants at this Conference
will have to show flexibility and a readiness to compromise.  Germany is read to cooperate
constructively and openly in the search for a compromise which points towards the future and brings
benefits for all the WTO Members.
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