Historically, development has not been at the core of the multilateral trade regime. The multilateral trade system did not incorporate development concerns until the Doha Development round, which paradoxically has since its launching in 2001 contained the seed of its own failure, given the focus on development it was supposed to embrace. This chapter looks at the major aspects of the trading system and its relations to development. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) evolved over time in its treatment of developing countries, changing the use of special and differential treatment (S&D). An imbalance in rule making became evident with the results of the Uruguay Round agreements and its implementation costs, with debate moving from the concept of S&D to creating space for discussing development policy. Some reflections are offered on the current governance challenges the World Trade Organization (WTO) faces today.