At the WTO Public Forum 2025 in Geneva, a China-led seminar brought together experts to tackle the fallout of unilateral U.S. tariffs. Organized by Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, the session zeroed in on how reciprocal duties are reshaping the global trading landscape.
Ju Jiandong from Tsinghua University shared a quantitative analysis showing that U.S. tariffs could shrink worldwide trade by 3.4 percent by the end of 2025. According to the study, U.S. imports may drop by 19 percent while exports could fall by 12 percent, setting off a cycle of retaliation and protective policies.
Luz Maria de la Mora of UNCTAD highlighted rising trade uncertainty since 2016, driven by geopolitical tensions. She urged members to restore dispute settlement, forge new free trade agreements, and bolster confidence in long-term investments to support developing economies.
Barbara Ramos from the International Trade Center emphasized the power of digital tools for businesses. She called for improved infrastructure, skills training, and regulatory frameworks to help companies harness e-commerce and analytics, cutting costs and boosting sales.
Participants agreed that a rules-based multilateral trading system is more important than ever. Strengthening predictability and stability in trade rules can help global markets navigate turbulence and safeguard the interests of all WTO members.
The WTO Public Forum 2025 continues with nearly 90 sessions on digital trade, sustainability, and emerging market strategies, drawing over 4,000 participants from governments, academia, and the private sector.
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China-led WTO seminar formulating response to unilateral tariffs
cgtn.com
