MPP students simulate high-pressure trade negotiations on exchange to Ottawa
Learning about trade negotiations is one thing but immersing in simulated bargaining sessions is an entirely new ball game, providing students with an elevated learning experience beyond the classroom.
A group of Master of Public Policy (MPP) students at the School of Public Policy got a firsthand look at the complexity of global trade diplomacy through an immersive negotiation simulation organized by the New North American Initiative (NNAI).
Beginning with training sessions in Calgary before moving on to the negotiating sessions in Ottawa, the hands-on learning experience was delivered in partnership with the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.
“It’s important that we equip the next generation of leadership with the practical skills to translate their breadth of knowledge into real-world impact after graduation,” said Carlo Dade, Director of International Policy and the NNAI.
In Calgary, they were introduced to negotiation planning tools and strategies used by trade officials and diplomats. They then put those skills into practice through simulations based on historic and current trade disputes.
They also participated in an intensive trade negotiation clinic through Carleton’s Centre for Trade Policy and Law. The full-scale simulation mirrored the pressures and pace of international negotiations akin to the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement.
The cohort traveled to Ottawa over reading week in February to work with the Carleton students. There they were integrated into joint teams representing Canada and the Un ited States with confidential mandates and negotiation scenarios.
The students navigated their respective mandate letters, negotiation stalemates and end-game scenarios while tackling issues that echoed current trade tensions such as U.S. steel tariffs, digital trade, Canadas dairy supply management system and broader economic security concerns.
Teams delegated roles ranging from subject matter expert to chief negotiator, strategized ways to advance
their interest in the mandated issues. They experienced how negotiation strategies evolve, and how collaboration, diplomacy and adaptability shape global trade.
For many students, the experience transformed theoretical knowledge into practical skills.
“It pushed us to think strategically, collaborate under pressure and use policy knowledge and negotiating tools in a realistic setting,” said Zophia Emmanuelle Tendido, the team Canada Representative , an MPP student.
“Getting to connect with my peers across the country has been helpful for me because I have a certain perspective that can always be amplified by getting other perspectives involved,” said MPP student Rio Valencerina, who was part of the U.S. Team.
Beyond the negotiating simulation, the Ottawa visit offered insight into the diplomatic ecosystem that shapes trade policy. Students toured the offices of Global Affairs Canada and Bureau du Québec å Ottawa and visited the embassies of the United States, Mexico and China.