At the World Trade Organization’s second General Council meeting of 2025 in Geneva, China delivered a written proposal putting the spotlight on U.S. “reciprocal tariffs”. In a call to action, Beijing urged WTO members to stand united and protect a multilateral trading system that’s powered global growth for 30 years.
In its proposal, the Chinese delegation framed a three-pillar strategy to shore up the rules-based trade order:
- Stability: Unite members to stabilize trade relations, boost transparency, and strengthen monitoring for a more predictable market.
- Development: Expand market access for least developed countries and scale up trade-related support for developing nations.
- Reform: Modernize the WTO by tackling emerging challenges—climate change, supply-chain resilience—and integrating new deals like the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and Electronic Commerce Agreement.
China’s proposal resonated across the Geneva meeting room. Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, and Antigua and Barbuda publicly backed the call, warning that unilateral tariffs undermine the WTO’s most-favoured-nation principle. Their support highlights a shared determination to pursue meaningful reform in an increasingly volatile global trade environment.
For young entrepreneurs and tech innovators, stable trade rules unlock new markets and partnerships. Sustainability champions will note the emphasis on climate and supply-chain resilience. And digital nomads and travelers can look forward to smoother cross-border access to goods and services as nations rally around a rules-based system.
With global trade at a crossroads, China’s challenge to U.S. tariffs is more than a diplomatic move—it’s an invitation to a new era of collaboration, innovation, and fairness on the world stage.
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China expresses concern over U.S. 'reciprocal tariffs' at WTO
cgtn.com
