METI State Minister Kozuki Attends 13th WTO Ministerial Conference

1. MC13

(1) Overview of the conference

MC13 was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from Monday, February 26, to Friday, March 1, 2024. As representatives of Japan, State Minister Kozuki, Mr. Tsuji Kiyoto, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Takemura Nobuhide, State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, attended the conference.

The WTO Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO, which usually meets every two years with the participation of trade ministers from all Members. The previous conference, MC12, was held in June 2022.

At individual sessions in MC13, participating ministers discussed important subjects, such as dispute settlement reform, trade and sustainable development including trade and industrial policy, electronic commerce, and trade and development. Based on the discussions, the ministers adopted a Ministerial Declaration and several Ministerial Decisions such as on dispute settlement reform and the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce.

(2) Highlights of the remarks

The summary of the remarks made by State Minister Kozuki at each session is as follows:

Trade and sustainable development, including trade and industrial policy and policy space for industrial development

• Striking a balance between trade expansion and sustainable development is one of the WTO’s goals. In light of the experiences of Japan and many other countries, a fair and competitive trade would contribute to industrial evolution and development, and is not an obstructive factor. The WTO needs to be a relevant institution that can deal with  contemporary issues to realize a level playing field.
• To ensure a global level playing field and enhance the trust placed in the rules-based trading system, it is necessary to examine whether the current WTO rules function properly and how to improve and develop rules s as they should. From this perspective, we should create a dedicated space for discussion on trade and industrial policy.
• Japan supports discussions focusing on specific needs and circumstances of developing countries. Meanwhile, we should be careful not to impede the industrial evolution and development of many countries by applying uniform flexibility to the WTO agreements to secure policy space.
• Addressing climate change is indispensable to achieve sustainable development. The role of the WTO should be strengthened so that it can facilitate the dissemination of outstanding environmental goods and technologies through trade and enhance international cooperation to avoid unnecessary trade barriers caused by Members’ environmental protection measures.

Dispute settlement reform

• Dispute settlement reform is indispensable to maintain the multilateral rules-based trading system and to protect all members from power game dynamics. To that end, achieving positive outcomes at MC13 is a top priority.
• Japan highly appreciates the constructive way the discussions have been conducted thus far. We should instruct our officials to use the progress made so far as the basis for future discussions and to work on resolving the remaining issues, including appeal review, towards the restoration of the dispute settlement function by 2024.
• In addition, it is important to communicate through the ministerial decision our political will to endeavor to enable the prompt and definitive resolution of disputes until  the dispute settlement function is fully restored.
• This message has significance in demonstrating to external stakeholders our stance of securing a stable trade environment even before the dispute settlement function is restored. Such a message will also contribute to maintaining confidence in the rules-based international economic order with the WTO at the core.

Trade and development

• Development is an important issue in the WTO. We need to continue a balanced discussion by maintaining and strengthening the rule-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, as well as helping developing countries, especially least developed countries (LDCs), realize economic growth and development through trade.
• We need to take into account support measures for Members after their graduation from LDC category. On the other hand, it is important to continue needs- and evidence-based discussions considering each members’ individual circumstances.
• The Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development will, as its name implies, contribute to investment promotion and development of all Members including developing countries, especially LDCs. Japan supports the incorporation of the agreement into the legal framework of the WTO as soon as possible with a view towards early entry into force.

Working session (electronic commerce)

• Japan supports the draft Ministerial Decision to extend the moratorium, based on the progress made in the discussions under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce.
• Ensuring free electronic transmission contributes to business productivity and innovation, particularly for small businesses, by providing stability and predictability in digital trade, leading to the realization of a digital society that both developed and developing countries aspire to create.
• There are strong calls for the moratorium to be extended from global industries.
• This MC13 will not be a success if we cannot achieve extension of the moratorium. As ministers, let’s make a decision to extend the moratorium in order to meet the strong expectations of the world's industries and with a view to ensuring the credibility of the WTO.

2. Exchanging views with participating ministers and others

• State Minister Kozuki exchanged views with: H.E. Ms. Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, Canada; H.E. Mr. Ștefan-Radu Oprea, Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Romania; H.E. Ahmed Samir Saleh, Minister of Trade and Industry, Egypt; H.E. Mr. Todd McClay, Minister for Trade, New Zealand; H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhroo, Minister of Industry and Commerce, the Kingdom of Bahrain; H.E. Mr. Manuel Tovar Rivera, Minister of Foreign Trade, Costa Rica; H.E. Ms. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE; H.E. Mr. German Umaña Mendoza, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Colombia; H.E. Mr. Ahsanul Islam Titu, State Minister, Ministry of  Commerce, Bangladesh; H.E. Mr. Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade, Australia; H.E. Ms. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria; and H.E. Mr. Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway.
• In exchanging views with each of the representatives of the participating Members, State Minister Kozuki discussed such issues as the outcomes of MC13 and collaboration for WTO reform, enhancement of bilateral economic ties through e.g. economic partnership agreements, supply chain resilience, and promotion of clean energy and decarbonization.

• Minister Oprea, Romania
• Minister Saleh, Egypt

• Minister Fakhroo, the Kingdom of Bahrain
• Minister Tovar, Costa Rica

• Minister Umaña, Columbia
• State Minister Titu, Bangladesh

3. Outcome documents, etc.

• MC13 Ministerial Declaration (March 1, 2024)(PDF:84KB)
• Ministerial Decision on Dispute Settlement Reform(PDF:66KB)
• Ministerial Decision on Work Programme on Electronic Commerce(PDF:63KB)

Division in Charge

Multilateral Trade System Department, Trade Policy Bureau