Beijing, China - Dec 12, 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Press conference
2. Reporters
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Gao Feng, spokesman, Chinese Ministry of Commerce:
"At the WTO General Council meeting on December 9, the draft decision on the functioning of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) failed to be passed due to some member's disapproval. With only one member left, the WTO dispute settlement mechanism has paralyzed basically. This is the most severe blow to the multilateral trading system since the establishment of the WTO. China is disappointed over this."
4. Various of reporters taking notes, listening
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Gao Feng, spokesman, Chinese Ministry of Commerce:
"The normal and effective functioning of the dispute settlement mechanism is crucial to maintaining the stability, authority and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system, and to safeguarding the rule-based world trade order. China will continue to firmly support the rule-based multilateral trade system, and support the efforts of all parties in restoring the functioning of the Appellate Body. Meanwhile, we are working on a temporary scheme for solving trade disputes during the impasse of the Appellate Body. China will offer its proposal in due time, and will work with other members to restore the functioning of the disputes settlement mechanism as soon as possible."

FILE: Geneva, Switzerland - April 27, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Various of World Trade Organization headquarters, sign

China is disappointed over the impasse of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

"At the WTO General Council meeting on December 9, the draft decision on the functioning of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) failed to be passed due to some member's disapproval. With only one member left, the WTO dispute settlement mechanism has paralyzed basically. This is the most severe blow to the multilateral trading system since the establishment of the WTO. China is disappointed over this," said Gao Feng, the spokesman.

According to Gao, China is willing to work with other WTO members that share the common goal of continuing to tackle the challenges facing the Appellate Body.

"The normal and effective functioning of the dispute settlement mechanism is crucial to maintaining the stability, authority and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system, and to safeguarding the rule-based world trade order. China will continue to firmly support the rule-based multilateral trade system, and support the efforts of all parties in restoring the functioning of the Appellate Body," Gao said.

"Meanwhile, we are working on a temporary scheme for solving trade disputes during the impasse of the Appellate Body. China will offer its proposal in due time, and will work with other members to restore the functioning of the disputes settlement mechanism as soon as possible," Gao said.

The WTO will no longer be able to review dispute rulings between countries because its Appellate Body will not have enough judges starting from Wednesday.

The Appellate Body, considered the supreme court of the WTO, is supposed to have seven judges. At least three members are needed to hear an appeal. Since the terms of two of the three remaining judges ended on December 10 and the United States has blocked the nomination of new judges, the Appellate Body will be unable to hear new disputes for the time being.