The Third WTO/UNESCAP Regional Seminar on Dispute Settlement Procedures and Practices and Dispute Settlement Understanding Negotiations for Asian Economies takes place in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia from 10-13 March 2003. The main purpose of this course is to strengthen developing countries' effective participation in the Doha negotiations and work programme through a deeper understanding of the Dispute Settlement Understanding in the WTO and related issues involved. About 20-25 mid-level Government officials with responsibilities related to dispute settlement in the WTO and to the ongoing negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda will be invited to participate. The tentative program of the course can be found here.

The course is being organized pursuant to paragraph 38 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration which states that "the delivery of WTO technical assistance shall be designed to assist developing and least-developed countries and low-income countries in transition to adjust to WTO rules and disciplines, implement obligations and exercise the rights of membership, including drawing on the benefits of an open, rules-based multilateral trading system" as well as to paragraph 39 which underscores the urgent necessity for the effective coordinated delivery of technical assistance with, interalia, regional intergovernmental institutions. The Course is also being organized pursuant to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Resolution 57/5 on Integration of Asian and Pacific Developing Countries and Economies in Transition into the International Trading System which requests the Executive Secretary to, interalia, facilitate the integration of developing countries and economies in transition into the international trading system by organizing training courses to strengthen the participation of the region's developing economies in world trade.

Last updated: 24 January 2003