CTPL Certificate Program in Trade Policy Skills
October 7, 2026 — October 15, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM — 4:00 PM
| Location: | Online |
| Cost: | Free |
CTPL Certificate Program in Trade Policy Skills
October 7-8 and 14-15, 2026
9am-12 pm EST
AGENDA
INSTRUCTORS
Rosemina Nathoo, Principal and International Legal Counsel, CTPL
Phil Rourke, Principal, CTPL
FORMAT
This training program will be delivered online in three-hour sessions over four days. Each session runs from9:00am to 12:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). Participants will be provided with MS Teams invitations for each session prior to delivery.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, you will have increased knowledge and skills development in:
- Developing policy recommendations on government trade priorities
- Preparing for and conducting effective stakeholder consultations on trade
- Developing trade advice for SMEs interested in expanding into international markets
AUDIENCE
The course is designed for professionals from the public, private and non-profit sectors who are interested in pursuing careers in trade policy or who are interested in upskilling to remain competitive and to meet new demands in their current trade-related roles.
COST
$1,450+HST
AGENDA
Wednesday, October 7th
| 9:00-9:20 | Welcome and Introductions (MS Teams)
· Introduction to course and course objectives · Roundtable introductions with participants |
| 9:20-9:40 | Presentation: Developing recommendations on a government trade priority
· Presentation and discussion on how to use the CTPL Policy Analysis Mapping Tool to determine options to address a trade priority of the government |
| 9:40-10:30 | Case exercise: Developing recommendations on a government trade priority
· Participants work in groups using the CTPL Policy Analysis Mapping Tool to real-life trade priorities of the government to develop policy recommendations on a government trade priority |
| 10:30-10:45 | Health Break |
| 10:45-12:00 | Case exercise continued
· Preparing a group 5-minute presentation on a trade policy priority · Presentations and discussion · Debrief and Tips on an effective trade policy brief · Preparations for Day 2 |
Thursday, October 8th
| 9:00-9:40 | Presentation: Designing a trade-related stakeholder engagement strategy
This session introduces the CTPL Stakeholder Planning Tool for strategy development to prepare for stakeholder meetings on government trade priorities |
| 9:40-10:30 | Case exercise: Designing a trade-related stakeholder engagement strategy
Introduction to the case exercise and group work |
| 10:30-10:45 | Health Break |
| 10:45-11:30 | Case Exercise (continued)
Group work and group presentations and discussion |
| 11:30-12:00 | Practical Tips on Implementing an effective trade negotiations stakeholder engagement strategy |
Wednesday, October 14th
| 9:00-9:45 | Presentation and Discussion: How to read a trade agreement
Tips on how to read a chapter of a trade agreement and translate the text into common language to help others understand how trade agreements affect business decision-making and policy options |
| 9:45-10:30 | Presentation and Discussion: How trade rules affect decisions about exporting goods and services
Tips on how firms can benefit from specific chapters of trade agreements |
| 10:30-10:45 | Health Break |
| 10:45-12:00 | Case exercise: Navigating Trade Policy Impacts and Growth Challenges
Participants work in groups using the CTPL Policy Analysis Mapping Tool to develop a recommended strategy to assist a hypothetical SME facing trade and competitiveness challenges. |
Thursday, October 15th
| 9:00-10:30 | Case exercise: Navigating Trade Policy Impacts and Growth Challenges
Continued group work on the case exercise |
| 10:30-10:45 | Health Break |
| 10:45-12:00 | · Discussion and debrief on case exercise
· Debrief on course and take-aways · End of course |