<h1>Major economy abandons developing-country status at WTO to push stronger multilateral trade rules and curb protectionism</h1> A major economy announced it will no longer claim developing-country status at the World Trade Organization, aiming to strengthen the multilateral trading system amid rising tariffs and protectionist measures. Government trade officials framed the change as supporting WTO reform; the designation previously afforded lower obligations and longer transition periods for market-opening. The WTO director-general welcomed the move, which was declared at an international development forum during a UN meeting. Officials maintained the country remains part of the developing world while noting its middle-income status and growing role as a provider of loans, technical assistance and infrastructure through state-owned firms.