Revision of Developing Country Status Determination Criterias

Kniaz M. Bagdasaryan – Researcher of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (Moscow, Russia). E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The article examines the recent practice of revision by leading developed countries, primarily the United States, of criteria for determining the status of developing countries. The possibility of such a practice is explained by the lack of generally recognized criteria on this issue at the level of international organizations, including the WTO. In the logic of modern trade wars, the United States uses this gap as a tool of trade policy, while creating a new form of struggle for international competitiveness.

The article was written based on the RANEPA state assignment research programme.

Key words: economic status, developing countries, tariff preferences, WTO, revision of usual criterias, new trade rules.

JEL-codes: F10, F13, F19.