Item 2. Report by the Chairperson of the Trade Negotiations Committee and Director-General

Thank you, Chair.

I wish to start by conveying my sincere gratitude to departing colleagues for their dedicated contributions and may every success for them in their new endeavors.

I also extend warm welcome to the new arrivals and look forward to working closely with you in WTO work.

China also thanks Director-General for the TNC report. I will not repeat my remarks at the TNC meeting.

China stands ready to work with members in an open-minded manner to explore perspectives and options to reach balanced outcome for the topics on the negotiating agendas.

Thank you.

Item 4. WTO Reform – Statement by the Chairperson

China appreciates the work of the GC chair and the facilitators.

China supports updating WTO rules while upholding the WTO fundamental principles. Our written submission elaborates our views and suggestions. Having participated in the September reform discussions and read the facilitators reports circulated after, let me emphasize several points.

On development, discussions need to go beyond SDT. An issue-based approach covering both longstanding issues and emerging ones will help anchor our discussions in concrete development needs. It could be useful to draw lessons from past experiences of needs assessments, and better incorporate this approach into WTO’s technical assistance framework.

On level playing field, China has listened carefully to the diverse concerns raised by Members, including long-standing asymmetries in WTO rules. China welcomes discussing concrete concerns of membership. China advocates safeguarding the fundamental principles and strengthening global trade governance of fair competition. To this end, we could explore updating the SCM Agreement, enhancing transparency, and strengthening coordination on industrial policies. Government interventions exist across economies, and discussions ought to focus on concrete government actions and their actual effects. Broad labels such as Non-Market Economy, overcapacity or overconcentration cannot serve as a basis for rule-making. Discussions cannot be based on presumed prejudice against particular form of ownership. China supports discussions on transparency, but is not fully clear about the idea of it being “an entry point”. We caution against oversimplifying the issue as merely a matter of willingness or capacity. The level of transparency required and the associated demand for resources will inevitably depend on the scope of application, which is intrinsically linked to the substantive disciplines.

On decision-making, China proposes that further discussions focus on the following areas: first, increasing flexibility to facilitate consensus in negotiations; second, enhancing the role of plurilateral agreements as a building block for multilateralism, and third strengthening political guidance to foster consensus.

China also supports the informal consultation led by the DSB Chair towards restoring the functioning of the dispute settlement system.

In conclusion, China remains committed to working with Members to advance WTO reform, with the goal of promoting universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Thank you.

Item 6. Cameroon's Contribution to the Reflection on Ways to Optimize the Outcomes of WTO Ministerial Conferences: Lessons Learned from the Organization of MC14 – Communication from Cameroon

Thank you, Chair.

China congratulates Cameroon on hosting MC14 and welcomes its proposal aimed at optimizing the outcomes of WTO Ministerial Conference.

Some of the issues highlighted in the proposal underscore the importance of strengthening political guidance in facilitating consensus.

China stands ready to engage with Members in further discussions and explore ways to improve the organization and functioning of the Ministerial Conference as one of the topics for reform discussion.

Thank you.

Item 7. Responses to Questions regarding the Agreement on E-Commerce Interim Arrangements – Communication from Australia, Japan and Singapore

Item 8. Follow-Up on Institutional and Legal Questions Arising from the Interim Arrangements on the Agreement on Electronic Commerce – Request from Pakistan

Thank you, Chair.

We thank India for the questions concerning the ECA and welcome the clarifications provided by the Co-conveners and the Director-General.  

The ECA is an open plurilateral initiative under the WTO framework that seeks to be incorporated into Annex 4. It responds directly to the needs and the calls of large membership to update the WTO rules to foster digital trade and support development in digital transformation.

This potential could only be realized once the ECA enters into force. In this regard, China appreciates the Director-General for her thoughtful consideration in accepting the request to act as depositary of the ECA, in light of the WTO Agreement and other relevant international law, including customary international law, such as VCLT. There is no change or ambiguity of the legal status of ECA.

While undertaking domestic procedures to ratify the ECA, China has also carried out a range of e-commerce capacity-building activities to assist the members in need, so as to better harness the benefits of the digital era.

Thank you.

Item 11. Declaration Marking the 20th Anniversary of the Aid-for-Trade Initiative and 10th Global Review of Aid for Trade – Request from Australia and Barbados

Thank you, Chair.

China attaches great importance to Aid for Trade and its contribution to helping developing Members, particularly least-developed Members, build productive capacity and trade-related infrastructure, diversify their economies, and benefit from participation in international trade.

We thank Australia and Barbados for their communication. The twentieth anniversary provides a valuable opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the initiative and strengthen its effectiveness. We welcome efforts to improve coordination, respond to domestic priorities, and promote development partnerships.

Repositioning Aid for Trade at its 20th anniversary is important and therefore requires careful consideration, including its implications for ODA and South–South cooperation. South–South cooperation complements North–South cooperation and contributes to trade and development, including through sharing of knowledge and development experiences in a voluntary, participatory and demand-driven manner. We support strengthening Aid for Trade through partnerships that mobilize additional support and respect the different roles and responsibilities of participating partners. We look forward to seeing these principles be clearly reflected in the proposed declaration.

Thank you.

Item 12. Recent Developments on the IFD Agreement – Request from the Members parties to the IFDA

China welcomes the new Members parties to the IFDA, the vibrant discussions during the Public Forum and continued interest in needs assessments among both parties and non-parties to the IFDA. These developments help translate the IFDA’s development promise into tangible benefits.

To fully realize that promise, China calls for the IFDA’s incorporation into the WTO legal framework as early as possible. Following MC14, we are one step away from that goal. Taking that step would demonstrate our resolve to place development at the center of the WTO agenda. Let us walk the talk.

Last month, China hosted an IFDA workshop attended by 24 representatives from 15 developing Members. China will continue to support relevant technical assistance and capacity-building activities.

Thank you.