International Trade and Trade Policy under the EU Nepal Trade and Investment Programme

The Centre for WTO Studies (CWS), CRIT, IIFT, New Delhi, in collaboration with the EU-Nepal Trade and Investment Programme, successfully conducted the Advance Training (Batch II) on International Trade and Trade Policy from 19th to 23rd August 2024. The program was designed to enhance the technical capacity of Nepalese officials and stakeholders in navigating the evolving landscape of international trade, WTO disciplines, and regional trade integration.
Over five days, participants engaged in a series of in-depth technical sessions led by renowned trade experts and academics. Key topics included agriculture and food security under the WTO, non-tariff measures (NTMs), trade and environment negotiations, LDC graduation and its implications, trade facilitation, services trade and GATS, TRIPS and technology transfer, subsidies and countervailing measures (ASCM), and technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
The training also featured a field visit to SEZ Noida/APEDA, offering practical insights into trade infrastructure and export promotion mechanisms. The final day included sessions on market access challenges for Nepal, participant feedback, and a valedictory session with distinguished speakers including Prof. Pritam Banerjee, Prof. Murali Kallummal, and Shri Jayant Dasgupta.
This program served as a vital platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and capacity building, equipping Nepalese stakeholders with the tools to effectively engage in international trade negotiations and policy formulation.