President Cyril Ramaphosa has renewed his calls for urgent reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in response to escalating global trade tensions and tariff disputes.
Speaking during the 30th-anniversary commemoration of the WTO on Thursday, Ramaphosa highlighted significant shortcomings in the current global trading system, stressing the need for immediate and comprehensive reforms.
His comments come amid growing economic uncertainty sparked by recent tariff measures implemented by United States President Donald Trump, who has imposed a 10% baseline tariff on all US imports.
While Trump's administration has paused higher tariffs on certain nations temporarily, an ongoing tariff conflict with China continues to strain international trade relations and unsettle global markets.
Ramaphosa expressed concern about these unilateral and protectionist measures, stating:
"We are witnessing unilateral actions and protectionist policies from some developed economies that undermine our collective, multilateral agreements. It is essential that we work urgently to strengthen and reform the WTO. If we fail to act, the global trade system risks devolving into one dictated by power rather than principle."
