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12 June 2022 
(22-4548) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY HON. MR HUGH HILTON TODD, M.P.  
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION  
ON BEHALF OF GUYANA AND CARICOM  
It is an honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Member States of the Caribbean Community 
(CARICOM). We congratulate the Government of Kazakhstan on its co -hosting of the Conference 
and express our appreciation to the Government and people of Swi tzerland for the hospitality 
extended to us.  
 
Having not met for almost five years, this Ministerial Conference is being held in extraordinary 
circumstances. WTO Members are contending with the COVID -19 pandemic, slow economic 
recovery, some of the highes t food and fuel prices witnessed in recent times, and destabilising armed 
conflict. The pandemic has exposed the underlying vulnerabilities of small developing economies and 
reinforced the need for the WTO to amplify the development dimension of its work, as set out in the 
Marrakesh Agreement and in various WTO Ministerial decisions and declarations.   
 
As small WTO Members, we continue to see the tremendous value of multilateralism to address our 
collective interests.  We therefore recommit ourselves to an o pen, transparent and equitable rules -
based multilateral trading system under the WTO. We view this Conference as an opportunity for 
Members to positively re -engage and revitalise international cooperation to address pressing global 
challenges. Against this  backdrop, we must deliver  substantive outcomes at MC12 and ensure that 
the interests of all WTO Members are reflected in the outcomes of the Conference.  
 
Small, vulnerable economies like those in CARICOM have not only had to grapple with the health 
and ec onomic crises that emerged from the pandemic but also the pre -existing debilitating 
challenges posed by the climate crisis.  In this regard, we are fully supportive of a Small Economies 
Work Programme that is dynamic, allows small vulnerable economies to co ntinue to seek flexibilities 
in all areas of work in the WTO, and addresses the trade -related economic and environmental 
concerns raised by our countries. We therefore look forward to the adoption of the Ministerial 
Decision on the Work Programme on Small Economies.  
 
After some 20 years of negotiations, it is important that we conclude an Agreement on Fisheries 
Subsidies which disciplines harmful subsides that lead to the depletion of global fish stocks. This 
agreement should  recognise that small and vulne rable economies, which have not contributed to the 
problem of overcapacity and overfishing, should not be required to eliminate their support to develop 
their already small sectors and their blue economies. Concluding a fisheries subsidies agreement at 
MC12 will demonstrate the WTO 's capacity to support the attainment of the Sustainable 
Development Goals and secure multilateral solutions to global problems. An agreement will support 
the sustainability of our fish stocks and the food and livelihood security of our people. We recognise 
that the problem of global overfishing has resulted mainly from the activities of countries with large 
distant -water fleets and that the onus is on those countries to eliminate their subsidies. We therefore 
view with great conce rn the proposals that would allow these countries to continue subsidizing their 
fishing industries, based on the promise that they will implement sustainable management practices.  
 
The WTO must play its part in comprehensive responses to global pandemics. In so doing, there 
should be recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of individual WTO Members to participate in 
the global response. This means that highly resourced Members should commit to sharing that 
capacity with lesser -endowed Members. This incl udes finding a way to provide equitable access to WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 108 
 
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  patented supplies, as and when needed, without undermining the incentives provided for innovation 
by the intellectually property system.  
 
We support a future work programme for negotiations on agriculture that safeguards flexibilities for 
small vulnerable economies and least developed Members. The agriculture reform programme 
should ensure that our countries can continue giving support to our food systems for enhanced food 
security and income ge neration. It should not require any reduction in our domestic support 
entitlements or our bound tariffs. Further, as part of a positive outcome on food security at MC12, 
WTO Members should pledge to temper or eliminate the practice of imposing export restr ictions on 
food items, including food purchased for humanitarian purposes by the World Food Programme.   
 
We also recognise the critical importance of a future work programme on WTO reform which involves 
a review process that is open, transparent and inclus ive, and addresses the interests of all Members.  
A critical  priority for reform is the reconstitution of the two -tiered dispute settlement system of the 
WTO. We must also ensure that the requisite special and differential treatment (SDT) for our 
countries is built into the outcomes of the various negotiations and initiatives in the WTO.  Eligibility 
for SDT should not be determined by per capita income metrics which unjustifiably marginalise many 
of our countries.  
 
Finally, CARICOM commends the Director -General for her dynamic leadership and reiterates its 
support for the shared vision of ensuring that the WTO works for its Members, including the smallest 
and most vulnerable.  
 
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