Issues at the WTO and in FTA negotiations under Specialised Training Programme on Emerging Issues in WTO and International Trade

The Centre for WTO Studies (CWS) at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi, successfully conducted a Specialised Training Programme on Emerging Issues in WTO and International Trade from 4th to 13th March 2024. Organized under the auspices of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, Ministry of External Affairs, and the Department of Commerce, Government of India, the program brought together international participants for an intensive ten-day engagement on contemporary trade issues.
The training covered a wide array of topics including outcomes of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, food security and agriculture, TRIPS and pandemic response, dispute settlement reforms, e-commerce, trade facilitation, fisheries subsidies, sustainability standards, non-tariff measures, and the evolving role of state-owned enterprises and industrial subsidies. Sessions were led by distinguished experts such as Dr. Pritam Banerjee, Dr. Murali Kallummal, Shri Mukesh Bhatnagar, Shri Abhijit Das, and Shri Jayant Dasgupta, among others.
The program also featured participant presentations, special sessions on resilient supply chains and global trade dynamics, and a cultural excursion to the Taj Mahal. The final day included a valedictory session with addresses by senior trade officials and the distribution of certificates.
This training initiative not only enhanced participants’ understanding of emerging trade issues but also fostered international cooperation and capacity building in global trade governance.