The Advanced Trade Policy Course (ATPC) represents the highest level of training (level 3) in the WTO's progressive learning programme and is targeted towards participants who already possess a sound knowledge of the Organization and its agreements. This course focuses on developing and applying practical skills on issues including trade policy analysis, formulation and implementation; trade negotiations; dispute settlement; and trade monitoring.

Both legal and economic aspects of WTO rules and disciplines are being examined in a series of interactive sessions including case studies, simulations and exercises. Roundtable discussions provide a platform for practical exchanges, sharing of experiences and best practices as well as debating present-day trade-related topics. Participants will be expected to prepare and deliver a presentation relating to a trade policy topic.

During the opening of the course, participants were encouraged to adopt a critical and constructive approach to learning. They were also encouraged to be proactive and engaged in order to maximize benefits from the exchanges of ideas, perspectives and opinions, both with each other as well as with the experts involved in the course.

The participants thanked the WTO Secretariat for organizing the course and particularly noted the professional and personal value of the sessions.

Ada Domínguez, from Paraguay, was confident she would be able to "capitalize on the course in all the areas being covered, including market access, trade defence and trade facilitation".

Daniela García, from Ecuador, said, "My goal is to apply the trade tools that governments have available, learn from my colleagues from other countries and the WTO experts, and find out about the current state of the multilateral negotiations".

For Marcos Da Rosa, from Uruguay, the course "represents a challenge because of the advanced theoretical knowledge it presupposes". Through the course, he hopes "to reinforce that knowledge by applying it in practice to the various matters addressed by the multilateral trade agreements".

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