Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

WTO Chief hails US-China trade talks as 'positive, constructive step'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 May 2025 17:43
3 Min Read

A spokesperson for the WTO chief stressed the critical role of sustained dialogue in promoting global economic stability.

Listen
  • x
  • AP
    World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala talks to Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed al-Zeyoudi on stage at a WTO summit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 (AP)

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has welcomed the upcoming talks between US and Chinese officials in Geneva as a hopeful development in efforts to de-escalate their protracted trade conflict. Describing the talks as "a positive and constructive step toward de-escalation," her spokesperson noted the critical role of sustained dialogue in promoting global economic stability.

"Sustained dialogue between the world's two largest economies is critical to easing trade tensions, preventing fragmentation along geopolitical lines and safeguarding global growth," the spokesperson said on Friday.

The Geneva meetings, set to take place from May 9 to 12, mark the first formal engagement between US and Chinese trade delegations since tensions sharply escalated under President Donald Trump's administration. The United States has levied tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, prompting retaliatory measures from Beijing, including tariffs reaching 125% on US goods.

Despite both sides agreeing to the talks, conflicting narratives have emerged over who initiated the dialogue. Chinese officials maintain that Washington reached out multiple times to arrange the discussions, while President Trump has insisted that Beijing sought the meeting out of a desire to cut a deal. In a sign of discord within the US administration, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently stated that the US had not formally entered negotiations with China as of early May, a statement that appears to contradict the president's claims.

Related News

WTO Chief warns of global trade contraction as US tariffs spark alarm

Read more: Bessent contradicts Trump as China trade talks remain absent

This inconsistency has arguably weakened the US position and allowed China to project itself as the more composed and principled actor in the negotiations. Chinese authorities have reiterated that any progress must be based on mutual respect and equality. Meanwhile, the US is reportedly considering reducing tariffs on Chinese goods, signaling a possible willingness to compromise.

Okonjo-Iweala has previously cautioned that unchecked trade hostilities between the two powers could slash global GDP by as much as 7% and reduce bilateral trade flows by up to 80%. Her recent remarks reiterate the WTO's longstanding concerns about economic fragmentation driven by geopolitical rivalries.

While the Geneva talks remain fraught with challenges, the WTO hopes this renewed engagement will serve as a platform for more stable cooperation going forward and help insulate global markets from further disruption.

Read more: China’s exports to US fall 17.6% March to April amid trade war

  • Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
  • US-China trade war
  • WTO
  • US-China relations

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS