  
  
WT/MIN(22)/ST/116  
12 June 2022 
(22-4556) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY SENATOR THE HON. KAMINA JOHNSON SMITH  
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE OF JAMAICA  
AND MINISTERIAL COORDINATOR OF THE ACP GROUP  
JAMAICA  
The convening of this Ministerial Conference comes at a critical time of extreme complexity and deep 
uncertainty, when the global economy is facing a host of challenges, which appear to be increasing 
in severity. Nonetheless, the fact that MC 12  is happening, having been thrice postponed, is in itself 
a success to be welcomed.  
Since the last ministerial conference which was convened in Buenos Aires in 2017, WTO Members 
have had to confront and grapple with the COVID -19 pandemic, a public health crisis of 
unprecedented severity, scale and impact which has  disproportionately affec ted small developing 
countries like Jamaica. The war in Ukraine presents an additional layer of complications, producing 
alarming cascading effects to a world economy already scarred by the pandemic and pernicious 
climate change.  The conflict has had a dir ect adverse impact on food, fertilizers, transportation, 
energy and financial markets, triggering fears of a global economic and financial recession deeper 
than that which occurred in 2008 -2010.  
As with many countries, the pandemic had a significant impact  on Jamaica 's macro - and 
socio-economic environment resulting in an unparalleled health crisis and a historic economic 
contraction. Jamaica was negatively affected by the pandemic including through (i) a decline in 
economic activity; (ii) a decline in real  gross domestic product (GDP) by 9.9 percent in 2020, the 
largest decline ever recorded, and which reversed the trend of economic growth; (iii) a decline in 
output and productivity, with the greatest impact on the services sector which declined by 10.9 %, 
while the goods sector contracted by 4.5 percent. Jamaica 's tourism sector was most affected given 
the sharp decline in visitor arrivals to the island.  
Although our economic recovery is one of the strongest in the region, the economy still has not 
attained  pre-pandemic levels.  The recovery process has however, presented Jamaica with the 
opportunity to implement policies and programmes to build a stronger and more diversified economic 
structure by addressing longstanding barriers in the business environment.   
Jamaica supports the view that trade and the WTO have an important role to play in supporting 
efforts towards resilient recovery, building back a stronger and more inclusive global economy and 
reviving progress towards the SDGs. Trade will continue to pl ay an important role in contributing to 
poverty reduction, while supporting economic recovery.  
Furthermore, the WTO can help keep markets open, predictable and transparent; promote greater 
economic diversification; address food security; expand economic op portunities for women and 
mitigate the disproportionate effects of the crises on women and MSMEs.  
I now turn to some of the key substantive areas to be covered at the conference:  
On fisheries subsidies , Jamaica has been participating in these negotiations on the basis that they 
should be balanced, equitable and respond to the concerns of WTO Members, particularly the 
developing countries and LDCs. In that regard, Jamaica is interested in having a strong special and 
differential treatment component, as part of the outcome of these negotiations in line with the WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 116 
 
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  mandate. This must also include an exemption from the disciplines on the overcapacity and 
overfishing pillars, for those Members whose share of global fish catch is below an appropriate de 
minimis threshold. 
In relation to agriculture , Jamaica recognizes that progress in these negotiations have been slow 
due to key divergences among the Membership. Jamaica 's priorities in these negotiations are for :  
(I) an outcome on domestic support; and  
(II)  the spec ial safeguard mechanism (SSM) that addresses the distortionary impact of 
subsidization programmes on developing countries ' agricultural production and trade.   
Jamaica will continue its advocacy for an SSM within the G33 and OACPS Groups.  An outcome on 
the SSM should seek to ensure that such a mechanism applies to all agricultural products; is not too 
burdensome to use and can sufficiently address instances of depression in the price of agricultural 
goods or a surge in imports.  
Jamaica also supports an outcome on public stockholding programmes and a decision to exempt 
purchases by the World Food Programme (WFP) from export restrictions.   
Jamaica supports an outcome on the WTO Response to the COVID -19 pandemic , which sets a 
framew ork for how the Organization can support members in their recovery efforts - now and in the 
future. This should include focusing on key areas relevant to its competence and enhancing its 
cooperation and coordination with other international organizations. It must recognize that a new 
level of multilateral dialogue will be required to build resilience to future pandemics and disasters.   
On WTO reform , Jamaica can support the establishment of a mandate for a work programme in 
this area, provided that the proc ess is inclusive, clear, transparent and development -oriented. 
Furthermore, it should not seek to diminish Members ' rights and obligations in the Organization.  
In closing, Jamaica remains committed to the tenets of multilateralism as espoused by the WTO. We 
support a rules based multilateral trading system that offers transparency, objectivity and fairness. 
As a small developing country, multilateralism provides for us protection and security as we navigate 
the wide and often tumultuous global landscape.  
We, therefore, welcome MC12 this year and are expectant that the Conference will take this 
opportunity to reposition this organization to better support its members to transition into the 
21st Century.  
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