At the recently concluded Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin, the SCO Council of Heads of State adopted and released a statement supporting the multilateral trading system. Below is an explanation of the Statement from a MOFCOM relevant leading official.

I. Background of the Statement

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Over the past three decades, the WTO has provided an open, stable, and predictable institutional foundation for global economic development, significantly promoting the liberalization and facilitation of global trade and investment and boosting economic growth. However, the multilateral trading system is currently facing severe challenges. The abuse of tariff measures by certain countries has severely undermined the global economic and trade order and caused significant uncertainty and instability for global economic development.

SCO member states express broad support for a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core and fully acknowledge the important role of the WTO in global economic governance. Since China assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO, it has actively collaborated with other member states to address global trade turbulence and support an inclusive multilateral trading system. Through joint efforts, the Statement was endorsed and released.

II. Key Elements of the Statement

The Statement reflects the consensus of SCO member states. In terms of overall stance, it supports a rules-based multilateral trading system, opposes restrictive measures on trade that violate WTO rules and principles, and calls for dialogue and cooperation among all parties to comply with WTO rules. In addressing challenges, it reiterates the importance of advancing WTO reform, calls for the restoration of the dispute settlement mechanism, emphasizes the significance of open, inclusive, resilient, and stable supply chains, and encourages continued efforts in this regard. Looking ahead, it reaffirms the importance of development, supports WTO developing members and least-developed countries members in better integrating into the multilateral trading system, supports the accession of Belarus, Iran, and Uzbekistan to the WTO at an earlier date, and expects concrete outcomes at the WTO 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in 2026.

III. Distinctive Features of the Statement

First, it is high-level. This Statement is the first of its kind issued by SCO heads of state in collective support of the multilateral trading system, demonstrating the SCO’s firm resolve to safeguard the stability of the global trade order. Second, it is well-timed. As some WTO members recently reached framework agreements on so-called “reciprocal tariffs”, SCO member states reaffirm fundamental WTO principles such as most-favored-nation treatment and non-discrimination, calling on all parties to abide by international trade law, including WTO rules. Third, it is development-focused. The Statement underscores the importance of development, commits to assist WTO developing members in achieving industrialization, supports least-developed countries members in integrating more effectively into the multilateral trading system, and expects concrete outcomes at the MC14.

Moving forward, China will deepen communication and cooperation with other SCO member states, actively promote genuine multilateralism, steer WTO reform in the right direction, protect the legitimate interests of developing members, and contribute to building an open global economy.