May 20-21, 2025

Item 1. Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration-Report on Meeting of 4 March 2025

Thank you, Chair, and we'd like to thank the CBFA Chair’s report. And China is in a position to adopt that report.

And we would also like to thank the previous Chair, Dr. José Roberto SÁNCHEZ FUNG, for his excellent work, especially launching the pension reform. I would also like to congratulate the new Chair for her appointment.

Regarding the outstanding contributions, I will not repeat what I said in the HoDs meeting. Just to urge those to fulfill their financial commitments, especially the big ones.

I would also like to express our sincere appreciation to outgoing ambassadors, with special thanks to Ambassador Simon MANLEY, for your passionate eloquence and unwavering support to the WTO. Thank you very much. We wish all the ambassadors every success in their new endeavors.

And also, we would like to extend our warm welcome to newly-arrived ambassadors.

Chair, if you allow me, I would also like to take the opportunity to read a short farewell message on behalf of Ambassador Li Chenggang, who was called back after last GC meeting with a very short notice:

Dear GC Chair, DG, and colleagues, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. It has been truly an honor to work with such brilliant and dedicated colleagues over the past four years and two months.

Our firm belief in the multilateralism, openness to reform, able leadership, and hard work have made a difference in the difficult times of the world, led us to the success of MC12 and MC13, and shaped me today.

For this, I am deeply grateful and proud.

To be honest, I am still adapting to my shift from being a host of Lac Léman to a guest of Lac Léman, which is now the username of my WeChat.

I will continue to associate myself with you, with this organization, and with our collective mission towards a global community of shared future. I thank you for your hard work, and wish MC14 a success.

That's the end of the message.

Thank you very much.

Item 2. Incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement into Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement

Thank you Chair.

At this General Council meeting, over 120 WTO Members have once again proposed incorporating the IFD Agreement into the WTO legal framework. This further demonstrates the strong support among WTO members on IFD Agreement.

Since the conclusion of the Agreement’s negotiations in July 2023, nearly two years have passed, during which we have witnessed significant changes in the global trade landscape, with external uncertainties continuously impacting the WTO and its members. The IFD Agreement stands as a tangible and achievable low-hanging fruit towards stabilizing the current situation while reinforcing the WTO’s authority and effectiveness.

Investment is crucial to economic development, especially for developing members and LDCs. This Agreement represents a unique achievement of the WTO in recent years, which is development-centered, broadly supported by developed, developing and LDC members, and structured to extend MFN benefits to all WTO members. Its incorporation into the WTO rule-book would represent a symbolic step toward supporting the organization’s central role in global trade and investment.

In the light of the current challenging global situation, I would like to call upon those few members that still have reservations on this agreement to reassess their positions, take full account of the interests of developing members, the long-term viability of the WTO and their own strategic interests.

Thank you.

Item 3. Report by the Chairperson of the Trade Negotiations Committee and Report by the Director-General

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, DG, for your report. We made comments on the matrix during the TNC meeting and I will not repeat them. I hope it can be put in the record for today’s meeting.

I request the floor for today's meeting about the WTO reform.

WTO reform has been there for quite a long time. We have talked it for years, but I have to say, up to now, we haven't seen much substantial reform yet. So the question is how to break the ice.

Each member has their problems from different perspective of the organization, and each member has their priorities, and the question there is how to make synergy, so we can agree on something and then transform words into actions. For us, this is quite urgent. Otherwise, we can continue talking without any concrete deliverables.

By saying that, we do hope that, the upcoming Paris Mini-ministerial Meeting hosted by Australia can really give the opportunity for our ministers to look at this issue, not only the priorities of areas of each member, but also how the Organization can really have a deep reform. So we do hope that at the MC14, members could have the consensus and reach an agreement on the reform plan and then real actions will be taken.

I will stop here.

Item 4. Follow-Up to Outcomes of Ministerial Conferences

Thank you, Chair.

I will focus on two issues. And my intervention covers both agenda item 4 and 4.1.

