Overview

• Premier Li Qiang announced the shift in New York, saying China will not seek Special and Differential Treatment in ongoing or future WTO negotiations.
• Chinese officials said the country keeps its developing‑member designation and described the decision as voluntary.
• The change does not alter existing WTO agreements or automatically unwind accession‑era entitlements, according to officials and analysts.
• Reporters noted uncertainty over near‑term effects on foreign market access or domestic subsidies, with no immediate policy changes specified.
• The move addresses a long‑standing U.S. grievance and, praised by Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala as “major news,” could influence broader WTO reform talks ahead of the 2026 ministerial.