NLUO encourages applications for a certificate program in International Service Trade
The Center for International Trade Law (CITL) at National Law University Odisha (NLUO) is set to launch a one-credit certificate course on 'International Trade in Services: Legal Framework, Negotiations, and Services Trade Policies'. This exciting new course, starting on August 11, 2025, will run for 11 days, with classes held on weekdays, and culminate in an online examination on August 25, 2025.
The course, conducted by retired IAS officer Sumanta Chaudhuri, boasts a rich curriculum that focuses on the legal aspects, negotiation dynamics, and policy frameworks governing international trade in services. While the exact syllabus is not explicitly available, it is expected to cover legal frameworks, negotiation strategies, and policy considerations related to services trade at the international level.
Sumanta Chaudhuri brings a wealth of experience to the table, having held positions of Joint Secretary and Director, Department of Commerce, Government of India, and having handled the Trade Policy Division dealing with WTO issues and regional and bilateral trade engagements, including the negotiations on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). He also served as Deputy Chief Negotiator for the India-European Union (EU) and India-European Free Trade Association Broad-based Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) negotiations.
The course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) under the WTO, the impact of services trade policies on businesses, consumers, and governments, and the skill sets needed to advise various stakeholders on strategic decisions to take advantage of the opportunities created or suitable responses to the challenges that arise.
The registration fee for the course is ₹1,000/-, and interested candidates can complete the registration process via a Google form, accessible via this link. For queries, students can contact [email protected] or [email protected].
The course will be conducted online through Google Meet, and students will learn how to read, prepare, and interpret services schedules of countries, as well as understand the nascent jurisprudence on services trade-related matters that has developed in the WTO. The current raging and sometimes controversial debates on the rise and rise of e-commerce will also be touched upon in the course.
The last date for registration is August 3, 2025. The examination for the course will be held on August 25, 2025, in an online mode. The results will be declared by August 31, 2025, and the certificates will be issued by September 30, 2025.
This course is part of NLUO's International Trade Law practice and aims to familiarise students with the rapidly evolving global services trade architecture and legal framework, deepen the understanding of the main provisions of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and their implementation, and provide better comprehension of the complexities and divergent issues in services trade negotiations.
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The course, organized by The Center for International Trade Law (CITL) at National Law University Odisha (NLUO), will explore topics in finance, education-and-self-development, and online-learning, as it delves into the nuances of international trade in services, equipping students with knowledge on the complexities and divergent issues in services trade negotiations. This knowledge can subsequently be applied in various industries, particularly finance, where understanding global services trade policies and legal frameworks can prove beneficial.