One of the greatest challenges, and opportunities, facing the international community today is how to remould global trade governance to ensure greater coherence between the systems for international trade, financial, monetary and technology governance so that they support development and, specifically, to advance the achievement of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). A critical part of this challenge is how to more overtly foster global solidarity and integrate development principles and equity considerations into how the global economy is governed. This chapter emphasizes the dual importance of the global trading system as a global public good that can help all nations solve trade-related problems through a coordinated multilateral response, and also as a ‘global development good’, which facilitates economic, social and environmentally sustainable development for all.

This chapter traces the evolution of the United Nations’ (UN’s) development ideas, initiatives and goals as related to trade, including the MDGs. It demonstrates how the UN, through its research, analysis and strategic monitoring as well as the advocacy and support for developing country causes, policy-makers and negotiators, has contributed to remould the global trade governance system towards a greater focus on development. It recognizes that despite the best efforts of the UN Secretariat and Member States, progress has been limited, however, and that there are new and emerging issues, or ‘game changers’, to reckon with. It reaffirms the need for a strong UN role and partnership with the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as other existing and emerging economic governance systems, if development goals and principles of sustainable development are to be realized and to harness the new game changers as a positive force for development.