Shaping India’s Global Trade Leaders: WTI–CWS Joint Academy on International Trade Law and Economic Policy 2026

As India continues to deepen its engagement with the global economy—through free trade agreements, digital trade discussions, and an expanding role in multilateral forums—this evolving landscape presents a valuable opportunity for individuals to build expertise and contribute meaningfully in the field of international trade.

Applications are now open

A Unique Interdisciplinary Experience

What sets the Joint Academy apart is its integrated approach. Participants can specialize in law or economics, while also benefiting from shared foundational modules that bridge both disciplines. This ensures a holistic understanding of how legal frameworks and economic realities interact in shaping trade policy.

The first week brings all participants together for core sessions on:

• WTO law and policy
• The economics of trade
• Trade in services

This common grounding fosters cross-disciplinary dialogue from the very beginning.

Learn from Global Experts

The programme features an exceptional faculty drawn from leading international institutions, including the World Trade Institute, the World Bank, top law firms, and academic centers of excellence.

Participants will engage with renowned experts such as:

• Prof. Peter Van den Bossche on WTO law
• Mr. Pierre Sauvé on trade economics and services
• Prof. Isabelle Van Damme and Prof. Werner Zdouc on trade and security
• Leading practitioners and scholars from Geneva, New Delhi, Brussels, and beyond

This diversity of perspectives ensures both theoretical depth and practical insight.

Cutting-Edge Topics for a Changing Trade Landscape

The 2026 curriculum reflects the most pressing issues in global trade today. Across the four-week law track and two-week economics track, participants will explore:

• Trade in services and global value chains
• Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical barriers to trade (TBT)
• Trade and sustainability
• Intellectual property rights in trade
• Investment law
• Trade remedies and agriculture
• Digital trade and emerging regulatory challenges
• Trade and security in a fragmenting global economy

These topics are not only academically rigorous but directly relevant to current policy debates.

Designed for Impact

Whether you are a government official, legal practitioner, economist, or graduate student, the Joint Academy is designed to equip you with:

• Analytical tools to navigate complex trade regimes
• Practical insights from real-world case experience
• A global professional network of peers and experts

Located in Switzerland—a hub of international governance—the programme also offers unparalleled exposure to the institutions shaping global trade.

Join the Next Generation of Trade Leaders

As international trade faces new uncertainties and opportunities, the need for well-trained, interdisciplinary experts is greater than ever.

The WTI–CWS Joint Academy 2026 is more than a training programme—it is a platform to build expertise, exchange ideas, and shape the future of global trade policy.

Applications are now open