Officials who are most likely to benefit from a WTO Course are officials who are currently working in the field of foreign trade policy and who need to obtain a wider knowledge of the WTO and the multilateral trading system before assuming further responsibilities in this field. There are no tuition fees for participants. An invitation is addressed by the WTO Secretariat to the relevant authorities in each developing country, such as the Ministry of Trade, Foreign Economic Relations or Foreign Affairs. Governments wishing to propose candidates should follow the procedures outlined in the invitation circular. The invitation circular contains detailed information on nomination criteria, procedures and closing dates for submission of nominations and other practical guidelines for applicants from developing countries.
Special emphasis is laid on the development dimension.
Presentations are given by WTO officials dealing directly with the respective subjects and also outside experts and consultants. The four-day workshop aims at providing participants with some basic skills in regard to techniques, strategies, tactics, etc. of the negotiating process. Participants take part in mock negotiations of a general and trade-specific nature where intensive team work is expected. After an introductory lecture on WTO dispute settlement procedures, participants will take part in a simulation exercise on dispute settlement under the guidance of a member of the Legal Affairs Division of the WTO Secretariat. The exercise spans two and a half days, with relevant materials distributed in advance.