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Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative Wang Shouwen attends the WTO Informal Ministerial Meeting

On the evening of January 21, Beijing Time, the WTO Informal Ministerial Meeting hosted by Switzerland was held virtually. The Meeting was attended by trade ministers and their representatives from 28 WTO members, as well as Director-General of the WTO Dr. Ngozi OKONJO-IWEALA and Chair of the General Council Ambassador Castillo. Participants exchanged views on Covid response, fisheries subsidies, agriculture, and the WTO reform, among others. Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative Wang Shouwen attended and addressed the meeting on behalf of the Chinese side. Ambassador of China’s Permanent Mission to the WTO Li Chenggang attended the Meeting via video link.

Mr. Wang said that China supports the early decision of the WTO on the IP waiver of Covid-19 vaccines, and calls on all members to reach a meaningful ministerial declaration based on the Walker’s Text. China will continue to help improve the accessibility and affordability of Covid-19 vaccines. Members should take a practical approach to conclude the negotiations of fisheries subsidies at an early date and deliver balanced and fair outcomes. The negotiations of agriculture should reduce the most trade distorting AMS and rectify the “rules deficit” in agricultural trade.

Mr. Wang said that China has been actively engaged in the WTO reform, and it is imperative to initiate the selection process of the Appellate Body members. The reform needs to address the issues of protectionist and unilateral measures, develop rules on new issues such as investment facilitation and e-commerce, and keep the WTO rules relevant to today’s world. To proceed with the reform, China supports the early establishment of a working group on WTO reform that is open to all members. The term of reference of such working group should also be properly defined.



(All information published on this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only.)