WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/84
11December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5254)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
MACAU
Statement byMr.Vítor Rodrigues Pessoa
Secretary forEconomic Coordination
Theestablishment oftheWorld Trade Organization on1January 1995represented adecisive
steptoward reinforcement oftheworld economy andpromotion oftrade, investment, employment
andsustained growth throughout theworld, results oftheparticularly successful Marrakesh Declaration.
TheWorld Trade Organization has,inthese almost twoyears ofexistence, evolved fromthe
oldGATT platform, strictly centred ontradeofgoods. Ithasnowmoved toawider multilateral forum
ofnegotiation ofissues relating toservices andprotection ofintellectual property, thusproviding an
invaluable service tothecause ofpeoples 'progress andoverall economic andsocial development.
Thegreat diversity ofcountries andterritories under theWTO 'sumbrella andthedifferent
levels ofdevelopment characterizing them areastimulus andachallenge totheOrganization inits
mission ofstriving toclose gapsondisparities, promoting common linksandunderstanding themulti-
dimension ofproblems, further deepened bytheinternationalization ofmarkets andtheglobalization
oftheworld economy.
Small economies suchasMacau participate inthepresent Ministerial Conference withmixed
feelings ofexpectation andconcern.
Expectation because, fromtheresolutions ofthisConference, theyhopeforacknowledgement
thattheirreversible process ofliberalization ofinternational textiles trade doestakeintoaccount the
needs ofthese suppliers.
Economies suchasMacau 'sexpect awider opening-up ofmajor importing markets, especially
inproducts thatarestillrestricted, toprevent notonlydisruption oftrade ofthese small producers,
butalsoanactual phase outandadjustment totakeplace inimporting markets.
Expectation thattheevaluation ofpeoples 'living standards worldwide beconsidered themajor
objective oftheinternational trade system, leading tocloser relations between countries. Therefore,
suchobjective should havearealistic impact onthevarious countries 'working conditions across the
board.
Inthisfield, Asian economies areparticularly concerned overaneventual direct application
todeveloping countries oflabour standards fromtheirdeveloped counterparts. Sustained development
oftheformer would beindanger ofjeopardy, withcurrent comparative advantages stillbeing lost
intheshort run.
./.WT/MIN(96)/ST/84
Page2
TheGovernment ofMacau believes ittoberather unrealistic atthistimetoimpose abrupt
changes inworking conditions inmanufacturing sectors ofdeveloping countries, without putting
employment atrisk.
Hence, Macau states hereandnowitswillingness tosubscribe adeclaration whereby astable
andrealistic consensus should beendorsed to,andmade under theauspices of,theInternational Labour
Organization, initscapacity astheUnited Nations specialized agency forpromotion oflabour and
employment-related matters.
Ontheotherhand, webelieve theissueofliberalization oftradeinservices requires anaccurate
formulation, especially where financial services andtelecommunications areconcerned. Infact,this
isoneoftheareas raising major public opinion expectations asregards WTO efficiency anddecision-
making capability ofitsMembers.
Macau seeswithgreat optimism anyeffort ofliberalization being undertaken intheservice
sector, asthisisconsidered byourGovernment essential totheimplementation oftheobjectives
proclaimed forthisConference where thereview oftheGeneral Agreement onTrade inServices is
concerned.
Another source ofanticipation inrespect ofthisMeeting isthecombat ofillegal practices in
world trade, asanessential contribution tothemultilateral system andrulesarising outoftheUruguay
Round, which isfundamental topreserve andenforce.
Inthisparticular field, Macau would liketoseerules oforigin remain stable, especially at
atimewhen theirmultilateral negotiation isbeing discussed under theWorld Customs Organization
umbrella.
Moreover, theGovernment ofMacau believes thatitwould beofgreat significance iffrom
thisMeeting major trading partners would bediscouraged toresort tobothsafeguard mechanisms under
theTextile andClothing Agreement andanti-dumping measures asaformofeconomic protectionism.
Hence, Macau isparticularly pleased topublicly prove itsowneffort ofliberalization formost
trading markets, bytaking theinitiative toextend itscustoms tariffs consolidation atzeropercentto
cover awider range ofproducts.
Finally,theGovernmentofMacaubelievesWTOexpansiontonewmembersisalwaysapositive
contribution totheinternational tradesystem, enabling themtoshare inglobal growth andeliminating
access market restrictions thatstillprevail insome parts oftheglobe.
TheGovernment ofMacau associates itself, therefore, withthose trading partners whoare
closely following theongoing negotiations inthisfield, while atthesame timetrusting thattheparties
involved willseriously consider thebenefits inwelcoming newcomers totheirranks.
WesincerelyhopethatMinistersparticipatingatthisConferencemayfindtheconsensusrequired
toachieve thenecessary, butdifficult, compromize between trade liberalization demands, especially
from developed countries, andtheguarantee ofsustained development ofdeveloping economies.