China announced it will no longer seek special treatment reserved for developing countries under World Trade Organisation rules, a move hailed as a breakthrough for global trade reform.

The announcement was made by Premier Li Qiang at a development forum held alongside the UN General Assembly in New York, and comes after years of pressure from the United States. Washington has long argued that China, as the world’s second-largest economy, should not receive concessions such as longer transition periods to open its markets or reduced commitments on tariffs.

Officials from China’s Commerce Ministry said the step is meant to support the WTO at a time when the global trading system is under stress from protectionism and tariff wars, especially those sparked by President Donald Trump’s administration. While the statement did not directly mention the United States, Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods and on imports from other countries this year have fuelled tensions and weakened the WTO’s relevance.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo Iweala welcomed the announcement, calling it "major news key to WTO reform" and the result of "many years of hard work." She added that the decision could pave the way for long-delayed negotiations on global trade reform, as the WTO continues to face challenges of credibility and enforcement.

Chinese officials noted that the country still identifies as part of the developing world, but Beijing has also expanded its role as a global lender and infrastructure investor, with state-owned enterprises financing projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Analysts say the move could strengthen China’s hand in trade talks, counter U.S. accusations that it has been benefiting from an unfair advantage, and show Beijing’s effort to be seen as a responsible stakeholder in global governance.