China Renounces New WTO Special Treatment

Premier Li Qiang announced at a UN General Assembly side meeting in New York that China will no longer seek any new special and differential treatment (SDT) in current and future World Trade Organization negotiations. Beijing framed the decision as a responsible step by a “major developing country,” intended to bolster the multilateral trading system, support WTO reform and advance China’s Global Development Initiative, and the move was welcomed by WTO Director‑General Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala. Chinese officials emphasized they will forgo new SDT claims while still considering China part of the developing world given uneven per‑capita incomes. The pledge addresses a long‑standing U.S. objection that China unfairly claims developing‑country privileges and could ease bilateral trade tensions amid recent tariff disputes. Observers say the commitment may inject momentum into stalled WTO reform talks, though the organization still faces structural problems such as the appellate body deadlock.