   
  
WT/MIN(24)/DEC  
 
4 March 2024  
(24-2004) Page: 1/4 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 February -2 March 2024    
 
  
ABU DHABI MINISTERIAL DECLARATION  
ADOPTED ON 2 MARCH  2024 
We, the Ministers, have met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 26 February to 2 March  2024 
for our Thirteenth Session. As we conclude our session, we would like to express deep appreciation 
to the Government and people of the United Arab Emirates for their excellent organization of the 
Conference and the warm hospitality we have received i n Abu Dhabi.  
 
1. Our Thirteenth Session takes place as we mark the 30th anniversary since the establishment 
of the WTO. On this occasion, we reaffirm the principles and objectives enshrined in the Marrakesh 
Agreement.  
 
2. We acknowledge that during these 30 year s, WTO Members have sought to fulfil the objectives 
reflected in the Preamble to the Marrakesh Agreement consistent with Members' respective needs 
and concerns at different levels of economic development. Important progress has been made.  
 
3. We stress the im portance of implementation of the WTO agreements, Ministerial Decisions 
and Declarations and take note of the progress on some issues reflected in the reports from the 
General Council and its subsidiary bodies. We instruct the relevant WTO bodies to expedi te further 
work.  
 
4. We reaffirm our commitment made at our Twelfth Session to work towards necessary reform 
of the WTO to improve all its functions and acknowledge the progress made in this regard. We note 
and value the work done to date to improve the daily  functioning of WTO Councils, Committees and 
Negotiating Groups with a view to enhancing the WTO's efficiency, effectiveness, and facilitation of 
Members' participation in WTO work.1 We instruct the General Council and its subsidiary bodies to 
continue to conduct this work and report progress as appropriate to the next Ministerial Conference.  
 
5. We resolve to preserve and strengthen the ability of the multilateral trading system, with t he 
WTO at its core, to provide meaningful impetus to respond to current trade challenges, take 
advantage of available opportunities, and ensure the WTO's proper functioning.  
 
6. We underscore the importance of open, inclusive, resilient, sustainable, diversif ied and reliable 
global supply chains, and their role in ensuring that production and trade can more easily recover 
from crisis and disruptions. We note the work being done in WTO bodies, especially on transparency 
including information sharing, and welcom e efforts to promote the resilience of global supply chains.  
 
7. We reiterate the centrality of the development dimension in the work of the WTO. We 
recognise that the full integration of developing Members, including least -developed countries 
(LDCs), in the multilateral trading system is important for their economic development and stress 
the need to make positive efforts so that the gains from trade benefit them in accordance with the 
Marrakesh Agreement.  
 
 
1 A report containing the state of play of this work since MC12 can be found in document 
WT/MIN(24)/7 /Rev.1 . WT/MIN(24)/DEC  
 
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  8. We reaffirm the provisions of special and differenti al treatment for developing Members and 
LDCs as an integral part of the WTO and its agreements. Special and differential treatment in WTO 
agreements should be precise, effective and operational. In addition, we recall that trade is to be 
conducted with a v iew to raising standards of living, ensuring full employment, pursuing sustainable 
development of Members, and enhancing the means for doing so in a manner consistent with 
Members' respective needs and concerns at different levels of economic development. We instruct 
officials to continue to work on improving the application of S&DT in the CTD SS and other relevant 
venues in the WTO, as agreed and report on progress to the General Council before MC14.  
 
9. We recognise the role of the Working Group on Trade and  Transfer of Technology (WGTTT) in 
holding discussions within the WTO and encourage their continuation, including by continuing to 
work with other relevant international organizations.  
 
10. We recognise the particular vulnerability and special needs of LDCs. In this regard, we 
underscore that their interests should  be given due priority for them to secure meaningful integration 
into the multilateral trading system. We note our instructions in Paragraph 8 of the MC12 Outcome 
Document concerning operationa lisation of decisions taken in favor of the LDCs and acknowledge 
the work done so far. We instruct the relevant bodies to continue their work , and the General Council 
to report back to our next Session on progress.  
 
11. Recalling that, at our Twelfth Session,  we recognised the role that certain measures in 
the WTO can play to facilitate smooth and sustainable transition for Members after their graduation 
from LDC Category, we welcome the Decision adopted by the General Council in WT/L/1172 . 
 
12. We recogni se the importance of the Aid for Trade Initiative for developing Members, including 
LDCs, for trade -related capacity building, and for contributing to their integration into the multilateral 
trading system.  We recogni se the contributions made by the WTO's Institu te for Training and 
Technical Cooperation (ITTC) in this regard and by the contributors to the range of extra budgetary 
funds managed by the WTO that support training and capacity building for developing Members. We 
look forward to the outcomes of the 9th Global Review and recogni se the continuing need for this 
initiative. We also note the efforts and discussions underway among certain Members to continue 
extra budgetary trade -related technical assistance dedicated to LDCs.   
 
13. We reaffirm our commitment to t he Work Programme on Small Economies and to facilitate 
the integration of small, vulnerable economies (SVEs) into the multilateral trading system by 
continuing to highlight their priorities and seek solutions in all aspects of the work of the WTO.  
 
14. We ackn owledge the importance of dedicated sessions on transit at the Committee on Trade 
Facilitation. We instruct the Committee on Trade and Development to hold focused sessions, to 
assess trade -related challenges identified for the fuller integration of Landloc ked Developing 
Countries (LLDCs) into the multilateral trading system. The Committee on Trade and Development 
shall report to the General Council and propose recommendations, if any, to the Fourteenth Session 
of the Ministerial Conference.  
 
