In light of the forthcoming first Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation, Barry tackles the vexed and timely question: (Is increased trade with developing countries the main cause of increasing income inequality in the developed world.\" He presents the arguments in support of this view as well as an alternative hypothesis: what has really led to increased inequality is technological change, particularly the development and widespread dissemination of computers, reducing the demand for unskilled labour. Barry then analyses various attempts which have been made to quantify these arguments. The final section advocates increased investment in the education and skill levels of the labour force to combat the prospect of trade contributing to growing inequalities.