The origins of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) lie in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the UN Member States on 8 September 2000. From the Declaration,s commitments, the UN Secretariat drew up a list of eight MDGs, each of them accompanied by specific targets and indicators. This paper provides a view on Goal 8, which is to “develop a global partnership for development”. It focuses on only some aspects of the global economic system, their effects on development, and what needs to be done to contribute to realizing Goal 8. The main focus is on the problems facing developing countries in international trade, and particularly the imbalances in the multilateral rules under the World Trade Organization. The global financial system, and measures needed for its reform, is also discussed in outline form. It is argued that unless there is progress on the international front (i.e., Goal 8 on global partnership), it will not be possible to realize the other MDGs that focus on national level policies.