UNCTAD
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
African Regional Workshop on WTO Dispute Settlement in Agriculture
Stellenbosch/Cape Town, South Africa
31 October – 2 November 2005
Why this workshop
Based on the Course on Dispute Settlement in International Trade,
Investment and Intellectual Property, specially compiled for UNCTAD
by renowned scholars and experts, this workshop offers a general and
up-to-date review of rules of the World Trade Organization on trade in
agricultural products and related dispute settlement procedures. Issues
addressed in this workshop are covered in Modules 3.9 on Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures and 3.15 on Agriculture.
Who should attend
The workshop is intended for a target audience of:
Government officials
Academics
Practising lawyers
Industry advisers
A certain degree of familiarity with the work and the basic rules of the
WTO is desirable in order to fully profit from this workshop.
Objectives
Upon completion of the workshop, participants will have a thorough
understanding of (1) the operation of the WTO dispute settlement
system in respect of the agricultural-sector-specific provisions in the
Agreement on Agriculture and of (2) the Agreement on the Application
of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
Programme
The Programme comprises lectures and exercises on the agriculturalsector-specific provisions in the Agreement on Agriculture and the
general WTO rules in a number of other WTO Agreements that can
impact agricultural trade. It also deals with the substantive and
procedural disciplines contained in the Agreement on the Application of
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, and with the jurisprudence of the
panels and Appellate Body of the WTO in respect of this Agreement.
Examination of key recent agriculture disputes and commercial practice
among traders is included. Throughout, emphasis is given to the
position of developing countries in general and those of the African
region in particular.
Curriculum
The workshop covers the issues addressed in Modules 3.9 and 3.15 of
the UNCTAD Course on Dispute Settlement:
Module 3.9: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Module 3.15: Agriculture
To refresh their general knowledge of the WTO and the basic rules and
principles of WTO law, participants are encouraged to read these
modules in advance of the workshop.
Format
The workshop activities are spread over a period of three working days.
The teaching method will be interactive and participatory, based on a
combination of lectures, exercises and case studies. This event will host
up to 50 participants. The selection of the participants will be based
upon the professional qualifications of applicants, and the relevance of
the workshop to the work and the career of the applicants.
Tutors
Mr. Bernard O'Connor, author of Module 3.15, Ms.Denise Prévost,
author of Module 3.9, and Ms. Chitra Radhakishun, UNCTAD.
Dates
Monday, 31 October 2005 – Wednesday, 2 November 2005
Venue
Stellenbosch/Cape Town, South Africa
Expenses
Participants are responsible for all their expenses, including travel,
subsistence and medical assistance. UNCTAD does not offer financial
support to participants.
Course materials
The course materials can be downloaded free of charge from the
UNCTAD website http://www.unctad.org/dispute
How to apply
Please return the enclosed application form with a copy of your CV by
20 October 2005 at the latest, to:
Ms. Chitra Radhakishun
Manager, UNCTAD Project on Dispute Settlement in International
Trade, Investment and Intellectual Property
Palais des Nations
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: + 41 (0)22 917 0247
E-mail: chitra.radhakishun@unctad.org
Sponsors
The United Nations Development Account and the Government of
France made financial contributions.
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