most-favored-nation

American  

[mohst-fey-verd-ney-shuhn] / ˈmoʊstˈfeɪ vərdˈneɪ ʃən /

adjective

1. of or relating to the status, treatment, terms, etc., that are embodied in or conferred by a most-favored-nation clause.

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most-favored-nation Cultural  

1. Status in an international trading arrangement whereby agreements between two nations on tariffs are then extended to other nations. Every nation involved in such an arrangement will have most-favored-nation status. This policy is used, particularly by the United States, to lower tariffs, extend cooperative trading agreements, and protect nations from discriminatory treatment. Most-favored-nation agreements can also be used to apply economic pressure on nations by deliberately excluding them from international trade.

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Etymology

Origin of most-favored-nation

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

And if it is levied on top of most-favored-nation levies already in place, it would be higher than what the European Union agreed to.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

And the most-favored-nation prices that will be applied to Medicaid might not be much lower than discounts Pfizer and other drugmakers already provide to Medicaid.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

Barrack's princes said they could arrange to have the kingdom grant the discount to Haiti; all they needed was for Haiti to reciprocate by extending diplomatic relations and most-favored-nation status to Saudi Arabia.

From Salon • Aug. 17, 2022

France said the EU also approved a declaration to the World Trade Organization to suspend the most-favored-nation clause for Russia that would withdraw its special treatment throughout the bloc.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2022

Furthermore, there is, I suppose, hardly a country in the world which does not have various most-favored-nation treaties which directly affect tariffs.

From The Geneva Protocol by Miller, David Hunter