Funded by Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) project, the Department of Trade (DoT), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi, India, conducted a capacity-building workshop on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and related matters at Paro, from December 26-27, 2024. This workshop is the third in the series, following the previous sessions held in New Delhi in January 2024 and the inaugural workshop conducted in the same month in Thimphu. The workshop was attended by the Department of Agriculture and Marketing Cooperatives, Bhutan Food and Drug Authority, Bhutan Standards Bureau, Office of Attorney General,GovTech, Department of Revenue and Customs, Department of Tourism, Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property, Bhutan InfoComm and Media authority, Legal Division and the Department of Industry. The workshop aimed to build participants’ skills in trade agreements, legal jargons, drafting strategies and negotiation strategies among others. It was further aimed to provide exposure to WTO related matters and keep the relevant stakeholders informed as well as sensitized on theaccession process.

Day one covered the global trading system, the role of agreements such as Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), and key principles of Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) obligations. Participants also learned the difference between legally binding treaties and non-binding instruments like Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs).

Day two focused on negotiation strategies, including decision making analysis, behavioral decision-making, game theory, negotiation analysis, and cognitive biases in negotiations. The day concluded with a group simulation exercise, enabling participants to know how these concepts are applied in practical scenarios.