Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization: The global trading system continues to expand under pressure

Shanghai, November 6 (Xinhua) -- The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) is being held in Shanghai. During the CIIE, Johanna Hill, Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization, stated that the global trading system is still expanding under pressure.

At the 8th Hongqiao International Economic Forum sub forum on "Global Trade Restructuring and WTO Reform" held on the 5th, Johanna Hill stated that the current global trading system is facing serious impacts, and some countries are trying to readjust the global trading system through certain actions, with commitments being rewritten, rules being reshaped, and long-term consensus being challenged. All of this is putting unprecedented pressure on the multilateral trading system.

Nevertheless, this system has demonstrated extraordinary resilience, "said Johanna Hill. Members have avoided the destructive vicious cycle of trade protectionism in the 1930s, with most economies not adopting upgrading restrictions on each other's goods and services, and many members expanding existing trade relationships and building new cooperative bonds. The global trading system is still undergoing continuous adjustment, restructuring, and expansion under pressure

The latest forecast from the World Trade Organization in October predicts that global trade in goods will grow by 2.4% this year, which is lower than the expected 2.7% without tariffs, but far better than the -0.2% forecast in April this year.

To cope with challenges such as the impact of unilateralism and lagging rules, and to maintain the core function of the multilateral trading system, the reform of the World Trade Organization has been put on the agenda. Johanna Hill proposed three principles in this regard: first, to strengthen the recognition and trust of all members in the World Trade Organization; second, to amend invalid links, expand participation, and enable all members to share the benefits of trade; The third is to reshape the system to adapt to the current economic changes. The latest World Trade Report 2025 released by the World Trade Organization points out that if countries can bridge the digital divide, improve labor skills, and maintain market openness, artificial intelligence alone can increase global trade flows by nearly 40% by 2040.

Johanna Hill calls on all member states to actively participate and view reform as a necessary path to maintain the credibility of the World Trade Organization and ensure its continued key role in today's global economy.

Johanna Hill praised China's recent announcement that it will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future negotiations at the World Trade Organization, saying, "This move demonstrates courage and responsibility, and also confirms that reform is not illusory - it is happening