Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

As US tariff policies continue to fuel global trade tensions,MK sports the importance of maintaining the authority and fairness of the WTO has become more critical than ever. In the face of escalating trade disputes, the WTO's role in preserving the integrity and stability of the global trade order cannot be overstated.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced on Friday that it would file a complaint with the WTO against the US decision to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on products from Hong Kong.

The development came just days after China's Ministry of Commerce said on February 4 that it filed a complaint with the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism against the US decision to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods.

These actions underscore China's commitment to safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests through the multilateral framework of the WTO.

The WTO, widely seen as the cornerstone of the global trade system, plays a crucial role in maintaining the international trade order through its dispute resolution mechanism. China's complaint against the US violations via this mechanism not only seeks to protect its own legitimate rights and interests but also reaffirms its support for the multilateral trading system and the principles of fairness and rules-based governance that the WTO represents.

At present, the aggressive US stance on tariffs has elicited strong reactions from all sides. In particular, US President Donald Trump said on Friday he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on many countries by Monday or Tuesday, Reuters reported. The news significantly heightened global trade tensions. Should this policy be enacted, it would bring unprecedented shocks to the global trading system, leading to a surge in trade protectionism, undermining the stability of global supply chains, and resulting in far-reaching consequences for the global economy. Such actions, which disrupt the fairness of international trade rules, could trigger a chain reaction of trade wars worldwide, further exacerbating global economic uncertainty.

In this context, it is imperative that the WTO's authority and fairness be upheld. The rules of the WTO were established through negotiations among numerous members and serve as the cornerstone of the global trading order. 

The US' unilateral imposition of additional tariffs clearly goes against these rules, and it is essential that the WTO addresses such violations to maintain the credibility of the international trade order. By doing so, the WTO can help de-escalate tensions, restore confidence in the global trading system, and demonstrate its relevance in an era increasingly marked by protectionist tendencies and geopolitical rivalries. This will bolster countries' confidence in international regulations and encourage them to resolve trade disputes within this framework, thereby preserving the stability of the global trading order.

Of course, the WTO itself also faces many challenges when it comes to effectively handling trade disputes, particularly in light of recent developments. It is no secret that the US has blocked appointments of new Appellate Body members, which led to the "paralysis" of the Appellate Body for years. This has severely undermined the effectiveness of the WTO's dispute resolution mechanism. Despite these obstacles, the WTO remains the only international organization capable of providing a fair, transparent and rules-based platform for resolving trade disputes in the world.

China's steadfast adherence to WTO trade rules to fight back against US violations serves as a robust rebuttal to Washington's unilateralism. This position underscores its commitment to multilateralism and its respect for international trade rules, as well as its sense of responsibility as a major trade power. By contrast, US unilateralism and trade protectionism increasingly appear out of step with the global community's call for cooperation, rules-based governance, and mutually beneficial outcomes.

All in all, in the current turbulent global trade environment, it is crucial that all parties work together to uphold the authority and fairness of the WTO. Allowing countries to act unilaterally and disregard established rules would only lead to further fragmentation and instability in the global trading system.