May 6-7 General Council Meeting

Item 1: Election of Chairperson

Thank you, Chair.

I would like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to outgoing colleagues for their contribution and wish them every success in their new endeavors.

I would like to extend my warm welcome to the newly arrived Permanent Representatives and look forward to working closely with you all here in Geneva.

Please convey our deepest condolences to the Government of Bangladesh and to the family, on the passing of Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman.

China would like to thank Ambassador Saqer for your leadership during one of the most turbulent years in Geneva, including the launch of the reform discussion and preparation work of MC14.

China would like to congratulate the new GC Chair, Ambassador Clare on assuming office and will work closely to fully support the work under your leadership.

Thank you.

Item 2: Statement by the Chairperson of the General Council; and

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

Thank you, Chair.

China would like to thank the MC14 host Cameroon, all the minister facilitators, the DG and the secretariat for their dedication throughout the ministerial meeting.

While it is regrettable that outcomes, especially concerning the reform work plan and e-commerce work programme and moratorium, slipped through our fingers at the end of the meeting, we have made significant progress in building convergence. It is important to keep the positive momentum post-MC14 and continue our work based on what we have converged at MC14, to support the rules-based multilateral trading system by action.

With respect to next step, China would like to echo the call on members to follow the reform work plan, on which we spent a lot of time discussing and converging, both before and at MC14. In this regard, China supports the GC chair to carry out consultations with members, including on a structure to organize reform discussions in an inclusive, transparent and efficient way, as well as potential facilitators, with an immediate aim of reporting back to the GC in July. We also stand ready to work with the DSB chair.

We also support continuing work under the GC on the basis of the draft Ministerial Decision on Work Programme on E-commerce, with a view to arriving at a multilateral outcome, together with a moratorium on TRIPS Non-Violation and Situation Complaints.

The LDC package is an important part of the development agenda. China supports further work to deliver results and call members to engage in constructive discussions.

Last but not least, China welcomes Comoros as the 130th member party to the IFDA. We also welcome the launch of the Joint Ministerial Declaration on the IFDA, as well as the Declaration on the Interim Arrangement for the ECA. We will continue to work on their early incorporation into the WTO framework and timely entry into force and implementation of these agreements, to realize their development benefits. In this regard, China is pleased to make contributions to support relevant technical assistance and capacity building activities. And we will continue to provide support also under South and South Corporation.

Thank you.

Item 8: Preserving the Spirit of Open and Predictable Trade: Collective Restraint Against Actions

Thank you, Chair.

China thanks Korea for setting this agenda and drawing members’ attention to both the importance of preserving the spirit of open and predictable trade and the potential systemic ramifications of the proliferation of tariff measures taken under various names. We believe that tariff measures concerned are not limited to steel sectors.

Members have no common understanding on what constitutes “structural challenges”, just as there is no agreement on what constitutes “overcapacity”, or other such names or labels. In the WTO context, however, members do have agreed rules that govern tariffs measures. It is the rules, not labels, that provide the basis for any tariff measures. That is exactly why we should exercise restraint. As the saying goes, do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.

In addition, members have agreed to discuss specific issues of concerns, including subsidies and industrial policies, under the WTO framework. We should engage in in-depth dialogue with a view to updating and strengthening rules.

Thank you.