China has urged World Trade Organization (WTO) members to work together to address rising trade turmoil. Consequently, the call came during a WTO General Council meeting held from October 6 to 7 in Geneva. Moreover, China emphasized safeguarding multilateralism amid increasing global economic uncertainty.
During the meeting, China placed the issue on the agenda and, in doing so, encouraged members to unite around WTO rules. In addition, many countries echoed the call, stressing the importance of collective action to maintain stability in international trade.
Li Yongjie, head of China’s Permanent Mission to the WTO, told delegates that the global economic and trade environment remains turbulent. Furthermore, he noted that unilateral trade measures by the United States have disrupted global supply chains and markets. As a result, Li said these measures have become a major source of instability and gradually eroded the rules-based trading system.
Li highlighted three measures to counter the escalating trade turmoil. First, he urged enhanced transparency and monitoring of trade policies. Second, he called for collective reaffirmation of commitment to the WTO’s multilateral framework. Third, he recommended concrete actions to achieve pragmatic outcomes within the WTO system.
Representatives from the European Union, Brazil, Australia, Switzerland, Pakistan, and other members supported China’s stance. Meanwhile, the EU expressed concern over the rise of power-based trade practices. Similarly, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea emphasized the need for stronger monitoring of unilateral tariffs and bilateral agreements.
Delegates from Nigeria and Bangladesh highlighted the impact of trade turmoil on developing countries. Therefore, they urged the WTO to provide support to vulnerable members. At the same time, representatives from Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba strongly criticized the United States’ unilateral tariffs and coercive measures.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that, despite stiff headwinds from unilateral actions, global trade shows resilience. She added that this resilience demonstrates the effectiveness of the core multilateral trading system.
The WTO also raised its forecast for global goods trade growth in 2025 to 2.4 percent, up from the previous estimate of 0.9 percent. Analysts noted that coordinated action by members could reduce trade volatility and further strengthen the multilateral system.
Overall, China’s call highlights the growing importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing trade turmoil. Furthermore, observers said proactive engagement among WTO members may stabilize markets, protect developing countries, and promote fair global trade.
