Thank you, Co-Chairs,

International trade as an engine for development is increasingly under threat. Tariffs and other trade restrictions inconsistent with WTO rules, principles and commitments are on the rise globally amidst rising trade tensions and stalling multilateral negotiations.

Digital technology is creating new trading opportunities, while automation threatens development models reliant on the export of low-cost manufactured goods. Developing countries, in particular LDCs, LLDCs African countries as well as MICs, with limited productive capacities and trade infrastructure, face challenges integrating into regional and global value chains.

To promote a rules-based, non- discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system, countries should refrain from imposing unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
  
We are also concerned about the implications of unilateral trade-related environmental measures on sustainable development particularly in developing countries. Trade policy measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade. Unilateral actions to deal with environmental challenges outside the jurisdiction of the importing country should be avoided. Environmental measures addressing transboundary or global environmental problems should, as far as possible, be based on an international consensus.

We urge all Member States to uphold the fundamental international trade principle that market access reciprocity - particularly in areas such as tariff reductions - should be based on mutually beneficial concessions rather than uniform tariff rates. A departure from this principle would contradict the established international trade legal framework and severely hinder the ability of developing countries to access major markets under fair, transparent, and predictable conditions.

We reaffirm our commitment to universal, rules-based, fair, open, transparent, predictable, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and equitable multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. We urge WTO members to accelerate the accession of developing countries in this process of, or considering, accession to the WTO and to provide technical assistance to support them in this process.

We call on WTO members to fully implement all WTO agreements. We also urge the finalization of pending agreements. We recall the adoption of the 2022 Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies by the WTO and encourage WTO members to deposit their instruments of acceptance to bring the Agreement into force as soon as possible.

We reaffirm that special and differential treatment is a fundamental, treaty-embedded right at WTO and that strengthening special and differential treatment provisions is essential for enabling developing members to fully participate in the multilateral trading system and address their unique challenges.

We will work to ensure that the multilateral trade system provides all Member States, in particular developing countries, with sufficient policy space to invest in sustainable development, while remaining consistent with WTO rules and commitments.

We resolve to update, improve and reform, as well as accelerate the ongoing initiatives on treaty reform in different multilateral fora including UNCTAD, UNCITRAL and the replacement and termination of outdated investment agreements that hinder progress on the Sustainable Development Goals,

We call upon the ECOSOC FFD Forum to assess the impact on sustainable development of unilateral economic, financial or trade measures that are inconsistent with the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, building on the work of the United Nations system.

We recognise the short-term challenges faced by Members, in particular developing Members, including LDCs, confronting global and domestic crises including disasters caused by natural hazards.

We commit to develop trade-related physical and digital infrastructure with emphasis on developing transport corridors, in particular for easing trade bottlenecks for developing countries, in particular the LDCs, LLDCs, SIDS, African countries as well as MICs.

We also recognize the importance of supporting middle-income countries in modernizing their trade infrastructure, expanding logistics networks, and enhancing regional trade corridors to improve global competitiveness and reduce trade costs.

We will strengthen the important role of UNCTAD for the integrated treatment of trade and development and interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment , commodities, critical minerals, economic diversification and sustainable development.

We further call for strengthened trade finance mechanisms that facilitate access to affordable credit, reduce transaction costs, and support export expansion and industrialization, ensuring that MSMEs in developing countries have the necessary financial resources to participate effectively in international trade.

We support the role of the International Trade Centre in enhancing the competitiveness and market access of micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises through technical assistance and capacity-building for value addition, regional integration, and economic diversification.

We commit to increase the value and competitiveness of the exports of developing countries by supporting the establishment of sectors capable of competing on a global scale and enhancing the capacity of local industries to participate in regional and global value chains, to drive industrialization, growth and development in those sectors.

We will ensure that resource-rich developing countries and LDCs have full policy flexibility to determine their own trade and investment policy with regard to their critical minerals.

We take note of the pertinence of transparency, accountability and financial integrity in the critical mineral value chain.