Recently, at the High-level Meeting of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) hosted by the Chinese side at United Nations Headquarters in New York, China announced: as a responsible major developing country, China will not seek new special and differential treatment (SDT) in the current and future negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). “This is a key moment for the WTO. China’s decision reflects its commitment to building a more balanced and equitable global trading system,” stated Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, noting that China has sent a strong signal of support for WTO reform and that this move “will undoubtedly inject momentum into the relevant discussions and help us build a more flexible and efficient Organization.”

“An important policy statement oriented toward both the international and domestic overall contexts”

Professor Ji Wenhua of the National Institute for Opening-up and the School of Law at UIBE noted that SDT is an institutional arrangement granted to developing Members under the WTO framework. As the largest developing country, China has, since joining the WTO, strictly observed the Organization’s rules and faithfully fulfilled its accession commitments. On this basis, continuing to exercise relevant rights in accordance with the law and rules is consistent with international legal principles and WTO norms. At present, certain countries have launched successive trade wars and tariff wars, posing a grave threat to the MTS, disrupting the international economic and trade order, and bringing uncertainty and instability to global economic development. As one of the WTO’s important Members, China’s proactive statement is conducive to breaking the deadlock on development issues within the WTO, advancing WTO reform, and boosting developing countries’ confidence in the MTS. This move fully demonstrates China’s sense of responsibility as a major country in global economic governance and is an important contribution to the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core.

“Conducive to better safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the broad community of developing Members”

Professor Ji added that it is important to emphasize that China’s position paper submitted to the WTO and related policy explanations clearly and precisely define the application scenarios and scope boundaries of this move. First, this move applies only within the WTO framework; it will not create precedents for, nor have any impact on, issues relating to China’s status and treatment in other international organizations or treaties. Second, this move concerns only whether China will seek SDT in negotiations; it does not involve changing China’s status as a developing country. China’s membership in the developing-country group is consistent with WTO rules and practice and aligns with China’s stage of development. In addition, this move pertains only to not seeking new SDT in current and future WTO negotiations; it does not concern (nor does it retroactively apply to) SDT that China already enjoys or that China has requested to enjoy in ongoing negotiations. Therefore, any claim or formulation suggesting that this move means China has, within the WTO framework, transformed into a developed country or no longer belongs to the developing-country category is incorrect or constitutes a distorting and misleading interpretation.

“Fully demonstrating the shared responsibility to promote global development”

“At present, protectionism and unilateralism continue to spread. In particular, certain major countries disregard international rules and push unilateral tariff measures, posing severe challenges to the WTO’s authority and effectiveness. At this critical juncture, China has, through pragmatic action, broken the shackles of zero-sum thinking and fully demonstrated its shared responsibility to promote global development. This move reflects China’s sense of responsibility in defending the global economic and trade order and highlights China’s leading role in global governance,” Professor Ji Wenhua stated. He added that some Western developed countries have long exhibited the phenomenon of “plenty of declarations but scant implementation” when it comes to granting SDT to developing countries. Only if all countries move toward each other, resolutely reject double standards, and jointly cement the foundation of multilateralism can a path of inclusive, just, and sustainable development be opened for the global economic and trade system—this is the fundamental way to resolve the current global trade impasse.

Related links attached: https://www.peopleapp.com/column/30050387231-500007115646