S/E/46. At the World Trade Organisation meeting in Cancun (Mexico), September 2003, a group of 21 to 23 developing countries refused to agree with the European Union and United States on trade policy. Outline the questions at issue and discuss the likely effects on trade and development, particularly in cotton, textiles and clothing.

This essay outlines the questions at issue at the WTO meeting in 2003 when for the first time some twenty developing countries refused to agree with the EU and US on trade policy. The meeting ended without an agreement being reached and this essay discusses the effects of this on regionalism, protectionism, free trade and development in the world economy - with focus on the cotton and textile industry.