founded in 1905 what will create organization rules have permitted members to self identify as developing allowing them to impose high tariffs to protect key industries for. south korea used it to shield sectors including agriculture like rice farming from foreign competition but hong's announcement that his country would not be giving up its developing nation status could be seen as trying to have things both ways and whether it's enough to play keep this man is another issue donald trump has been strong arming friends and falls over the matter in july the us president said that the world trade organization was broken when the world's richest countries claim to be developing countries to avoid w t o rules and get special treatment no more he wrote. among his targets were china and south korea but seoul says its decision reflects its ongoing economic success