The January semester was one of discovery for me. I discovered the thrill of international trade law. I took a 3 week course in International Trade Negotiation taught by the Centre for Trade Law and Policy housed in Carleton University. The first two weeks of the course covered substantive trade in goods and services as well as negotiation techniques. The last week involved a simulation with students at the University of the West Indies in Cave Hill, Barbados. I had heard about the course in December 2010 and saved my summer earnings and successfully registered by lottery in July. I took my friend, Alicia, who is not a law student and we stayed at the Almond Beach Club and Spa in St. James, a mere 8 minute bus ride (on a yellow, calypso-blaring bus - awesome way to start the morning!) to the University.
Jeanelle Clarke, Alicia Breck and Vanessa Davies after the negotiation |
CARICOM Ambassador and negotiation coaches in the classroom at UWI Cave Hill, Barbados |
This was an incredible learning experience: I gained experience managing people, creating and pursuing a vision, learning which negotiating tactics to avoid and employ, and balancing priorities in our mandate. Representing the underdog in a negotiation is an upward battle, but by employing the right tactics we made significant gains. On the last day of the negotiation, we presented our Economic Development Agreement to the Ambassador of CARICOM and their Agriculture representative. They took notes and asked excellent questions about how we pitched and balanced our priorities. They were impressed with the overall structure of the agreement. Real life free trade negotiations between Canada and CARICOM are stalled, and CTPL and the Department of Foreign Affairs have asked the students to report back about our creative solutions and problem solving skills. We all learned so much in a short week and I have emerged with new friends and colleagues. Here is a press release about the Economic Development Agreement we concluded.