China urges WTO to protect multilateral trade amid U.S. ‘reciprocal tariffs’ concerns

China on Tuesday expressed grave concern over U.S.’s “reciprocal tariffs” and urged World Trade Organization (WTO) members to unite in response.

The remarks were made in a written proposal on supporting the multilateral trading system, submitted during the WTO’s second General Council meeting of 2025 in Geneva.

The Chinese delegation emphasized that a stable, open, and rules-based trade order benefits all nations. While acknowledging the WTO’s 30 years of success, China warned that the multilateral system faces significant challenges, particularly the U.S. tariffs, which threaten the foundation of global trade rules. It called on WTO members to protect and strengthen the system, stressing the importance of collective action.

In its proposal, China outlined a strategy for the WTO, focusing on three key aspects: stability, development and reform.

First, China urged WTO members to unite, stabilize trade relations, increase transparency, and strengthen monitoring to ensure trade stability.

Second, it highlighted the need to expand market access for least developed countries and provide more effective trade-related assistance to developing nations.

Third, China called for urgent WTO reform, including addressing emerging issues like climate change and supply chain resilience, and incorporating new agreements such as the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the Electronic Commerce Agreement, into the WTO framework.

China’s proposal received widespread support from WTO members, including Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, and Antigua and Barbuda, who echoed concerns over unilateral trade actions. They emphasized the need to uphold the WTO’s most-favored-nation principle and to pursue meaningful reforms to ensure the WTO remains effective in an increasingly volatile global trade environment.