About the Course

In addressing the trade policy concerns of today’s professionals, the College of Europe has redesigned its Trade Policy course updating it especially vis-à-vis the EU’s trade negotiations with other large trading blocks, such as the USA and Canada for example, and vis-à-vis recent developments such as Brexit. The main purpose of the seminar is to ensure that participants are thoroughly acquainted with the main aspects of EU Trade law and policy, WTO-related issues, and the role played by the EU in the global trade arena.

This four-day seminar gives a thorough and detailed introduction to trade law and policy and the WTO.
The programme includes a broad overview of the sources, structure and basic principles of international trade law, as well as its main actors and subjects. It offers participants a comprehensive analysis of the types of bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements as well as the EU’s trade policies and aspirations in a geopolitical sense.

Which methodology is used?

The course will take place on Cisco Webex Training/ Meetings combined with MS Teams, which allows for a highly interactive online learning. Participants will be able to:

• See the trainers and their peers,
• Follow the lectures and presentations,
• Have access to training material and resources before the start of the course on MS Teams,
• Take part in different activities in groups or together.

Moreover, they will be able to interact with trainers and other participants through a feedback panel, and Q&A and chat tools. All in all, it will create a unique virtual space for learning, networking and interaction.

The programme combines training methodologies requiring active participation and guaranteeing a strong interaction among professionals:

• Dynamic training sessions examining theoretical and practical aspects of trade policy and law;
• Online exercises and case studies designed to challenge and develop essential analytical skills;
• Collective feedback giving participants the opportunity to maximise their personal learning experience;
• Active debate among and between experts and participants;
• A practical course e-folder with material provided prior to the training, which include course information, outlines, handouts, key resources (readings, videos, etc.).

Why participate?

Through this programme, participants will have the opportunity to:

• Improve, extend and update their knowledge and understanding of the EU’s trade policy and international trade law;
• Identify the legal implications of international trade issues;
• Place any problem of legal nature in the right context and develop appropriate solutions;
• Obtain cutting-edge advice and insights from high-level lecturers, with experience working for the EU institutions and/or the WTO;
• Strengthen their legal and economic analysis skills through practical exercises;
• Enjoy a unique opportunity to learn in an online multicultural environment and extend their personal and professional network;
• Join the exclusive LinkedIn group for the alumni of the course;
• Receive a certificate from the College of Europe upon successful completion of the course.

Note from a trainer

“The Trade Policy course is a great forum to talk about the latest developments in EU trade policy. It is great to work with highly motivated and skillful professionals in the beautiful setting of the College of Europe in Bruges. The caliber of the participants makes the course discussions very informative and intense. A real pleasure to be involved in this course as ;

Dr Roberto Rios Herrán
Partner (Warsaw) in the international law firm Appleton Luff