The WTO and Agricultural Policy Training Program, which was jointly organized by China-Canada “Samll Farmers Adapting to Global Markets” (SFAGM) Project and Agricultural Trade Promotion Center (ATPC), Ministry of Agriculture, was held in Beijing just a few days ago from 24 to 28 September.

Mr. Ni Hongxing, Director of ATPC, and Mr. Kevin Chen, manager of SFAGM, attended the opening ceremony on 24 September and made welcoming speeches.

Five experts, from both Canada and China, were invited to give lectures at this training. They are: Michael Gifford, formerly First Representative of Canadian agricultural negotiation and currently a senior consultant with Centre for Trade Policy and Law (CTPL), Carleton University; Dr. Lars Brink, a senior consultant of Global Policy Analysis with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC); Mr. Ni Hongxing, director of ATPC, Chinese Ministry of Agriculture; Prof. Xia Youfu, from University of International Business and Economics; Prof. Wang Sangui, from Renmin University of China; and Prof. Tian Weiming, from China Agriculture University. The training focused on the new round of WTO negotiation, technical barrier for trade (TBT), sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), North America Free Trade Area (NAFTA), as well as issues related to trade relief.

There were 37 participants in total, including 19 females and 18 males. The participants mostly come from ministries and commissions which are project partners, as well as government officials, who are in charge of international trade, from the agricultural departments of 13 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.