The countries selected for this WTO simulation represent the current most important confrontation lines in world trade negotiations. Therefore the most dominant and important players, like the USA and the EU are put together with big emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil. Countries with different agendas such as oil giant Saudi Arabia and developing countries Ivory Coast and Bengladesh will also be sitting at the negotiating table.

The countries that were chosen for the 2008 edition were:

• United States of America
• European Union
• People's Republic of China
• Republic of India
• Federative Republic of Brazil
• Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
• People's Republic of Bengladesh
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• The Swiss Confederation
• United Mexican States

The ten countries listed above will be represented by a delegate in each committee . This makes negotiations more realistic as the same countries are active at every  level, which  allows their delegates to design their negotiation strategy through the assessment of multiple issues.

Each country delegation will be led by a Head Delegate. His/Her task is to coordinate his/her country's overall position during the negotiations and lead Country Meetings.

Win the Best Negotiating Delegation Award!

At the end of the meeting the assembly votes on the best negotiating country. The team from the World Trade Institute representing the European Union won the Award in 2007.

In 2008, yet another WTI group of delegates won the Award, in association with Shell.