In the eyes of the world, the Cancun Trade Ministerial Meeting will act as a litmus test of the major industrial countries' commitment to inclusive globalisation, to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to a stable and peaceful world. Increased trade opportunities provide the best means of placing poor countries on a higher trajectory of growth and poverty reduction. The current system does not work for many developing countries and imposes burdens on the consumers of the developed world.

The launching of the Doha Round gave a boost to the multilateral trading system. The lessons from Seattle and the unifying perspective that emerged after 9/11 led to the recognition of the need for a new approach. It is now important that Cancun delivers on the promises built into the Doha Development Agenda. Key areas where decisions at Cancun are seen as essential are: agriculture, TRIPS/health, non-agricultural market access, special and differential treatment/implementation issues, review of the dispute settlement understanding; and the Singapore issues. It will not be possible to transform the lives of the poor and attain the Millennium Development Goals without delivery on the Doha Development Agenda.

This publication is a compilation of papers on the key issues for the Cancun Trade Ministerial meeting to be held in September 2003. It is intended primarily to assist policy-makers in Commonwealth developing countries, particularly small states and LDCs, in preparing their negotiating position for Cancun.