U.S. unilateral tariffs cause 'tariff shocks' worldwide, says China's Ambassador to WTO

China's Ambassador to the WTO Li Chenggang voiced strong concern at the first 2025 meeting of the WTO's General Council over the U.S.' unilateral imposition of tariffs and their harmful effects on Tuesday, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

At the meeting, Li called on the U.S. to remove these measures and urged all parties to take meaningful action to uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system, which resonated deeply with the audience. 

He pointed out that the U.S.' unilateral and arbitrary tariffs, affecting China and other trading partners, have caused global "tariff shocks."

Li highlighted that such actions blatantly violate WTO rules, heighten economic uncertainty, disrupt global trade, and could even undermine the multilateral trading system built on rules. China firmly opposes these actions and urges the U.S. to correct its course. 

Over 30 WTO members, including the EU, Canada, Brazil, and Russia, expressed serious concern over the U.S.' unilateral approach, Xinhua reported.

Canada, New Zealand, and Singapore urged the international community to avoid a return to an era of power politics and to a "law of the jungle." 

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged WTO members to use the WTO as a platform for dialogue and to engage on the issues that are contributing to current global trade tensions, according to the WTO website.

"The key message I have shared is that amid the current uncertainties, we must maintain cool heads and remain open to dialogue," she said.