People's Daily (Overseas Edition): (Ji Wenhua) China's Commitment to Improving Global Economic Governance
On September 23, while attending events related to the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Premier Li Qiang announced that, 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 policy statement has elicited a positive response and high praise from the international community. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, issued a separate statement lauding the move as evidence of China’s commitment to building a more balanced and equitable global trading system and as a strong signal of support for WTO reform. On October 6–7, the WTO held the fourth meeting of its General Council in 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. China proactively placed an item on the agenda and submitted the “China’s Position Paper Regarding Special and Differential Treatment in the WTO,” setting out its position in detail.
What exactly does this policy statement by China mean? Our newspaper invited Professor Cui Fan of the School of International Trade and Economics, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), and Professor Ji Wenhua of the School of Law and the National Institute for Opening-up (UIBE) to provide analysis.
Q: What exactly is “special and differential treatment” at the WTO? Where does its importance for China mainly lie?
Ji Wenhua: From the perspective of WTO rules, the SDT regime is designed in light of the special national conditions of developing countries to afford them necessary flexibility, allowing them to assume differentiated obligations according to their development level. This is mainly reflected in the ability to undertake lower levels of market-opening commitments and obligations, enjoy longer implementation transition periods, and receive trade capacity-building and technical assistance.
This regime is not a unilateral favor or benevolence granted by developed Members to developing Members; rather, it is an important institutional arrangement formed through long-term bargaining between developing countries and developed countries within the framework of the multilateral trading system (MTS). To a certain extent, it alleviates the problem of “substantive inequality” in participation capacity and opportunities that is triggered and concealed by “formal equality” of rights and obligations, thereby providing policy space and buffers for developing Members to integrate more effectively into the international trading system and benefit from it, and enhancing their confidence and willingness to participate in the MTS.
China acceded to the WTO as a developing country, and enjoying relevant SDT is a rightful entitlement. China has consistently upheld an autonomous and pragmatic approach and has responded flexibly to specific SDT issues. For example, during the accession negotiations, China proactively adjusted and relinquished certain SDT in light of evolving circumstances, yet it firmly sought SDT on key issues such as the level of domestic support for agriculture—an approach that played an important role at the time in safeguarding China’s domestic industrial interests and national economic security.
Q: Why has China chosen to declare now that it will not seek new SDT in the WTO’s current and future negotiations? Does this conflict with China’s “developing country” status?
Ji Wenhua: China’s announcement at this juncture is based mainly on the following considerations. First, it fully demonstrates China’s firm support for the MTS. At present, the MTS is facing severe challenges. The actions of certain countries that undermine international rules and impose additional tariffs pose a serious threat to the continuity of the WTO. As one of the WTO’s key Members, China’s important commitment reflects its high regard for and steadfast support of the Organization. Second, it reflects China’s firm resolve to proactively assume international responsibilities. This policy decision is rooted in China’s development achievements and its deep insight into changes in the global economic landscape, embodying China’s sense of responsibility in promoting a just and reasonable global economic and trade order. Third, it provides an effective pathway to break the deadlock on development issues within the WTO and to advance reform. In recent years, some developed Members, in order to contain emerging developing economies—especially China—have alleged that these Members obtain unfair advantages by relying on SDT and, using this as a pretext, have refused to undertake further commitments, deliberately sowing division within the developing-country camp. Previously, China displayed flexibility on specific issues; now, China has elevated this into a more comprehensive and institutional measure with more far-reaching impact. This will help exert reverse international pressure to urge developed countries to fulfill their obligations and will also enable China to participate in global economic and trade governance with a more open posture.
China’s decision pertains solely to whether China will seek new SDT in future WTO negotiations. It does not concern (nor does it retroactively apply to) SDT that China already enjoys; it will not create precedents affecting China’s status or treatment in other international organizations or treaties; and it certainly does not change China’s status as a developing country. This decision reflects a flexible strategy of addressing “status” and “treatment” separately. One cannot infer from the statement “no longer seeking new SDT” the conclusion that China is “no longer a developing country.”
Q: China has emphasized the “three unchanged”: China’s status as a developing Member will not change; China’s determination to defend the legitimate rights and interests of developing Members will not change; and China’s position in favor of liberalization and facilitation of global trade and investment will not change. What is the significance of this statement?
Ji Wenhua: The “three unchanged” restates China’s longstanding position and underscores that China will continue to make greater contributions to fully advancing the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and the sound and balanced development of the MTS, demonstrating China’s historic commitment, sense of responsibility, and great-power vision in building a community with a shared future for mankind. First, China has always been a member of the developing-country group and is naturally part of the Global South. This is consistent with WTO rules and practice and aligns with China’s stage of development and political identity. Second, in future negotiations, China will not seek new SDT (nor does China need to rely on such treatment) to safeguard its own legitimate trade interests, but it will stand together with other developing countries and firmly support their continued pursuit of relevant treatment. This is not only a boost to the confidence of other developing countries, but also political and moral support. Third, China’s proactive declaration of not seeking new SDT is itself an important step toward promoting the liberalization and facilitation of global economic and trade flows. Going forward, China will take further measures and, at the same time, encourage and promote similar actions by other Members, jointly contributing to the healthy development of the MTS.
Related links attached: http://world.people.com.cn/n1/2025/1011/c1002-40579540.html
