The programme covered major WTO issues such as the scope, function and structure of the WTO, its implications on international business, trade protectionism, regional economic integrations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, antidumping measures, intellectual property rights, subsidies & countervailing measures, special and differential treatment, trade in services, trade facilitation measures, non-agriculture market access (NAMA) and WTO issues in agriculture.

Prof Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Chairperson, Management Development Programmes, said, “Growing economic interdependence has significantly influenced the domestic economy. Inflow of low priced foreign goods is pushing Indian industries especially in the SME sector to shut down leading to mass-scale unemployment. Member countries are required to follow the WTO regulations while making their policies as to what subsidies and incentives can be given to the industry for trade and investment. Therefore, it becomes imperative for the government officials both at the administrative and functional levels to understand the implications of global upheavals and integration of trade and investment under the WTO framework”.

Amerendra Khatua, Joint Secretary, trade policy division of the Ministry of Commerce emphasized upon that officials at grass-root level in the districts or at departments and ministries in the states have to understand the implications of the emerging world economic order and WTO issues involving labour, environment, and employment. Prof Biswajit Dhar, Head, WTO Centre, emphasized upon evolving an institutional mechanism for WTO issues between the centre and the states. Prof. Rohit Mehtani, the programme director elaborated upon political economy of international trade and multilateral negotiations.