China Ends Bid for WTO Developing-Country Perks in Future Negotiations

Overview

• Prime Minister Li Qiang announced that China will no longer seek special and differential treatment in any current or future WTO negotiations, unveiling the shift in New York at a Global Development Initiative event during the UN General Assembly.
• WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala praised the decision as the result of years of work and said China will forgo access to such flexibilities in new agreements.
• Chinese officials said the country will continue to identify as a developing nation, emphasizing that the change covers new commitments rather than altering existing ones.
• China’s Ministry of Commerce said the step is intended to strengthen the multilateral trading system against a backdrop of tariff disputes and protectionist measures.
• Analysts said the move could ease a long-standing U.S. objection and help advance WTO reform, while the practical impact will depend on subsequent talks and major members’ responses, with some noting potential spillovers for climate finance debates.