News and insights on WTO Technical Assistance programmes. |
- On the Horizon: Key Upcoming Activities
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- e-Learning: Revamped Interface Enhances User Experience
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- Weekly Round-Up: Top News and Highlights
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💻 Virtual | 📅 16–18 July 2025
Regional Workshop on E-Commerce for ASEAN Members |
This three-day virtual workshop will bring together trade officials from Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and beyond to enhance their understanding of e-commerce within the evolving global trading landscape.
The programme will delve into key multilateral and plurilateral frameworks, including the WTO Work Programme on E-Commerce, the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI), the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).
Participants will also examine how digital trade is addressed in regional trade agreements and digital economy agreements, with particular emphasis on ASEAN’s policy approaches and regulatory experiences. The workshop will also discuss how AI shapes and is shaped by international trade and participants will hear from the private sector on emerging e-commerce practices and challenges. |
📍 Abuja, Nigeria | 📅 16–18 July 2025
Workshop on Trade in Services for Development |
Conducted under the Trade in Services for Development (TS4D) initiative, the workshop aims to equip Nigerian stakeholders with the tools and knowledge to assess and advance their services trade policies for inclusive economic growth.
Participants will explore global and regional trends in services trade and examine the developmental role of the sector and the contribution of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Drawing on tools developed jointly by the WTO and the World Bank, the workshop will provide hands-on training to situate Nigeria's services trade policies in key sectors.
Through group exercises, participants will review Nigeria’s policy landscape in light of the WTO-World Bank regulatory audit, and use the Services Trade Competitiveness Checklist discuss Nigeria's strengths and weaknesses, as well as priority areas and key objectives on services trade and related policies. |
Revamped Interface Enhances User Experience |
🎓 A New Learning Experience Awaits on the WTO e-Learning Platform!
As of 3 June, the WTO e-Learning platform has been upgraded with a modern, user-friendly interface designed to enhance your learning journey. The revamped platform offers intuitive navigation, improved accessibility, and quicker access to key features — including courses, certificates, and support tools.
Whether you are new to trade topics or looking to deepen your expertise in WTO Agreements and trade-related issues, the enhanced platform makes it easier than ever to learn at your own pace.
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The WTO e-Learning programme offers a range of training courses through a comprehensive online platform, covering WTO agreements and various aspects of international trade.
Enrol for free in the WTO e-Learning programme and gain access to an ever-expanding catalogue of training courses designed to help you navigate the dynamic world of global trade. |
Academic collaboration in focus as WTO Chairs Programme looks ahead to MC14 |
The WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) kick-started its three-day Annual Conference on 2 July with an eye to the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14), which is scheduled for March next year. The event is bringing together a global network of academic institutions to discuss their research work on trade-related issues and explore how international and regional collaboration can support multilateral work in preparation for MC14 and beyond. |
Virtual National Workshop on WTO Import Licensing Agreement for Ecuadorian officials |
Government officials from Ecuador participated in a two-day virtual workshop on 2–3 July to deepen their understanding of the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures. The activity aimed to enhance national capacity in fulfilling key notification obligations under the Agreement and to strengthen institutional coordination on import licensing practices.
The workshop offered a comprehensive overview of the Agreement and its linkages with other trade policy instruments, including quantitative restrictions, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, and technical barriers to trade (TBT). Participants examined the core notification provisions of the Agreement and received step-by-step guidance on preparing notifications on new or modified import licensing procedures. Presentations explored good practices from other WTO Members in sectors of relevance to Ecuador. |
Global Workshop Explores AI’s Role in International Trade |
Government officials and stakeholders from across the globe gathered in Singapore from 1 to 4 July for a workshop focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), trade, and inclusive digital transformation. Organized under the Singapore-WTO Third Country Training Programme (TCTP), the activity provided a platform to explore how AI is reshaping global commerce and the implications for policy, innovation, and development.
Participants examined the evolving role of AI in transforming industries and trade systems, with dedicated sessions on AI governance, international regulatory frameworks, and the role of trade agreements in facilitating digital innovation. A mix of expert presentations, interactive panel discussions, and site visits, offered practical insights into Singapore’s national AI strategy and regional digital initiatives.
Discussions highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges presented by AI, from supporting SME growth and supply chain resilience to navigating complex regulatory environments. The programme included a forward-looking dialogue on capacity building and skills development, underscoring the importance of human capital in fostering an AI-ready trade ecosystem. |
SPS Workshop in Vienna Highlights Shared Priorities and Practical Solutions |
Government officials from Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus gathered in Vienna from 1 to 3 July to enhance their understanding of the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures. Organized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in partnership with the Joint Vienna Institute (JVI), the regional workshop created space for dialogue, peer exchange, and practical learning.
Participants brought national perspectives to the table, reflecting the diverse realities of SPS implementation across the region. The programme moved quickly from foundational principles of the WTO SPS Agreement to hands-on group work, including real-time exercises simulating notification responses and decision-making processes. A key focus of the workshop was demystifying the role and procedures of the WTO SPS Committee.
Through a live demonstration of the ePing SPS & TBT Platform, attendees tested how digital systems can improve access to notifications and strengthen stakeholder engagement. Discussions also explored technical assistance options and funding opportunities offered through the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). |
Netherlands Talent Programme Participants Trained in Effective Communication by Clingendael Academy |
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Participants in the Netherlands Talent Programme (NTP) at the WTO enhanced their public speaking and communication skills through a dedicated one-day training session led by Clingendael Academy. Held in Geneva on 26 June, the session introduced the 16 participants to key presentation techniques through a combination of hands-on exercises, group work, and individualized feedback.
Building on the session, the same trainers will continue working with the group during their upcoming programme at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, where participants will further develop their skills in negotiation and professional communication settings.
Funded by the Government of the Netherlands, the NTP assists government officials from developing countries and LDCs in getting useful experience in the economic and development aspects of trade policy by allowing them to participate in ongoing activities within the WTO Secretariat for a period of ten months. . |
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Coordinated and managed by ITTC |
A core function of the WTO, technical assistance and capacity-building activities seek to enhance professional and institutional trade capacities in developing and least-developed WTO member and observer governments. They provide beneficiaries with enhanced know-how to take full advantage of the opportunities from the rules-based multilateral trading system and address potential challenges. Within the WTO Secretariat, the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) oversees these activities. |
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