On the eve of the sixth UN conference on trade and development (UNCTAD VI), this paper summarises the present state and prospects for the developing countries, surveys the issues likely to predominate and examines the probable negotiating positions of the participants. The paper argues that UNCTAD VI will be strongly influenced by the deterioration in the world economy since UNCTAD V. However, the conference will (as with previous UNCTADs) at least keep development issues within the ambit of international negotiation.