The Trump administration blocked new appointments to the WTO’s Appellate Body, the organization’s highest authority, arguing that it overstepped national sovereignty. By 2019, the Appellate Body was effectively shut down, leaving WTO rulings unenforceable if a losing country appeals.
China’s decision to proceed with the case is still strategic, as a formal WTO ruling against the U.S. could become actionable if the Appellate Body is revived in the future.
Trade Policy and Trump’s Cabinet Nominees
The dispute comes as Trump’s trade team is still taking shape. His nominee for U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), King & Spalding LLP partner Jamieson Greer, is set for a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing on Thursday.
With the U.S.-China trade relationship still tense, and global trade rules in flux, China’s WTO challenge signals continued opposition to Trump’s trade policies—even as enforcement mechanisms remain in limbo.