15. In recalling th e objectives in the Marrakesh Agreement and in recogni sing the role that the 
multilateral trading system can play in contributing towards the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda 
and its Sustainable Development Goals, in so far as they relate to the WTO manda te, we underscore 
the importance of trade and sustainable development in its three pillars – economic, social, and 
environmental.  
 
16. We recognise that women's economic empowerment and women's participation in trade 
contributes to economic growth and sustaina ble development. We take note of WTO work, including 
in collaboration with other relevant international organizations, through activities such as 
capacity -building initiatives and sharing experience to facilitate women's participation in trade.2 
 
 
2 These are general messages on cross -cutting issues that do not change the rights or obligations 
of WTO Members and do not relate to any Joint S tatement Initiatives.  WT/MIN(24)/DEC  
 
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  17. We recog nise the important role that Micro, Small and Medium -sized Enterprises (MSMEs) 
play in economic growth, sustainable development, and poverty reduction in all WTO Members, while 
noting the differences in context, challenges, and capabilities of MSMEs among Members.  We take 
note of  the WTO work, including in collaboration with other relevant international organizations  
through activities such as capacity -building initiatives, sharing of experience, and relevant tools and 
platforms  to facilitate MSMEs particip ation in international trade.3 
 
18. Members recognise the role and importance of services to the global economy as it generates 
more than two -thirds of global economic output and accounts for over half of all jobs. Services play 
a critical role in providing a  stable environment for economic growth and development and tackling 
global challenges. We acknowledge the need to facilitate the increased participation of developing 
Members, including LDCs, in global services trade paying particular attention to sectors  and modes 
of supply of export interest to them. We acknowledge the importance of the work undertaken in the 
Council for Trade in Services (in regular and special session) and its subsidiary bodies and commit 
to reinvigorate work on trade in services withi n the mandate of the GATS and other existing  
mandates including through further thematic, evidence -based discussions.  
 
19. We celebrate the enlargement of the Organization in accordance with Article XII of the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade O rganization. We note with satisfaction that this 
Conference has completed the accession procedures for two least -developed countries, Comoros and 
Timor -Leste. We recognise the contribution of accessions to strengthening the multilateral trading 
system and recall our commitments at our Twelfth Session.  
 
20. We recognise the special situation of the Members that acceded in accordance with Article XII 
of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization who have undertaken 
extensive commitments at the time of accession, including in market access. This situation shall be 
taken into account in negotiations.  
 
21. We recognise the short -term challenges faced by Members, in particular developing Members, 
including LDCs, confronting global and  domestic crises including disasters caused by natural hazards. 
We encourage relevant WTO bodies to continue Member -driven work, aimed at supporting resilience 
and disaster preparedness. Discussions may focus on how the WTO agreements can support crisis 
management frameworks, as well as how they contribute to preventing new risks, reducing existing 
risks, and increasing resilience. Discussions may include other relevant international organizations 
to promote coherence.  A report of work undertaken and any re commendations for future action, as 
appropriate, based on Members ' suggestions, shall be presented to the General Council ahead 
of MC14.  
 
22. We recall the Declaration in MC12 on the "WTO Response to the COVID -19 Pandemic and 
Preparedness for Future Pandemics" and take note of the work done in relevant WTO Councils and 
Committees, as reflected in the General Council report in document WT/MIN(24)/8 . We encourage 
the relevant WTO bodies to continue their work as directed by the Declaration, based on Members' 
submissions, to review and build on all the lessons learned and the challenges experienced during 
the COVID -19 pandemic, to build effective solutio ns in case of future pandemics in an expeditious 
manner. We also note the work of the WTO Secretariat in supporting this work with data, analysis, 
and technical cooperation, including through trilateral cooperation with the World Health 
Organization (WHO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and cooperation with 
other relevant international organizations, and encourage it to continue doing so going forward, as 
appropriate.  
 
23. We welcome the decisions and declarations adopted by Ministers  as follows:  
 
• Work Programme on Small Economies – Ministerial Decision – WT/MIN(24)/33  – WT/L/1188  
• WTO Smooth Transition Support Measures in Favour of Countries Graduated from the 
LDC Category – Ministerial Decision – WT/MIN(24)/34  – WT/L/1189  
 
3 These are general messages on cross -cutting issues that do not change the rights or obligations of 
WTO Members and do not relate to any Joint Statement Initiatives.  WT/MIN(24)/DEC  
 
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  • Strengthening Regulatory Cooperation to Reduce Technical Barriers to Trade – 
Ministerial  Declaration – WT/MIN(24)/35  – WT/L/1190  
• The Precise, Effective and Operational Implementation of Special and Differential Treatment 
Provisions of the Agreement on t he Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and 
the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade  – Ministerial Declaration – WT/MIN(24)/ 36 – 
WT/L/ 1191 
• Dispute Settlement Reform – Ministerial Decision – WT/MIN(24)/37  – WT/L/1192  
• Work Programme on Electronic Commerce – Ministerial Decision – WT/MIN(24)/ 38 – 
WT/L/ 1193 
• TRIPS Non -Violation and Situation Complaints – Ministerial Decision – WT/MIN(24 )/39 – 
WT/L/ 1194 
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