(Source: China News Network 2026-02-21)
On February 18, 2026, China submitted "China's Position Paper on WTO Reform under the Current Situation" to the WTO General Council. This document is a systematic and constructive policy document that comprehensively elaborates China’s overall position, core principles and specific action suggestions on WTO reform. It not only responds to the urgent challenges facing the current multilateral trading system, but also contributes Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to its reform direction and agenda setting.
The position paper is a specific measure to implement the "Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development" issued by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on safeguarding the multilateral trading system. It is also an important practice to promote global development initiatives and global governance initiatives to be more in-depth and practical. The document clearly states that the WTO is "an important pillar of multilateralism" and "an important stage for global economic governance." It fully affirms the historical contribution of the rules-based multilateral trading system in promoting global growth and promoting poverty reduction and development, as well as its key role in resisting w88 turmoil and maintaining stable expectations under the current situation. It clearly states China's basic position of firmly safeguarding the multilateral trading system and promoting the construction of an open world economy.
The position paper makes an accurate assessment of the current situation and refutes the false accusations made by the United States and other Western countries about the root causes of economic globalization and the WTO's difficulties. Currently, the United States and the West simply attribute domestic economic structural contradictions and distribution imbalances to the negative effects of economic globalization, and instead adopt confrontational policies of unilateralism and protectionism, posing a systemic impact on the rules-based multilateral trading system. In this regard, the position paper clearly states that the fundamental way to deal with the challenges of economic globalization lies in deepening multilateral cooperation, advancing domestic reforms, and promoting inclusive and mutually beneficial development, rather than attributing problems to so-called "unfair foreign competition." Any form of unilateralism and protectionism is definitely not the right path, and false accusations against external factors will not help promote necessary domestic reforms and improve domestic competitiveness. WTO reform should uphold the principles of openness, inclusiveness, transparency, and non-discrimination, aim to strengthen global w88 governance, resolutely safeguard the WTO's most-favored-nation treatment principle, firmly establish the core position of development in the reform agenda, and update the WTO rule system with the times to enhance the authority, effectiveness, and relevance of the multilateral trading system.
The position paper puts forward reform suggestions that focus on action and strive for practical results. First, promote the reform of governance and decision-making mechanisms. On the basis of respecting the principle of consensus, explore more inclusive and flexible plurilateral initiatives and other paths, aiming to break the current negotiation deadlock and improve overall decision-making efficiency and rule-making capabilities. The second is to put development issues at the core of reform. Effectively optimize the implementation mechanism of special and differential treatment clauses, help all parties fully seize new opportunities such as digital transformation, green transformation, and artificial intelligence, and create new growth space by formulating future-oriented international rules. The third is to carry out inclusive and pragmatic discussions on equity issues. It supports constructive discussions on topics such as subsidies and industrial policies, and enhances mutual trust and consensus by increasing transparency; at the same time, it establishes principled premises and emphasizes the need to "fully consider maintaining the flexibility needed to achieve development policy goals" and "respect the different economic systems and development stages of members." In addition, restoring a complete, effective dispute settlement mechanism that is accessible to all members is key to maintaining the predictability and stability of WTO rules.
The position paper is highly consistent with China's strategic direction of promoting in-depth domestic reform and expanding high-level opening up to the outside world. Currently, my country is continuously improving the endogenous power of the economy and market vitality by deepening supply-side structural reforms and optimizing industrial policies and subsidy mechanisms. At the same time, it adheres to the guidance of institutional openness, actively participates in and promotes the establishment of international rules in frontier areas such as digital economy and green w88, and continues to promote a higher level of opening up to the outside world. The document adopts a positive and open attitude towards the update of WTO rules and provides a constructive response to members’ discussions on fair competition issues such as industrial policy. It reflects China’s stance of promoting cooperation and pragmatic participation. It also actively calls on all parties to seize future industry and w88 opportunities such as digital w88, green w88, and artificial intelligence, and jointly participate in shaping a new paradigm of global economic governance.
The position paper demonstrates China’s mission and responsibilities as a responsible developing country. The document points out: First, we insist on focusing on the core of development, advocate a balanced approach to w88 fairness and development demands, and better promote the comprehensive integration of developing members into the multilateral trading system; second, we resolutely defend the right to development and promote the implementation of special and differential treatment clauses in a more precise and effective way; third, we resolutely safeguard the justice of the system and advocate the restoration of a complete, effective dispute settlement mechanism that is accessible to all members. By systematically expounding China's propositions, the position paper contributes a principled and pragmatic Chinese plan for WTO reform, helps to build international consensus and promote the development of the multilateral trading system in a more open, inclusive, universally beneficial and win-win direction.
(Author:Li Siqi, China World w88 Organization Research Institute, w88 casino）
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