On fisheries, China welcomes the progress in the ratification of the phase-one agreement. Particularly, we would congratulate Georgia and Lesotho on the recent ratification of the agreement, and encourage members that have not ratified to speed up their efforts to enable its entry into force as soon as possible.

Regarding the phase-two negotiation, China thanks the Chair for organizing small group sessions to provide members with an opportunity to present and exchange views. Document 285 is considered by most participating members to be a good basis for future negotiation. After more than 20 years of hard work, we should avoid reopening or deviating from the text where we are already so close. China will continue to work constructively with other members to deliver the SDG mandate for the common good.

On work programme on electronic commerce, China appreciates Ambassador Brown’s tireless efforts in advancing the E-commerce Work Programme. We welcome the dedicated discussions on the common interested issues since the last GC, and supports the facilitator taking stock of the progress, identifying gaps and making road-map towards MC14.

For next steps, we need to stay engaged in a collaborative and pragmatic manner to deliver E-commerce Work Programme at MC14. To this end, first, we should extend the Moratorium while providing more clarity on specific issues with empirical evidences. Second, we should achieve pro-development outcomes with precise, effective and operational actions within the competence of the WTO. Third, we should incorporate emerging issues such as artificial intelligence (AI) through dedicated working group, examine its impact on trade policies and development, and explore the WTO roles to play in fostering regulatory coherence and building Members’ capacity in these areas.

Thank you.

Item 5. Work Programme on Small Economies

Thank you, Chair.

We are happy to see the progress made so far on the Small Economies Work Programme. On the 48th Dedicated Session on Small Economies, we had interactive and constructive discussions regarding the digital trade of Small Economies, based on inputs from the Secretariat. China looks forward to receiving the reports on supply chain and climate change, as mandated by MC13, to further the discussions on the important development dimension of small economies.

Thank you.

Item 6. Statement in Support of the Rules-Based Multilateral Trading System on the Occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the World Trade Organization

Thank you, Chair.

China fully supports the Statement, which is sponsored by 47 members and supported by the overwhelming majority of the membership. It demonstrates members’ solid commitment to the multilateral trading system, and underscores the value of the WTO and its rules.

30 years ago, when we created this organization, we agreed on the fundamental principle of the organization, i.e., trade liberalization, non-discrimination, promoting development, etc. In the past 30 years, the WTO has been playing a pivotal role and a public infrastructure in shaping the global economic and trade landscape. By reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers and promoting inclusive development, it has facilitated an unprecedented expansion of global commerce, lifted billions out of extreme poverty, and effectively integrated developing economies into global value chains.

China calls upon all members to uphold the fundamental rules and principles of the WTO, and deepen WTO reform to deliver tangible outcomes at MC14, for the multilateral trading system, for business, and for people, particularly the most vulnerable in developing and LDC members.

Thank you.

Item 7. Heightened Trade Turbulence and Responses from the WTO

First intervention

Thank you, Chair.

The multilateral trading system is currently facing mounting challenges. Unilateral tariffs and the threat of the “reciprocal tariffs” is just like adding fuel to the fire, which is simply wrong. An open, stable and rules-based international economic and trade order serves the common interests of all. We therefore couldn’t stop by acknowledging the problems only. Rather, we need to find the way out.

In the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect, and towards achieving mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship, China and US held economic and trade talks in Geneva and reached important consensus days ago. It is an important step to bridge gaps and further cooperation between China and the US.

That being said, we believe the multilateral solution is also indispensable. China hence tables the SDR approach for the next steps of the WTO: Stability as the cornerstone, Development as the priority, and Reform as the pathway.

First, we call for anchoring trade measures under WTO rules, and members to stabilize trade relations with each other. We support the Secretariat’s monitoring role to enhance transparency and predictability under current circumstances.

Second, we call upon members to further expand unilateral opening of trade for LDCs, and support fora such as CTD and the Aid for Trade Initiative to provide developing members with more effective assistance by focusing on their real needs.

