   
  
WT/MIN(24)/ST/88  
26 February  2024 
(24-1594) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY SENATOR THE HON. MR DON FARRELL  
MINISTER FOR TRADE AND TOURISM  
AUSTRALIA  
I am pleased to be speaking to you as Australia 's Minister for Trade and Tourism.  Trade is a great 
enabler – it has lifted millions of people out of poverty and built strong and enduring relationships 
between countries.  
The Australian Government believes in an open, rules -based global trading system, with the World 
Trade Organization at its core. This system has underpinned global economic security and  economic 
prosperity.  
However, the global trading system faces major challenges.  
Members are dealing with the consequences of state intervention in industrial sectors, unilateral 
environment measures, inadequacies in agricultural trade rules, food insecuri ty, worsening 
inequality, and more. Such challenges will not be solved by unwinding the rules -based global trading 
system.  
The thirteenth World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference provides a valuable opportunity to 
deliver necessary reforms, which wi ll improve the World Trade Organization 's ability to respond to 
the challenges and serve the interests of all Members.  
To do so, we Ministers should launch new discussions on issues such as industrial policy, 
environment, and social and economic inclusion.  
The Conference will be an opportunity to build confidence in the effectiveness of trade rules, and to 
help developing countries maximise the benefits of open trade.  
At the Conference, Australia 's top reform priority will be to make as much progress as pos sible 
towards fixing the dispute settlement system. A fully functioning system would ensure the rights 
and obligations of Members can be enforced, providing confidence in the predictable enforcement of 
global trade rules.  
Australia, particularly as the Cha ir of the Cairns Group, also wants to find a way to address the 
inadequacy of rules on agricultural trade – to make this sector stronger and fairer. It will not be 
possible to meet global food security, climate, and biodiversity goals, without making progr ess on 
agricultural trade reform, including production and trade -distorting subsidies.  
We have an opportunity to build on the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement which was a key outcome of 
the Twelfth Ministerial Conference. We want to bring it into force and st rengthen it, through agreeing 
to new rules that will limit subsidies contributing to the overfishing of seriously depleted resources.  
We are proud to support the Fisheries Funding Mechanism, which will support developing countries 
implement and benefit fro m the Agreement.  WT/MIN(24)/ST/88  
 
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  Renewing the moratorium on imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions would sustain the 
World Trade Organization 's most important contribution to the digital economy. Extending the 
moratorium is key to supporting greater predictab ility and confidence in the digital environment for 
developing countries, for small businesses, and for women -owned enterprises and remote 
communities.  
Revitalising rulemaking in the World Trade Organization will be a crucial reform.  
I wish to underscore the importance of open and transparent plurilateral initiatives. Joint Statement 
Initiatives have already delivered rules to facilitate high -quality investment and break down 
behind -the-border barriers to services trade. We are also close to fin alising an initial package of 
digital trade rules. These innovative rulemaking efforts are critical to ensuring the World Trade 
Organization keeps pace with how modern trade is done.  
International rules matter. We live in a time of increasing geopolitical tensions threatening to 
undermine global prosperity, stability, and security. The Conference is an opportunity to 
demonstrate the importance we place on those rules.  
The World Trade Organization cannot be missing in action on the major challenges facing th e global 
trading system. A reform -driven agenda will be crucial for the legacy of the Conference and the 
strength of the Organization.  
Finally, I look forward to welcoming Timor -Leste and Comoros to the World Trade Organization. 
These accessions are a welc ome endorsement of the Organization  and the rules -based order.  
Thank you to the United Arab Emirates for hosting this year 's Ministerial Conference. Australia looks 
forward to working with you all to advance our shared interest in open rules -based trade.  
__________  