International Trade Negotiations: Navigating the New Trade Diplomacy

Programme Description

International trade negotiations are highly complicated processes, involving a large variety of actors (public and private), each representing their own interests. While traditionally trade agreements have dealt primarily with discussions over tariffs and quotas on imports, trade negotiations today encompass a much broader range of actions and government regulations, from the environment and climate, to the digital domain. Novel forms of international trade arrangements, different from traditional trade agreements, are also emerging creating new opportunities for international cooperation, but also increasing the fragmentation of the international economic system.

This executive training seminar is designed for professionals seeking to master the intricacies of trade agreements and trade negotiations in today's ever-evolving and fragmented multilateral system. By connecting theory and practice, it will delve deeper into the latest developments and hotly-debated topics of trade policies and trade diplomatic strategies and equip participants with the necessary tools to build effective and multifaceted trade negotiation strategies. Via an intensive and practice-oriented approach, the participants will explore cases studies, engage in interactive discussions with leading experts and professors, and take part in an innovative trade negotiations simulation game in order to develop profound understanding of both traditional and novel international trade systems.

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Programme structure

Online sessions:

• 11 November (14:00 – 17:00): Global Trade Trends and Challenges
• 13 November (14:00 – 17:00): Latest Developments in International Trade Agreements; A Regional Perspective

Residential sessions (in Florence, Italy):

• 18 November (09:30 – 18:00): Novel Issues in International Trade: Thematic Deep Dives
• 19 November (09:30 – 18:00): Enhancing Trade Negotiation Skills
• 20 November (09:30 – 18:00): Selling the Deal & Preparing for Real World Scenarios
  
  

Learning outcomes

By the end of this programme, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate a good understanding of the current trends and developments in international trade agreements and diplomacy, as well as the novel issues arising in this sphere and their implications;
• Advance their trade negotiation and diplomatic skills, especially in the context of multi- and cross-cultural trade negotiations;
• Develop concrete trade negotiation strategies and techniques to effectively promote their stakeholders’ interests in the context of regional and international trade negotiations;
• Employ a range of sustainable and digital trade practices and integrate them into their own trade negotiations strategies.

Learning methods

• Interactive lectures and discussions with leading professors and trade experts;
• Peer-to-peer learning via group work;
• Case study analysis;
• Interactive trade negotiations simulation game.

 

Who should attend

• Government officials, civil servants, and diplomats who are and/or will be charged with negotiating international trade agreements;
• Members of parliament and representatives of international organisations in charge of trade-related regulatory issues and portfolios;
• Trade facilitators and members of trade promotion organisations;
• Lobbyists or representatives or industry associations, corporations, unions, and NGOs that have a stake in the outcome of trade policy decisions.