The World Trade Organization (WTO) emerged in view of the developmental crisis in the third world countries, the 146 member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are currently engaged in a round of trade negotiations. This new round is meant to focus on the needs of developing countries. This paper attempts to analyze the role of the international trade system through the activities of the WTO in arresting the developmental crisis that ravaged less developed countries. Nigeria and South Africa in focus.