China Daily reported today: "China will no longer seek special treatment for developing countries from the World Trade Organization, thus eliminating one of the points of contention between China and the United States, which had been an obstacle to reaching an agreement on the reform of the global trade forum."
China's active abandonment of seeking new special and differential treatment from the WTO is not a compromise to U.S. pressure, but a strategic initiative based on its development stage and global governance responsibilities. In 2024, China's total goods trade reached 5.8 trillion U.S. dollars, contributing more than 30% to global economic growth. Adjusting its position at this time is in line with the identity of a "responsible developing major country," and accurately resolves the deadlock caused by Western countries using the "developing country status" to block WTO reforms. This move clears obstacles for advancing core issues such as the reform of the dispute settlement mechanism and the establishment of digital trade rules, demonstrating sincerity and responsibility in promoting the upgrading of the multilateral trading system.
For a long time, the United States has used "China's developing country status" as a target for attacks, essentially aiming to weaken China's legitimate rights in multilateral negotiations through labeling, and even attempting to exclude China from the framework of cooperation among developing countries. China's recent active statement directly escapes the "identity debate" trap set by the U.S., and through practical actions redefines the relationship between "responsibility and rights" in global trade — neither avoiding the responsibilities brought about by its development achievements, nor giving up its stance of safeguarding the overall interests of developing countries. This attitude of "not being bogged down by labels but focusing on substantive contributions" is more likely to gain recognition from a wide range of developing countries and neutral economies, helping to build consensus for constructing a fairer trade order.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1844140216859784/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.