The Certificate in International Trade provides practical knowledge and skills training to professionals working or aspiring to work in international trade or supply chain management and operations. The course equips professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to understand the key issues affecting the international trade industry and meet the challenges it faces in a post-Brexit trading environment.
The programme is accredited by Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) at Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. The newly launched course includes a new module on sustainability to train professionals on how to help their organisations meet their sustainability targets, reduce transport and supply chain emissions and save on fuel and energy costs.
The programme comprises 6 modules over 8 weeks with six interactive training days delivered online by expert trainers with decades of experience in international trade, supply chain management and sustainable business. Additional self-study materials are accessed through our Moodle Learning Management System. To pass the course, learners will be required to complete a multiple-choice test after each module and will also be required to submit a short, written assignment focusing on a customs journey case study.
Certificate in International Trade 2025
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| Certificate in International Trade – Summary | |
| Duration: | 8 Weeks – 6 Online Lectures Followed By 2 Weeks For Written Assignment. |
| Training delivery: | Online via MS Teams. |
| Additional resources: | E-booklets with Lecture Slides, Study Notes, Case Studies and Further Reading via Moodle LMS. |
| Assessment: | 6 Multiple-Choice Tests, Reflective Diary and Written Customs Journey Assignment (500-800 words). |
| Accreditation & Certification: | CPD Certificate – Level 6 – 5 ECTS Credits.
Digital Badge Award. |
Detailed Course Content
Module 1: The Regulatory Framework of International Trade – April 30th
- Functions and key conventions of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), European Union (EU) institutions and the World Customs Organisation (WCO)
- The role of customs in international trade
- Overview of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with key examples of EU FTAs
- Overview of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (EU-UK TCA)
- Key functions of the Union Customs Code (UCC)
- Overview of the Registered Exporter System (REX)
- Overview of the Customs Decisions System (CDS)
- Key domestic stakeholders in international trade, including government departments and agencies
Module 2: Tariff Codes and Classification – May 7th
- Overview of customs classification
- International and EU classification coding systems
- Tools for classifying goods
- Rules of classification interpretation
- Using TARIC to find commodity codes
- Products with multiple classifications
- Classification of parts of goods
- Overview of Binding Tariff Information (BTI)
- When and how to apply for BTI
Module 3: Sustainability in International Trade – May 14th
- Definitions of sustainability
- An overview of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- An overview of circular economy principles
- An overview of climate change and its impact on international trade
- An overview of key global, European, and national agreements and legislation on climate change
- An overview of how to use the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Framework to calculate transport and freight emissions
- Strategies for setting carbon emissions reductions targets
- Key tools for reporting carbon emissions
- An overview of sustainable procurement practices using the Smart Freight Procurement Guidelines
Module 4: Valuation and Origin – May 21st
- Overview of customs valuation
- Purposes of customs valuation
- The six methods of determining customs valuation
- Case studies on how to determine the value of goods for customs purposes
- The concept of origin in international trade
- Preferential agreements and their implications on origin of goods
- The differences between preferential and non-preferential origin
- When and how to apply for a Certificate of Origin
- Principles of origin for combined articles
- Principles of origin for mixed origin goods
- Case studies on how to determine the origin of complex good
Module 5: Incoterms and International Contracts – May 28th
- Description of the 11 Incoterms and what they cover
- The impact of Incoterms on international trade
- Incoterms – the seller’s perspective
- Incoterms – the buyer’s perspective
- Choosing the right Incoterm for a product and trade journey
- Case studies using key Incoterms
- Overview of international commercial contracts
Module 6: Import/Export Documentation & Procedures – June 4th
- Common terms and definitions in import/export
- An overview of the main IT Systems for import/exports
- An overview of the customs journey
- How to complete customs declarations for imports and exports
- Transit procedures
- Warehousing
- Customs authorisations
- The Customs Decision System (CDS)
- Post-Brexit changes to Ireland – Northern Ireland – Great Britain trade
- Case studies on the movement of goods between Ireland, Britain, Europe and Asia
- Benefits of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) trusted trader status
For more information on the programme, please contact our training department at training@irishexporters.ie.
What our graduates are saying?
This was a great course. The content and lecturers were excellent. I’m really glad I attended. The learnings are being put to use on a daily basis.
Tim Hourihan - National Customs & Trade Compliance Director
Studying with the Irish Exporters Association has proven invaluable as I significantly improved my knowledge and understanding of the complexities of international trade. Each module explored all important aspects of trading internationally and covered key facts in detail while contextualising them with real-life scenarios. The experience gained by the lecturers, having worked in the specific roles, allowed them to give great insight and detail. This qualification has greatly assisted my career and now puts me in an advantageous position to contribute to initiatives that bolster international trade within my company.
Tracey McGill, Promise Gluten Free
“The program Certificate in International Trade was an excellent course. Location as well as presenters were excellent and made the course enjoyable. Course focused on practical examples that can actually be used at work. I have already started to implement what I’ve learned into practice and have saved my company money with immediate effect”
Rubén Rivas May, Kostal
“I completed this course in 2019. I found the course to be very informative, covering an excellent choice of topics relating to international trade. The tutors spoke from years of experience in their area of expertise and so were able to relate the course notes to real life/business scenarios. As a student, this makes learning the subjects more accessible and interesting. During and on completion of the course I was able to apply the course information to my role within Combilift. For businesses who trade internationally and/or who will be impacted by Brexit, the subjects taught on this course are a great asset as they are totally relevant.”
Sarah Mc Kenna, Combilift
“The Certificate in International trade course with the Irish Exporters Association has given me a fantastic platform to build my Career in the Supply Chain Sector. The company I work for is involved in Importing and Exporting goods throughout the globe. This course, through it’s experts who conducted the modules offered a practical and highly educational insight in the world of International trade. My work has benefited substantially from the knowledge gained on this programme, particularly from the Import/Export Documentation & Procedures and Tariff Codes & Classification Modules, which have allowed me to asses our company’s habits and procedures and outline more efficient practises as well as establish a better process for classifying our commodity codes which has proved invaluable. “
Darren Campion, Portwest
“The Certificate in International Trade course content and delivery was of a very high standard. The Certificate gives you the tools you need to find the answers to your export / import queries. Class participation was encouraged and I have come away with many new contacts in the Supply Chain field.”
Edel McGarry, Masonite
“The Certificate in International trade provided best in class tutors on core components of this critical Supply chain topic. Many SMEs in the area have developed through experience, this course provided a unique opportunity in an accelerated learning environment to gain practical and theoretical skills over 6 modules.”
Fergal Noonan, Servier (Ireland) Industries
“The Certificate in International Trade helped me to build knowledge and further develop my understanding of customs and trade requirements which is key to my role in an organisation with a global supply chain, exporting medical devices to more than 50 countries across all continents. Trainers are experienced practitioners, who are subject matter experts in Union Customs Code and up to date with the latest developments in international trade. In addition to learning, reflecting on application in your workplace and checking your understanding through end of module real time assessment, this course presents an opportunity to network with colleagues across industry and to establish key contacts for your business.”