Third, we advocate for advancing WTO reform on the existing agenda, as well as contemporary trade issues like climate mitigation and green transition, supply chains resilience and industrial policy. Also, rules should evolve in a more flexible way, including investment facilitation and e-commerce.

Chair, while bilateral talks may sometimes work, China believes multilateralism is the inevitable and ultimate choice to address global challenges. We are willing to cooperate with all WTO members and inject more certainty and predictability into the global economy.

I will stop here. Thank you.

Second intervention

China appreciates the support and constructive suggestions expressed by members in their intervention, including those spoke under agenda item 6. Members’ views are overwhelmingly convergent: we need globalization, rather than fragmentation; multilateralism, rather than unilateralism; multilateral rules, rather than arbitrary tariffs; stability, rather than uncertainty.

As a responsible member of the WTO, China will continue to work with all parties to practice genuine multilateralism and firmly safeguard the rules-based multilateral trading system, and strive for a successful MC14 next year.

Thank you.

Item 8. Fragmentation of Global Trade through Tariffs and the Global Costs

Thank you Chair.

China appreciates EU for putting this issue on the agenda, and agrees that any bilateral deals or arrangements to address the “reciprocal tariffs” must comply with the WTO rules and principles, and must not hurt the interests of other members. Neither “reciprocal tariffs” nor so-called trade diversion can be an excuse for taking beggar-thy-neighbor measures. China encourages Members and the Secretariat continue to make analysis on the impact of those bilateral negotiations.

The “reciprocal tariffs” adopted by the US government are neither legal nor rational nor logical; they violate not only fundamental WTO rules but all commitments of the United States under international trade agreements. These unilateral measures not only impact the international trade order and seriously damage the interests of developing members, but the regressive taxes also impose massive burden on US consumers and economy. The US governments may hold out for a while, but the economic consequences will worsen and they will feel the pain.

Further, China calls upon members to calmly respond to the global trade shocks and shifts caused by the “reciprocal tariffs”, and work together to restructure global trade positively.

Global trade restructuring refers to rebuilding the disrupted global production and supply chains through open cooperation and reconciling economic policies. Global trade restructuring refers to addressing trade uncertainties through mutual respect and complying with WTO rules. Global trade restructuring refers to exploring new trade growth opportunities through win-win approaches and further reducing trade barriers.

The WTO can play an important role in this regard to help members perceive the importance of global trade restructuring by providing a platform for further discussions. The Secretariat could also help to conduct research, analysis and technical assistance to developing members.

Thank you.

Item 9. Follow-up to the WTO Retreat on Sustainable Agriculture in the Multilateral Trading System

Thank you, Chair.

China thanks Brazil for placing this item onto the agenda. We commend Brazil’s leadership on advancing WTO agriculture negotiations. And of course, agriculture is one of the most important negotiation topics within this house. I would confirm that our SDR initiative introduced yesterday certainly includes agriculture negotiations in the R—reform part.

Backing to the agenda item, China welcomes the discussion on sustainable agriculture, and highly appreciates the Retreat initiated by Brazil and organized by the GC Chair and the Secretariat. The Retreat was informative and thought-provoking, and laid sound basis for follow-up discussions.

China is of the view that in order to achieve sustainable agriculture development, cooperation is crucial. China had made great efforts bilaterally and regionally in this regard.

We are open to the configuration of the discussion ahead, and ready to participate in the exercise in a constructive manner. Existing mechanisms could be optimized to frame the follow-up discussions, and on the basis of Retreat, Members may continue sharing experiences, practices and policies on sustainable agriculture, for a better mutual understanding, and hopefully bring new perspectives to the ongoing agricultural negotiations

With regard to the environmental harmful agricultural subsidy as mentioned by some members, we believe that the discussion on sustainable agriculture should focus on fostering cooperation rather than deepening divergence among members, on creating more incentives rather than imposing additional restrictions. In this context, we call for fact-based, science-oriented and experience-informed dialogue, exploring more incentives to encourage members’ policies and practices to be more environment-friendly and climate-friendly, and refraining from introducing controversial concepts.

Thank you.