“BRICS countries should stand up and safeguard multilateral treaties”

By Yunus Soner, from Antalya / Türkiye

We are continuing our series of interviews conducted on the Antalya Diplomacy Forum that took place 11-13 of April.

Dr. Henry Huiyao Wang is founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization. Hence, the interview started with a focus on Trump’s tariffs – and ended with a reform of the multilateral system.

US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies have been a major topic here on the Diplomacy Forum of Antalya. Of course, all eyes are on the People’s Republic of China, which is the country most attacked by these policies. Professor Wang, from China, first let me know your Center for China and Globalization. What is it exactly?

The Center for China and Globalization is a think tank. It’s a top 100 world think tank ranked by the University of Pennsylvania, but also, we are the only think tank in China that has a special consultant status. So, we promote globalization and exchange with outside world and also bridges between China and outside world.

So, what do you think about these tariff acts of the Trump administration? What’s your perspective on it?

I think the tariff is self-counterproductive. It’s not really a good way of handling the global trade affairs. I think if we have a problem, let’s talk, let’s have a discussion. I think the first phase of Trump administration, we had China and the US as many negotiations, discussions, and we had a phase one agreement. We should pursue that again, you know, rather than escalating tariff.

And also, not only for China, but for the outside world. And that is really a big, you know, destruction, destabilizing global trading system, which is very bad for both China and the US and the rest of the world.

If Trump goes ahead with these threats and pressure, how will China react on it, and how should the rest of the world react on it?

I think, you know, this kind of against multilateral system, you’ve got to have a big country like China stand up. Of course, China cannot just be a small country, not saying anything. But on the other hand, China is saying they are open the door, they don’t want to close the door, they want to continue the dialogue. And then they stopped the escalation already. China said it will not escalate anymore on a tariff. So, it’s good. Let’s have a talk and continue the discussion to solve the problem.

You also mentioned in your speech that this is an attack in a way also on the multilateral system, as the World Trade Organization is also being sidelined. And you proposed that the global south should take a bigger initiative to defend this multilateral system, including a bigger role for the BRICS countries. Can you explain that?

Yeah, absolutely. Because BRICS countries’ economy is so big now, it’s even bigger than G7, actually. The total BRICS country GDP is bigger than G7 now. I think that it’s important that those big BRICS countries should stand up and safeguard multilateral treaties. We’ve been enjoying for the last 80 years, and they’re designed by the US initially. So let’s work together West, East, G20 would be a good platform and let’s also BRICS can play an economic role in stabilizing the global trading system and global prosperity.

I think that we need to reform UN for this multilateral world, and particularly the Security Council. So my proposal was that let’s add G20 countries into the Security Council. You have five permanent members there already, and then the other 15 could be associate members, but we have to reform the veto power.

You know, for the last 80 years, the US used about 80, 90 times the veto power, Russia used about 100 sometimes, and China used 16 times, same probably for France and UK. So we should stop abusing of the veto power. So if we have a system designed with five permanent members, 15 associate members, and 2 thirds veto the majority of that, then the General Assembly probably also can have another 2 thirds majority for vetoes. That probably will have a new established system.

How do you see China’s trade relationships with countries other than the US?

China has invested over 1 trillion US dollars in the last decade and into 3,000 projects connecting in all the countries. For example, in Africa China built 100,000 kilometers of highway and 10,000 kilometers railway. China lifted 43 countries’ tariff to zero, while we have seen other countries raise tariff to 100%.

Also, China wants to have a good relationship with the European Union. We have seen a parade of European leaders visiting China. Spanish Prime Minister has visited Beijing recently. So I think it’s great.

Let’s revive the comprehensive agreement on investment in China and the EU. Let’s have more Free Trade Agreements, let’s build the largest economic free-trade area in the world.