China will no longer seek special treatment as a developing country in World Trade Organization negotiations, removing a key obstacle in trade reform talks with the US, reports Bloomberg.

Premier Li Qiang announced the shift during a meeting on global development in New York, stating China would not pursue "new special and differential" treatment in current or future WTO discussions. He is attending the United Nations General Assembly.

The announcement was confirmed by state-run Xinhua News Agency and welcomed by WTO director general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who praised China's leadership in a post on X.

Developing nation status at the WTO is self-declared and grants members extended timelines to implement trade agreements and other flexibilities.

The move is expected to ease tensions with the US and support broader efforts to reform the global trade body.