No Single Country Can Determine Trade Rules, Ministry Says

It’s not possible for any country alone to determine the agenda and rules of global trade for the 21st century, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in response to a US-led trade arrangement at a daily news conference on Friday.

Lu also asked Washington not to politicize economic and trade issues.

Lu was speaking after Washington pointed a finger at China as 12 countries signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) on Thursday.

“TPP allows America – and not countries like China – to write the rules of the road in the 21st century”, statement by US President Barack Obama said as the US, Japan and another ten countries signed the agreement in Auckland, New Zealand on Thursday.

Lu said such comments were “interesting”.

“We never believe that China alone determines the formulation of the agenda and rules of global trade of the 21st century, neither do we believe it’s possible for any other country alone to do so,” Lu said.

“We have always been advocating and maintaining the World Trade Organization’s leading role in formulating global trade rules. We hope major trade countries and major economies can commit themselves to maintaining the WTO’s status in this regard,” he said.

He urged relevant countries and governments “not to politicize economic and trade issues”, and avoid leading people to the conclusion that the United States has been promoting the TPP “out of certain political consideration”.

By WANG QINGYUN Feb. 2, 2016 on China Daily

Read more here