Recently, the Global Final Round of the 23rd John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition (“JHJ-WTO Competition”) was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Representing East Asia, as one of its top four teams, the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) team competed against 24 teams from around the world. During the preliminary rounds, UIBE faced two strong teams from India and advanced to the Global Top Eight with an impressive fourth-place ranking. The team then defeated Georgetown University from the United States in the quarterfinals to secure a spot in the Global Top Four.

This remarkable result marks the best performance by a team from Mainland China—and indeed from the entire Greater China region—in nearly two decades of competition history. In addition, UIBE’s lead oralist, Ms. Chang Tianzi, was awarded the Best Oralist of the Quarterfinals, becoming the first participant from Mainland China ever to receive this prestigious honor. She was also selected by the organizers to deliver a speech on behalf of the Asia-Pacific region. This is the fifth time that a UIBE team has advanced to the Global Final Round since its first participation in 2012, and the second time it has been invited by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat to compete at WTO headquarter. The team was warmly welcomed by Mr. Zhang Xiangchen, WTO Deputy Director-General.

The UIBE team was coached by student coaches Lin Weiling (Master’s student in International Law, Class of 2024) and Li Xinran (undergraduate student from the “Excellence Program for Foreign-related Legal Talents,” Class of 2021). The team’s oralists and researchers were Guo Jia (Master’s student in Law, Class of 2023, also serving as team captain), Chang Tianzi, and Yuan Hao (both undergraduate students from the “Excellence Program,” Class of 2023).

In the preliminary rounds, UIBE faced the National Law Institute University (Bhopal) of India, the runner-up of the South Asia Regional Round, and the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (Kolkata), another strong contender from South Asia that later became the global runner-up. Against these formidable opponents, UIBE’s three oralists showcased their solid legal knowledge, sharp analytical skills, and clear, well-structured arguments, maintaining a calm and confident presence throughout. They ultimately advanced to the Global Top Eight as the fourth-ranked team overall—the only team from the East Asia and Oceania region to do so.

In the quarterfinals, UIBE faced Georgetown University Law Center, the runner-up of the Americas Regional Round. As one of the event’s co-organizers and a prestigious law school in the U.S., Georgetown brought extensive competition experience and professional coaching support. Nonetheless, UIBE’s oralists precisely identified the key legal issues, responded flexibly to challenging questions, and fully demonstrated the results of their meticulous research and preparation. Their outstanding performance secured them a place in the semifinals and the Global Top Four.

In the semifinals, UIBE once again faced their preliminary-round opponent, the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. In this intense and closely contested match, UIBE’s oralists continued their composed yet agile advocacy style, displaying strong legal expertise and exceptional teamwork. Although the team narrowly missed advancing to the finals, their Top Four finish represents the best result ever achieved by a team from Mainland China, highlighting UIBE’s excellence and growing global influence in the field of WTO law.

The JHJ-WTO Competition, organized by the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA) in cooperation with the WTO Secretariat, top international law firms, and leading universities worldwide, is recognized as the most prestigious moot court competition in the field of WTO law. Throughout the competition, the UIBE team received professional guidance and comprehensive support from Associate Dean Gong Hongliu of the School of Law. Prof. Cristina Mariottini and Mark Koulen also provided valuable expert advice during the final preparation stage.

Resource: Law School at WCP-China UIBE