Published on March 24, 2026
The United States has officially stated that South Korea and three other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have retained their self-declared status as developing countries, despite their commitment to abandon special and differential treatment (SDT) in trade negotiations. This revelation was made on Monday through a report released of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), which coincided with the lead-up to a significant WTO ministerial conference scheduled to take place in Yaounde, Cameroon.
According to the USTR report, which addresses key issues surrounding WTO reform, South Korea, Brazil, Singapore, and Costa Rica had declared between March 2019 and March 2020 their intention to reject SDT provisions in both ongoing and future WTO discussions. However, these nations have continued to classify themselves as developing countries, leading to a call for greater consistency and fairness within the international trade framework.
The USTR emphasized the need for reform within the WTO aimed at achieving “reciprocity” and “balance” in the global trading system. The report underlined the importance of ensuring that all member countries are held to the same standards when it comes to the privileges and responsibilities associated with their classification.
In a separate analysis focusing on China, the report noted that the nation had announced in September 2025 its decision to forgo SDT in WTO negotiations. Nevertheless, the USTR expressed skepticism about the sincerity of China’s commitment and called for a more thorough examination of its pledge.
The self-declaration of developing country status has been a contentious topic within the WTO, with critics arguing that it allows certain nations to benefit from preferential treatment while they have moved further along in their economic development. The U.S. report aims to address these discrepancies as the WTO grapples with issues of equity and fairness among its member states.
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