<h1>Developing-country treatment relinquished: China abandons special WTO status to strengthen multilateral trade rules and encourage reform.</h1> China will forgo developing-country treatment under WTO agreements to strengthen the multilateral trading system, thereby accepting stricter market-opening expectations and shorter transition periods; officials presented the move as supporting WTO effectiveness and reform while noting China remains part of the developing world despite growing roles as a lender and infrastructure partner through state-owned enterprises.