China Drops New WTO Special Treatment Claims

At the U.N. General Assembly, Premier Li Qiang announced China will no longer seek any new special and differential treatment (S&DT) in current and future World Trade Organization negotiations. Li framed the move as a demonstration of China’s responsibility as a major developing country, a defense of multilateralism and a warning against a resurgent “Cold War” mentality and protectionism; WTO Director‑General Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala and many trading partners welcomed the step. Chinese and WTO officials said the pledge is voluntary and applies only to ongoing and future talks—not to existing agreements—and Beijing still considers itself part of the developing world due to uneven per‑capita incomes. Economists and trade analysts say the change clears the way for negotiations on digital commerce, subsidy disciplines and environmental rules, could increase pressure on other large “developing” members (notably Brazil, India and South Africa) to follow suit, and may bring stricter compliance and reporting requirements for businesses. Observers add the pledge may inject momentum into stalled WTO reform talks, even as structural problems like the appellate body deadlock persist.