World Trade Organization WT/MIN(09)/ST/137 4 February 2010 (10-0584) MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original: English SOUTH AFRICA Statement by Dr. Rob Davies Minister of Trade and Industry Our delegation wishes to thank the government of Switzerland for hosting this Conference. South Africa has participated in several of the recent attempts to re-energize the Doha Round including in Bali, Paris, Delhi and in the various Senior Officials meetings. Unfortunately none of these efforts has brought us close to a successful developmental conclusion of the Doha Round. Instead of prioritizing the advancement of outstanding reforms that are of urgent need to developing countries, like cotton and the LDC package, recent engagements have been dominated by unfair demands placed on major developing countries to enhance market access for the benefit of narrow commercial lobbies in parts of the developed world.