“LDCs continue to receive special focus in the WTO to help them improve their trade capacity and better integrate into the multilateral trading system,” said the Director of the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, Ms Bridget Chilala, at the opening ceremony on 24 April. She stressed that the WTO attaches utmost importance to training and capacity-building for developing country members, and especially for LDCs which constitute around a fifth of the total WTO membership.

The Introductory Trade Policy Course seeks to respond to LDCs' ongoing demand for trade-related training and capacity-building. Providing an overview of the WTO's structure, rules and functioning, the course focuses in particular on topical issues of significance to LDCs, such as the LDC Services Waiver, rules of origin, and development issues. It also emphasizes the link between WTO activities and trade policy issues specific to LDCs.

The course curriculum includes presentations, discussions and exercises. Participants also have the opportunity to attend a meeting of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body.

All WTO training is structured around three progressive levels. This course is a “level 1” or introductory activity. This means that participants who successfully complete this course can access “level 2” or intermediate courses before reaching the advanced level.

More information about the WTO Technical Assistance can be found here.

List of participants