WTO members criticize US tariffs, urge stronger multilateral trade system

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) criticized U.S. tariffs for hindering global trade, and called for a stronger multilateral trade system during the second General Council meeting of the WTO in 2025 held in Geneva, Switzerland from Tuesday to Wednesday.

The European Union on Wednesday placed an item on the agenda criticizing U.S. tariff measures for contributing to global trade fragmentation.

Representatives from Singapore and Switzerland, on behalf of the "Friends of the Multilateral Trading System" initiative, also added an agenda item, calling for strengthening the multilateral trading system to address the current turbulent trade situation.

The European Union said that the U.S. attempt to use tariffs, a microeconomic tool, to address its broad domestic macroeconomic imbalances is inappropriate.

All WTO members have been affected by the U.S. unilateral tariff measures. In addition, the lack of transparency in some of these actions has increased global trade uncertainty, disrupted supply chains, raised economic costs, and posed risks of fragmented trade rules. The European Union emphasized the need to fully utilize the WTO's transparency mechanisms and stressed that bilateral arrangements must comply with WTO rules, including those governing free trade agreements.

Members of the "Friends of the Multilateral Trading System" initiative said that since its establishment, the WTO has played an important role by providing an open, transparent, predictable, and non-discriminatory global trade framework.

In the current context of rising unilateralism and disrupted global supply chains, it is crucial for members to jointly uphold and strengthen the principles and rules of the WTO and to maintain open trade among one another, they said.

Members of the initiative called on WTO members to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, take bold collective actions, and advance deep reforms of the WTO to effectively address the current global trade situation.

Representatives from dozens of members, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Indonesia, and Malaysia, spoke on behalf of over 100 WTO members to criticize the United States' unilateral tariff measures. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on the U.S. to engage in constructive dialogue with all parties.

WTO members criticize US tariffs, urge stronger multilateral trade system

Nicaragua's co-foreign minister Valdrack Jaentschke has warned that militarism must never be allowed to rise again, as Japan's recent moves to lift its arms export ban and revise the pacifist Constitution continue to draw international concern.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, where Japan's Class-A war criminals from World War II were brought to justice.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Valdrack Jaentschke voiced his concern that today's world order is being undermined by interventionism and other challenges.

"It is necessary for us to remember that after the end of World War II, countries worked hard to build a new international order based on international law. However, regrettably, more than 80 years later, we are seeing that this once explored and attempted order is being challenged by interventionism, a confrontational mindset, and tendencies like 'might makes right.' These are precisely the conditions that gave rise to fascism and militarism in the past, which ultimately led to the tragedy of World War II," he said.

He said the international community has a responsibility to pursue a new international order -- one fundamentally grounded in peace.

"Looking back at the history more than eight decades ago and comparing it with today's reality, it is our responsibility to recognize that the world should, and must, build a new international order that is more just, fairer, rooted in international law, based on a logic of mutual benefit and shared success, and fundamentally grounded in peace," said the minister.

"Today, as we revisit the Tokyo Trials, it is meant to remind the world that such a tragedy must never be repeated -- and that we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. We must stop that dark world -- born from militarism, interventionism, and fascism -- from ever returning," he said.

Nicaraguan FM warns of militarism revival