UNITAR Online Catalogue
Agriculture in Trade Agreements
繁荣
FAO
背景信息
The value of global trade in agri-food products has almost tripled since the establishment of the World Trade Organization, with some regions emerging as net exporters and others deepening their dependence on food imports. Given the centrality of imports to food security and the role of exports in generating income, trade remains a critical element of development strategies in many countries, particularly in North Africa and the Near East.
Looking ahead, global agricultural trade is expected to continue to expand, as countries become more integrated into international markets. However, the design and appropriateness of trade and related policies will vary depending on the level of agricultural development in each country. Moreover, the policy space available to Governments is shaped by international legal and institutional frameworks, particularly those established within the framework of the World Trade Organization. In this context, striking a balance between advancing national policy objectives and compliance with trade commitments is essential to mitigate potential negative impacts on trading partners.
Another distinctive feature of the current trade landscape is the proliferation of regional trade agreements, which have increased not only in number but also in complexity. Regional trade agreements often go beyond multilateral agreements in establishing deeper trade and economic integration. Understanding how agriculture is approached within the framework of regional trade agreements is therefore critical for informed policy engagement and strategic negotiation.
学习目标
The aim of this course is to increase the knowledge of participants in order to:
- A better understanding of the international regulatory frameworks governing trade and the mechanism for their implementation as well as the implications of recent WTO ministerial conferences;
- Discuss the importance of non-tariff measures on international trade and the importance of WTO agreements on these measures on national trade policies;
- Identify the trends of regional trade agreements and describe the provisions of regional trade agreements in policy areas related to agricultural trade, and compare them with the provisions of multilateral trade agreements.
内容和框架
The course consists of three modules, each consisting of two to three lessons. The first two modules are global in scope. The third module is designed to cover key themes from the other two modules, with a particular focus on the countries of the Near East and North Africa.
Module 1. World Trade Organization Agreement on Agriculture (AoA)
Lesson 1.1. Agriculture in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Market Access
Lesson 1-2. Provisions of the WTO Agreement on the WTO Agreement on Domestic Subsidies and Export Competition
Lesson 1-3. Implementation of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture and the Doha Round Negotiations
Module 2. Non-tariff measures in agriculture and relevant WTO agreements
Lesson 2-1. Introduction to Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures in Agriculture and the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Lesson 2-2. Technical barriers to trade under the World Trade Organization and other relevant agreements
Module 3. Agriculture in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs)
Lesson 3.1. Trends in RTAs
Lesson 3-2. Provisions of the Regional Trade Agreement on Tariffs, Quotas, Technical Barriers to Trade, Sanitary Barriers, Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade
Lesson 3-3. Free Trade Agreement Provisions on Export Restrictions, Export Duties and Rules of Origin
方法
The course will be conducted in Arabic over a period of four weeks and will be organized in three modules. The course will be delivered via the e-learning platform developed by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNTIAR) (http://www.unitar.org, using training materials developed by FAO. This educational tool will help participants achieve the educational objectives of the course through a self-paced study routine with optional and required readings, case study exercises, discussion forums, and assessment tests. The course will be facilitated and guided by international experts with considerable practical experience to ensure that real-life examples are incorporated into the course work.
目标受众
This course is designed to assist professionals from the Ministries of Agriculture, Ministries of Economy and other relevant government authorities, who are directly involved in the formulation and implementation of trade or agricultural policies in the countries of the Near East and North Africa region.
Participants from the private sector and academia can also benefit from the course.
Priority will be given to policymakers and practitioners who influence agricultural trade, and professionals who are able to transfer information and technical advice to their constituencies.
更多信息
This course is offered free of charge. Limited places are available and will be subject to a selection process by FAO and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), taking into account geographical distribution and gender balance in particular.
In preparing this session, FAO draws on its extensive experience in providing guidance, capacity-building and technical advice to its member countries on agricultural trade policy and multilateral trade negotiations, as well as its normative work under international conventions and agreements on sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
A certificate of completion of the course will be issued to participants who have successfully completed all tasks and assessments related to the course.