Statement by H.E. Mr. Mart Laanemäe, Undersecretary of the Estonian Foreign Ministry at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong
Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, friends of trade
First, I would like to thank the Government of Hong Kong for the excellent organization of this conference, probably the best ever. The WTO continues to grow into a truly worldwide organisation, with membership soon to exceed 150. If we take into account all the countries that will join in the foreseeable future it might be worthwhile to consider dropping the word “trade” from our name altogether.
Like Estonia, Madam Chair, most WTO members are smaller-scale countries, who can gain measurable advantages from a strong WTO. Unlike Estonia, they are not necessarily integrated into a large economic arrangement like the single market of the European Union, moreover they are mostly located far away from wealthy countries and so they might well need the WTO even more than my country does.
Smaller countries can play a major role in strengthening the WTO, because all WTO members are equal. In turn, the WTO has much to offer smaller countries. For example, for a smaller country to have separate bilateral trade relations with many far-away states is difficult, simply because compared to larger countries, smaller countries lack the necessary resources. By making full use of the WTO, smaller countries can overcome this disadvantage of scale. This means there is a motivation for smaller countries to strive for WTO rules that are agreed, respected and followed by all, rules that will better enable the WTO to achieve its aims: to help producers of goods and services, exporters and importers conduct their business.
Distinguished colleagues, our business here is to help their business. Conducting any kind of business requires ambition and stamina, so we must do our best to regain the high ambition we had in Doha. We must constantly ask ourselves if the negotiations themselves are reflecting this ambition. Today I am obliged to remind you that in Doha WTO members worked hard to decide what to do in the present round of negotiations. Now, more than four years later, we still don’t seem to agree on when to do it. Distinguished colleagues, that is a clear indication of a need for more ambition.
Unfortunately, it is a major undertaking to envision how to increase our ambition in circumstances where the outside world seems to believe that our negotiations are focussed on one topic, on agriculture. I do not have to remind you that the round has much broader substance. Above all, this round of world trade negotiations is a development round. Agreeing here in Hong Kong on a strong development package and meaningful aid for trade would be a satisfactory start. But we can do more. It is worthwhile for smaller countries to recall the experience of my country that substantial and sustainable economic growth requires a combination of factors, including increased agricultural and industrial exports, especially to neighbouring countries and in addition an open, competitive and healthy market for services.
Madam Chair, distinguished colleagues, let us strive to regain our ambition for the Doha round here in Hong Kong. In doing so, we have a good chance not only to benefit all WTO members and indeed the whole world, but perhaps also to lay the cornerstone of a truly worldwide organisation.
Thank you.
First, I would like to thank the Government of Hong Kong for the excellent organization of this conference, probably the best ever. The WTO continues to grow into a truly worldwide organisation, with membership soon to exceed 150. If we take into account all the countries that will join in the foreseeable future it might be worthwhile to consider dropping the word “trade” from our name altogether.
Like Estonia, Madam Chair, most WTO members are smaller-scale countries, who can gain measurable advantages from a strong WTO. Unlike Estonia, they are not necessarily integrated into a large economic arrangement like the single market of the European Union, moreover they are mostly located far away from wealthy countries and so they might well need the WTO even more than my country does.
Smaller countries can play a major role in strengthening the WTO, because all WTO members are equal. In turn, the WTO has much to offer smaller countries. For example, for a smaller country to have separate bilateral trade relations with many far-away states is difficult, simply because compared to larger countries, smaller countries lack the necessary resources. By making full use of the WTO, smaller countries can overcome this disadvantage of scale. This means there is a motivation for smaller countries to strive for WTO rules that are agreed, respected and followed by all, rules that will better enable the WTO to achieve its aims: to help producers of goods and services, exporters and importers conduct their business.
Distinguished colleagues, our business here is to help their business. Conducting any kind of business requires ambition and stamina, so we must do our best to regain the high ambition we had in Doha. We must constantly ask ourselves if the negotiations themselves are reflecting this ambition. Today I am obliged to remind you that in Doha WTO members worked hard to decide what to do in the present round of negotiations. Now, more than four years later, we still don’t seem to agree on when to do it. Distinguished colleagues, that is a clear indication of a need for more ambition.
Unfortunately, it is a major undertaking to envision how to increase our ambition in circumstances where the outside world seems to believe that our negotiations are focussed on one topic, on agriculture. I do not have to remind you that the round has much broader substance. Above all, this round of world trade negotiations is a development round. Agreeing here in Hong Kong on a strong development package and meaningful aid for trade would be a satisfactory start. But we can do more. It is worthwhile for smaller countries to recall the experience of my country that substantial and sustainable economic growth requires a combination of factors, including increased agricultural and industrial exports, especially to neighbouring countries and in addition an open, competitive and healthy market for services.
Madam Chair, distinguished colleagues, let us strive to regain our ambition for the Doha round here in Hong Kong. In doing so, we have a good chance not only to benefit all WTO members and indeed the whole world, but perhaps also to lay the cornerstone of a truly worldwide organisation.
Thank you.
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