Madam Chair,
Excellencies,
I would like to begin by expressing our appreciation for the work of the outgoing Chair, Ambassador Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel, for his dedicated efforts. We also warmly welcome you, Ambassador Clare Kelly, as the new Chair of this Council.
You may count on Cuba’s constructive support in your work.
We also recognize the work carried out by Cameroon during the 14th Ministerial Conference.
At a time when hunger, illiteracy, and the multidimensional crisis of the international system threaten millions of people, the World Trade Organization must strengthen its role as the regulatory body of the multilateral trading system, promoting measures that close existing gaps and prioritise the interests of developing countries.
The outcomes of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference (MC14), held in March 2026, have made it clear that much remains to be done. The reform process we are engaged in cannot become a mechanism to perpetuate inequalities; it must instead serve as an act of repair for the countries of the Global South.
We must preserve consensus as the cornerstone of decision-making and as a safeguard against fragmenting trends outside the WTO framework that could further deepen the exclusion of developing countries.
The use of unilateral coercive measures and tariff coercion must not be allowed to persist as instruments of political and hegemonic pressure.
In this context, Cuba denounces the executive measures announced by the administration of Donald Trump on 1 May. This new act of aggression, compounded by nearly 70 years of a cruel blockade and the Executive Order of 29 January, constitutes a cynical attempt to suffocate our economy and to use the suffering of the Cuban people as a political bargaining chip. These measures are not only an attack against Cuba; they are also an assault on multilateral trade rules, on international law, and a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of States.
Madam Chair,
As part of the reform process, Cuba opposes any proposal that undermines the principles of non-discrimination and inclusiveness. Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) must be preserved as a core principle of the WTO. We cannot ignore the vast disparities in capacities and starting conditions among Members.
We consider it a priority to restore the Appellate Body within the Dispute Settlement Body, ensuring a fully operational, two-tier, fair, and binding system. To that end, we support the establishment of a consensual roadmap for the full restoration of the Appellate Body before the next Ministerial Conference.
We must continue monitoring the implementation of previous Ministerial Conference decisions in order to strengthen progress achieved in areas of common interest such as trade facilitation, agriculture, and fisheries, among others.
Regarding the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, we stress the need, first and foremost, to close the digital divide and improve technical assistance in this area. To that end, we propose the creation of a technical assistance fund to promote the development of robust digital infrastructure in developing countries.
The “Yaundé Package” of MC14 must be concluded expeditiously, but without sacrificing the priorities set out in the Ministerial Declaration.
Madam Chair,
Cuba will continue to defend a WTO in which development, equity, sovereignty, consensus, and inclusiveness are guiding principles.
The future of the multilateral trading system will depend on its ability to respond to the needs of all its Members.
Thank you.