Trade negotiations lie at the heart of the multilateral trading system. Parties and governments are exercising the art of negotiation skills to protect and advance their interests and benefits in various forms, particularly at a critical stage in the process of the ongoing Doha trade talks. Despite the current impediments that face the WTO in achieving a successful round of negotiations, more and more key players are insisting to conclude the Doha round.

            By no means is the ESCWA region an exception. Since the launch of the Doha trade negotiations in 2001, ESCWA member countries have exerted efforts to effectively increase their participation in the multilateral trade negotiations in order to address their national concerns and interests within the framework of the ongoing negotiation process. However, progress is still needed for ESCWA member countries to sufficiently generate better knowledge and skills in strategies and tactics of different negotiation scenarios, especially the means to consolidate a common position on the regional level as well as to coordinate positions with other negotiating groups.

            ESCWA, in collaboration with the WTO, is planning to hold an intensive three-day regional seminar in the form of a training workshop. This will be designed to focus on providing the participants from member countries with the skills and knowledge that is needed for trade negotiations concerning appropriate strategies and tactics, focusing on non-agricultural market access (NAMA) and agriculture, as well as techniques for effectively participating in and monitoring of the negotiation process. It will also briefly update the participants on the latest developments in the Doha round. In this regard, the training will build national capacities of member countries in pre-negotiation planning, effective negotiation strategies, tactics and skills. Using simulation exercises, participants will not only become familiar with the techniques and skills of interest-based negotiation on practical and theoretical levels, but also they will have an opportunity to learn how to analyze the given subject matter of a negotiation, identify national priorities, build an overall consensus, consolidate decisions and formulate a comprehensive negotiation package.