./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(98)/ST/114
20 May 1998
(98-2178)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Second Session
Geneva, 18 and 20 May 1998Original:  English
UGANDA
Statement Circulated by the Hon. H.M. Kajura,
Minister of Trade and Industry
1. The focus of our deliberations are two issues namely:  implementation of the Uruguay
Agreements and future activities.
The objective of facilitating and promoting economic development of developing countries
was reiterated in the Uruguay Agreements.  The preamble of the Marrakesh Agreement clearly
pointed out that, "there is need for positive efforts designed to ensure that developing countries,
especially the least developed among them, secure a share in growth in international tradecommensurate with the needs of their development".
2. Globalization and liberalization, while increasing the efficiency, has resulted into
marginalization of developing countries especially the LDCs.  Many countries lack various elements
in physical, financial, human and institutional infrastructure necessary to enter and compete
effectively in international markets.  Domestic supply side constraints seriously limit our exportresponse, and ability to exploit our market access potential.
3. The key issue for Uganda, as indeed is for all developing countries, is that the Agreements
emanating from the multilateral agenda for negotiations must be supportive of our own strategy for
national economic development and in particular the role trade plays in this strategy.  Investment and
removal of economic barriers are crucial for strengthening the capacity of developing countries to
manage their development process.
4. Uganda is committed to economic and trade liberalization.  For a least-developed country, our
economic and trade regime stands out as being among the most liberal in the world.  If our economies
are to be able to attract investment, expand production, improve product quality, meet standards and
benefit from the opportunities presented by multilateral trading system, the liberalization we have put
in place must be complimented by a supportive international environment.  This means addressing the
problems of debt, market access and supply constraints.
5. As a developing country, we place great importance on the implementation of the Uruguay
Round Agreements.  For us the success of the WTO would be measured on the basis of whether
implementation has succeeded in significantly contributing positively to the development of our
economies.  The WTO should take stock of the implementation process to evaluate whether the
prospects of economic growth and sustainable development of developing countries have beenachieved as anticipated in the Uruguay Round Agreements.
6. For most of our countries the implementation of the WTO Agreements has been burdensome
and, therefore, requires significant technical assistance to build the necessary capacity to ensureWT/MIN(98)/ST/114
Page 2
compliance and implementation.  For example, a number of the ACP countries have faced difficulties
in fulfilling their notification obligations, in conf ormity with WTO Agreements, as well as in seeking
to exploit opportunities which the Uruguay Round Agreements offer, due to limited human and
institutional capacity.  Our countries also face difficulties in meeting the time-frame of the transition
periods.  There is an urgent need for our countries to be provided with resources, both financial andtechnical, to prepare our domestic legislation to conform to the Uruguay Round Agreements.
7. We wish to point out that the reason for transition arrangements was not only to give
developing countries longer time-period for preparing the legislation for compliance.  There was also
an implied assumption, especially for the LDCs, that they will be provided with economic assistance
to develop and reach a stage whereby they have capacity to comply and also be able to reap the
benefits of the Uruguay Agreements.
8. The ACP Group, therefore, supports the initiative for the LDCs but notes the need for
appropriate measures and mechanisms for the effective implementation of the decision.  We
acknowledge that various forms of disadvantages characterize the vulnerable, low-income, land-
locked and small island economics and that special consideration should be given to them in the
WTO.  We urge the WTO and the other agencies to improve the technical assistance provided to ACP
countries to meet their country-specific needs.  The technical assistance should target both the need tounderstand, as appropriate, the various Uruguay Round Agreements and their capacity to meet their
obligations under the WTO and to overcome supply side constraints.
9. As regards the process of accession, we reiterate our position that developing countries,
especially small and island economies should not be required to undertake more obligations than
those relating to the strict application of WTO Agreements.
10. To facilitate the integration of developing countries in the globalized and liberalized
international economy, the role of the private sector in enhancing development is vital.  The
multilateral trading system should adopt measures for supporting the private sector in developing
countries for this purpose.  We urge the WTO and the Bretton Woods institutions to improve their
coordination in global policy making.
11. As regards future work we believe that the focus of WTO at this time should be on
implementation of existing Agreements and the built-in agenda.  We, however, recognize that WTO
as a forum for negotiations among its Members needs to keep pace with changing times and the rapid
evolution of ideas.  We are, therefore, prepared to consider the reports of the Working Groups on
Trade and Investment, Trade and Competition and Transparency in Government Procurement when
these are completed and ready for presentation to the General Council.  These are distinct issues,
which should not be put on the same footing as those where there is already agreement to conductnegotiations under the WTO rubric.  Needless to say, any future agenda must of necessity include the
follow up of the High-Level Meeting of the LDCs.
12. The success of WTO in promoting trade liberalization and its binding dispute settlement
mechanism may tempt some to use as a vehicle for achieving other objectives, which though
desirable, are not central to its mission.  This wo uld be most unfortunate.  As "the Economist" of 16
May stated and I quote: "The WTO must also decide how closely to become involved in more esoteric
issues such as antitrust rules, foreign investment restrictions, workers' rights and environmental
protection.  These matters are conceptually complex and particularly contentious because they intrude
on what many governments consider to be domestic policy.  The WTO must strike a balance between
attacking domestic policies that seriously distort trade and avoiding infringements of nationalsovereignty."
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