China calls on WTO members to address trade turbulence.
Beijing calls for coordinated action to preserve multilateralism and stability in global trade.
247 - China, at a meeting of the General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO), advocated for a collective response from member countries in the face of growing turbulence in international trade.
The topic was included on the agenda by the Chinese delegation under the title "Intensified trade turbulence and the WTO's response," and was discussed between last Monday and Tuesday.
According to the People's DailyChina's ambassador to the WTO, Li Yongjie, warned that current unilateral policies by major economies are generating global economic instability, harming supply chains and destabilizing markets. He stressed that some countries have been coerced into signing trade agreements that affect third parties.
Li highlighted that the multilateral trading system, underpinned by international rules, has been eroded by practices that favor power relations.
To address this scenario, the Chinese representative proposed three main measures: increasing transparency and monitoring, collectively reaffirming the commitment to the multilateral trading system, and adopting concrete actions that allow the WTO to deliver practical results.
Several WTO members expressed support for upholding multilateralism. The European Union, Brazil, Australia, Switzerland, and Pakistan highlighted the importance of strengthening the institution's principles and advancing its reform.
Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea have requested that the WTO Secretariat intensify its monitoring of unilateral tariffs and bilateral agreements, encouraging countries to notify the WTO about these agreements.
Developing nations have also spoken out about the negative impacts of instability in global trade. Nigeria and Bangladesh warned that unilateral tariffs and market uncertainties disproportionately affect vulnerable countries, calling for greater support from the WTO. Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba went further and directly condemned the coercive practices of the United States, including tariff measures.
