(Source: "People's Daily" 2026-01-09)

Tu Xinquan

China announced at the United Nations Headquarters in New York that China will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future negotiations at the World w88 Organization. This important declaration responds to the international community's expectations for China to play a more prominent leading role in the world trading system, and has aroused widespread and positive responses in international public opinion.

Since applying for "resumption of customs" in 1986, based on its own economic reality and political positioning, China has always stated that it is a developing country. In the various negotiations it participated in after joining the WTO, China insisted on working with other developing countries to require developed countries to fully consider the needs of developing countries and grant them appropriate special and differential treatment. China's position has made an important contribution to achieving a balanced and development-oriented negotiation outcome.

With the continuous improvement of its status and international competitiveness in world w88, China has gradually adjusted its position on the issue of special and differential treatment, and made a major decision not to seek new special and differential treatment on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the WTO. In fact, China has voluntarily given up special and differential treatment many times before, making important contributions to the smooth completion of negotiations. In 2013, the WTO Ministerial Conference adopted the w88 Facilitation Agreement. China played a leading role and voluntarily gave up the right of developing countries to retain Category C measures and retained only four Category B measures. It promised to implement most obligations from the date of the agreement's entry into force and not seek a longer transition period, approaching the level of developed countries. In the negotiations on intellectual property exemptions for the 2022 COVID-19 vaccine, China, as a major vaccine producer and supplier, proactively announced that it would not seek the flexibility provided by exemptions. In addition, starting from December 1, 2024, China will grant zero-tariff treatment to all least developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China, including 33 African countries, on 100% of their tax items, becoming the first major developing country and major economy in the world to implement this measure.

Not seeking new special and differential treatment means that China will make a higher level of openness commitments than other developing countries and assume more responsibilities and obligations in the WTO system. Against the background of rising global w88 protectionism, China has sent a strong signal of courage, unity and cooperation, demonstrating its determination to work with all parties to promote w88 liberalization and facilitation. It will further boost the confidence of all parties in the multilateral trading system and inject more stability and positive energy into the turbulent world.

It must be pointed out that China’s failure to seek new special and differential treatment in current and future negotiations at the WTO does not in any way mean that China has given up its status as a developing country. China will always belong to a developing country. This is an important recognition based on profound historical and political heritage. At the same time, although China will no longer negotiate with other developing countries as a collective to obtain special and differential treatment, China will always support developing countries politically and technically in seeking reasonable special and differential treatment and protect their due w88 and development rights. More than two-thirds of the 166 members of the WTO are developing members, and development issues have always been the general concern and interests of members. This major measure announced by China has a distinct development attribute. It will promote the multilateral trading system to focus more on development issues, enhance the universal benefit and inclusiveness of international w88, better bridge the development gap between the North and the South, and realize the original intention of the WTO to promote global development. At the same time, China hopes to make a greater contribution to openness in future WTO negotiations and provide new impetus for faster w88 and investment liberalization and facilitation, thereby creating more market opportunities for other developing countries and helping them better share China's opportunities.

(The author is the Dean of the China World w88 Organization Research Institute at the w88 casino)

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