The online course on trade negotiation techniques is the third one in UNCTAD’s trade policy e-learning series, is a self-paced, easy to follow course. It is developed to address the need for building negotiation capacities of trade officials in developing countries; but is open to officials involved in trade negotiations in all countries, including developed ones to create a common understanding of the challenges faced in negotiation processes by officials of both developing and developed countries.
The course is based on the practical guide on skills and techniques for trade negotiators prepared by Dr. Craig VanGrasstek, the course instructor. This guide will be made available on the course platform to enrolled participants. The guide and the course modules aim to offer guidance on the conduct of trade negotiations with the expectation that the typical course participant will be a diplomat or other policymaker in a developing country who has been tasked with representing the country in multilateral trade negotiations at the WTO or participating in a trade negotiation for a free trade agreement with a single trade partner.
Objectives
The course aims to enhance and strengthen the negotiation capacity of trade officials in a way that best fits to achieving their country’s sustainable development goals. After completing this course, participants will have acquired the necessary techniques and skills required for trade negotiations.
Methodology
The course, running from 9 February to 24 March 2025, consists of five modules, with pre-recorded videos prepared by the instructor. Participants are expected to follow the modules at their own pace, ideally one module per week. At the end of each module, participants need to pass a quiz to move on to the following module.
The course includes three webinars, where participants can engage in interactive discussions with Dr. Craig VanGrasstek, the principal course instructor, as well as trade experts from UNCTAD and other international organizations.
The course includes three webinars, where participants can engage in an interactive discussion with Dr. Craig VanGrasstek, the principal course instructor, as well as trade experts from UNCTAD and other international organizations.
Webinar 2: Negotiating trade agreements covering both WTO and non-WTO issues
Negotiating trade agreements has become more and more challenging, especially for officials in developing countries. This is due to expanding coverage of trade agreements, which used to be mostly about liberalization of tariffs in the past. Today, trade negotiations cover many other issues, environmental goods and services, human rights and labour rights, some of which are referred to as sustainability issues.
This second webinar organized within the online course on trade negotiation techniques will address negotiations outside the WTO framework, environment-related trade agreements, such as Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), and negotiation of issues going beyond the WTO. Prof. Craig VanGrasstek and other experts will share their insights and experiences on how to navigate trade negotiations involving such a wide range of issues.
