Wang held a phone conversation with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during which he emphasized his country’s commitment to maintaining an “open, inclusive, transparent, non-discriminatory, and multilateral” trade system.
The minister criticized the United States, claiming it “conjured this tariff crisis out of thin air” in what he described as a “typical practice of unilateral intimidation,” according to China’s official news agency, Xinhua.
“These tariffs will cause serious harm to developing countries, particularly the least developed ones, and could trigger humanitarian crises,” the minister warned, urging for a united front within the WTO against the “unilateralism and protectionism” currently represented by the United States.
In response, the WTO Director-General expressed regret that escalating tensions posed significant challenges to global trade and economic growth. She encouraged member countries to collectively work towards resolving these crises through dialogue within the organization.
