As the US attempts to prevent Chinese products from entering its markets via other countries, CCTV reports that China submitted a written proposal at the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting on the 20th. Besides accusing the US of disrupting the multilateral trade system with its 'reciprocal tariffs', China urged WTO members to 'unite to stabilize mutual trade relations' and 'stand on the right side of history'.
According to reports, the WTO General Council's second meeting of 2025 was held from the 20th to the 21st in Geneva. On the 20th, the Chinese delegation took the initiative to set the agenda and submitted a written proposal titled 'Statement on Supporting the Multilateral Trade System under Current Circumstances', expressing concerns over the US 'reciprocal tariffs' and proposed collective response measures for WTO members.
The Chinese proposal states that an open, stable, rule-based international economic and trade order is in the common interest of all countries. The current multilateral trade system is facing severe challenges, and 'reciprocal tariffs' severely impact the rule-based multilateral trade system. WTO members should 'stand on the right side of history' to jointly maintain and strengthen the multilateral trade system centered around the WTO and based on rules.
The proposal points out that in response to trade turbulence, China promotes a working approach for the WTO that focuses on 'stability first, development foremost, and reform-driven'. Firstly, 'stability first'. China calls on WTO members to 'unite and stabilize mutual trade relations', improve trade policy transparency, and strengthen trade policy oversight to ensure that global trade continues to operate stably under the WTO rule framework.
Secondly, 'development foremost'. China urges WTO members to further expand market access for least-developed countries and support platforms like the WTO Aid for Trade initiative to provide more effective assistance to developing member countries, promoting development-oriented outcomes at the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference.
Thirdly, 'reform-driven'. China supports deepening WTO reform, focusing not only on existing issues but also on contemporary trade issues such as climate change, green transition, supply chain resilience, and industrial policy. It advocates advancing new rule negotiations in a more flexible manner, and swiftly integrating agreements like the 'Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement' and 'E-commerce Agreement' into the WTO rule framework.