US Presses WTO to Stop Lenient Trade Treatment of China

US Presses WTO to Stop Lenient Trade Treatment of China
The World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters are seen in Geneva on April 12, 2018. Fabrice Coffrini/ AFP/Getty Images
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WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump pressed the World Trade Organization on July 26 to stop letting China and other economies receive lenient treatment under global trade rules by calling themselves “developing” countries.

In a memo, Trump directed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to “use all available means” to get the WTO to prevent countries from claiming developing country status if their economic strength means they don’t need beneficial treatment.