Minister Ng gives remarks at the WTO session on challenges facing the multilateral trading system.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Director General.

Since we last met as a body, the world has undergone both a health crisis and an economic crisis.

We are now facing another challenge the illegal invasion of a democratic country that shook the international rules-based order.

Canada condemns Russia’s unjustifiable, unprovoked and illegal aggression against independent and sovereign Ukraine, and the suffering and loss of life it continues to cause.

Russia’s war is destabilizing international supply chains and creating a global food security crisis.

The WTO is a rules-based organization, and Russia’s illegal actions demonstrate a complete disregard for the most fundamental principles of international law.

In this context, Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to the ideals and objectives of the WTO, and we will continue to work constructively towards outcomes at MC12 and beyond.

It is important that we all continue to work together to defend the multilateral rules-based trading system.

Our experience has been that this system has greatly contributed to prosperity for Canada—and the world—and has helped us weather economic storms.  

But the WTO can do even better.

We hear concerns from many developing Members, and we must take their concerns seriously if we are to have a WTO that functions, and supports prosperity for all.  

I am firmly convinced that we must build on the rules that we have.

Here at MC12, we have an opportunity to make progress on important issues and ensure future successes, and reaffirm the importance of multilateral rules-based trade.

We must deliver a strong WTO response to the global food security crisis.

We must agree on a path towards a fairer and more market-oriented agricultural trading system.

We must deliver an agreement on fisheries subsidies that supports our shared environmental ambitions.

We must deliver a response from the WTO to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our citizens expect this body to take the lessons learned so we are better prepared for the future.

We must renew the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions and support the continued development of global e-commerce.

Canada also welcomes the success we have had in plurilateral negotiations. We will continue this plurilateral work to achieve meaningful and timely outcomes.

On WTO reform, we need to push forward, including to ensure a fully functioning dispute-settlement system. Working with the Ottawa Group, Canada looks forward to engaging with Members at all levels of development. We should be open to reforms both small and large—whatever works.

And, finally, I want to convey that Canada is committed to collaborating to tackle the difficult issues we have encountered—to ensure the WTO works for and benefits all of our citizens. To do this, let’s exercise more creativity and demonstrate more political will to move us all forward at MC12.

Thank you.