The Secretary of State and the frontrunner of the Tory leaders will propose a new “Commonwealth Deal” to strengthen economic security among the 56 countries in the group, led by the Queen.
Ms. Truss also wants the “freedom-loving” nations that make up the association to act as a global counterweight to China’s growing influence on the global stage.
Its latest policy plans will be unveiled today to mark the opening of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Ms Truss said: “I will ensure that the Commonwealth is at the center of my plans for Britain.
“As one of the largest groups of freedom-loving democracies, we must ensure that there are clear benefits to staying in the Commonwealth and provide nations with a clear alternative to Beijing’s growing evil influence.
“Prioritising trade with Commonwealth countries will strengthen economic and security ties, while also giving UK businesses turbo-charging capabilities to access one of the world’s largest economic blocs.”
Ms Truss’ planned Commonwealth Deal aims to accelerate the government’s pursuit of bilateral trade agreements with members of the association.
By reducing trade barriers and restrictions, the Secretary of State hopes to “increase” the trade cost advantage the Commonwealth offers members compared to countries outside the bloc.
If she becomes prime minister, she will instruct her ministers to draft a new “Commonwealth trade template” as a model for deals with other member states. Commonwealth countries would be invited to discuss possible partnerships in the early stages of her premiership.
Ms. Truss is expected to believe that the Commonwealth – the largest association of nations that includes neither China nor Russia – has an increasingly important role to play in global politics.
The bloc has a growing influence on the global stage, with a third of the world’s population now living in member states, a combined GDP of £12 trillion and about 30 percent of the vote in the United Nations.
In her previous job as a secretary for international trade, Ms Truss started negotiations for dozens of post-Brexit trade agreements.
She opened talks with Australia, Canada and New Zealand, all members of the Commonwealth, in the search for near-zero trade deals.
The proposed Commonwealth Deal is the latest in a series of policy announcements designed to show she is a suitable prime minister as she competes with former Chancellor Rishi Sunak to become Boris Johnson’s successor.
Tory base members will begin choosing between the pair in a vote starting next week, with the final result to be announced on September 5.