The Trade Campaign leads Focus’s work in the area of international trade. It mounts campaigns against the continuing efforts at trade liberalization promoted by neo-liberal institutions and governments.

The main target of the campaign has been the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has been sucessful in its initial goal of derailing the 5th WTO ministerial in Cancun. The campaign aims at playing a leading role in an international campaign with several dimensions: lobbying governments in Geneva; providing good and timely research and analysis; coordinating with national social movements, particularly in Asia; and helping organize mass demonstrations globally.

The campaign is also engaged in campaigns around other neo-liberal institutions and policies, such as the Free Trade of the Americas (FTAA), the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), and bilateral free trade agreements.

The campaign also works o­n alternative strategies for global trade along the lines of the deglobalisation paradigm. While mindful of the fact that the existing trade regime prevents significant implementation of alternative strategies, the campign works o­n practical strategies for beginning to transform some aspects or parts of the system.