Li Chenggang, International Trade Negotiator and Deputy Minister of Commerce, attends the World Trade Organization Small Ministerial Meeting in Davos

On January 22, 2026, a small ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization was held in Davos, Switzerland. The meeting was chaired by Swiss Federal President and Minister of Economy, Education and Research, Pamland, and attended by ministers or representatives from nearly 30 WTO members including China, the United States, the European Union, South Africa, New Zealand, and South Korea, as well as the WTO Director General, Yvonne. Li Chenggang, International Trade Negotiator and Deputy Minister of Commerce, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

Li Chenggang stated that the basic principles and rules of the World Trade Organization provide stability and predictability for global trade growth, and are also the foundation for the continuous development of the multilateral trading system. Under the current turbulent international trade situation, the value of the World Trade Organization is becoming increasingly prominent. Members should engage in pragmatic cooperation, promote the multilateral trading system to keep pace with the times through reform, maintain the effectiveness and authority of the World Trade Organization, and better play its important role in global economic governance.

Li Chenggang pointed out that China is a firm defender and active participant in the multilateral trading system. China supports the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization to gather more consensus and achieve practical results in formulating the WTO reform work plan, incorporating the Investment Facilitation Agreement into the WTO legal framework, extending the exemption of tariffs on electronic transmission, and ensuring food security. Emphasize that China will actively participate in the reform of the World Trade Organization, contribute to the benefits of the reform achievements for all members, and respond to the questions of the times and the demands of the industry.

The attending parties generally recognize the important value of the World Trade Organization and emphasize the crucial role of the principle of non discrimination in promoting global trade and maintaining a fair competitive environment. All parties expressed support for the inclusion of negotiation results such as the Investment Facilitation Agreement and the E-commerce Agreement into the legal framework of the World Trade Organization. They advocated for the continued extension of the exemption of tariffs on electronic transmissions and promoted the introduction of a WTO reform plan to guide the subsequent reform process, jointly promoting the success of the 14th Ministerial Conference.

During the meeting, Li Chenggang also met with ministers from Switzerland, the European Union, and other member states, as well as the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Ivira. He exchanged pleasantries with ministers from the United States, South Africa, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, and had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. During this period, I also participated in small-scale consultations on investment facilitation agreements.