Address by the Secretary of Foreign Trade and Economic Affairs, Ambassador Sarquis J. B. Sarquis, in the Ottawa Group Ministerial Meeting - December 16, 2022

I would like to thank Minister Mary Ng and Canada for organizing this Ottawa Group meeting, especially after the MC12. Then thanks to Dr. Ngozi leadership, as well as the pragmatism and flexibility of all members, we were able to achieve meaningful outcomes in times of great economic stress.

We need to build on that progress and continue to strengthen the Multilateral Trading System. Again, we can work hard for a successful MC13 delivering on WTO reform as one of the priorities. Brazil is engaged in all reform exercises with a view to revitalizing the Organization, its negotiating, dispute settlement and monitoring and accountability pillars.

Dispute settlement is critical for the credibility of the Institution. In this regard we welcome the US efforts and consultations. Now, we must focus on the specific issues at the heart of the crisis. Otherwise, we risk being mired in complex debates about nearly all aspects.

Ottawa Group participants should urge Members critic of the Dispute Settlement System to present clearly their issues of concern, and their ideas on how to overcome them and make progress.

More broadly, we are hopeful that we will be able to start the formal process of WTO reform soon.

We favor a discussion among Ottawa Group members to draft an informal action plan on WTO reform, followed by outreach efforts, particularly towards developing countries, including LDCs.

In doing so, we should pay attention to other delegations’ concerns, in a spirit of pragmatism and open-mindedness.

For instance, a key issue is how to enhance inclusiveness and accessibility in the DSM for developing-countries. We can do so by exploring ideas such as facilitating the use of the Advisory Center on WTO Law and other instruments.

Allow me also to reiterate our proposal for annual WTO ministerial meetings.

As in other international organizations, annual meetings would help foster the engagement of all members, including LDCs.

They would particularly help us emphasize, and give more visibility to, the benefits of multilateral trade and to topics of interest to LDCs and to discontents with multilateralism and globalization.

I would also like to emphasize the need to reinvigorate the WTO negotiating pillar in agriculture, especially in times of heightened risk of food insecurity. Agriculture, including domestic support, should be on the top of our agenda and part of any comprehensive agreement on the WTO reform.

As we advance the discussions toward MC13, we need to foster our understanding that market-oriented solutions are central in addressing food insecurity.

Brazil is fully engaged in fisheries and agricultural sustainability agendas. Multilateral trade and less distorting measures will lead us all to greater economic and environmental efficiencies.

Finally, in all these agendas, we support WTO working increasingly in evidence based terms and in an inclusive manner as the leading institution in all trade issues.

Colleagues,

Brazil is ready and eager to work with the Ottawa Group and the WTO Secretariat and Membership with a view to reform, revitalize and modernize the WTO.

Thank you.