1. Research projects

Every year the Center selects a number of important trade issues and organizes study projects for them. The participating members are usually law professors, government officials, practicing lawyers and corporate legal experts from different industries. The results of the discussions are compiled and printed as Center's reports in Japanese. They are distributed to the members of the Center. To date, the number of such reports is more than 70.
The recent reports include the following subjects:

(1) Critical analysis of the reports of panels and the Appellate Body of the WTO Dispute Settlement process as joint efforts by a group of  legal scholars (Some of the reports are also available in English)
(2) Analysis of various trade laws and remedies by Japan's major trading partners, including anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, and safeguard measures
(3) Status of domestic implementation of the TRIPS Agreement by the WTO members
(4) Proposed changes to the Anti-dumping Agreement of the WTO in the multilateral negotiations
(5) A multilateral agreement on direct foreign investment

2. Exchange of views

The discussion of the meetings of various research projects provides the participants with excellent opportunities for exchange of views. That would promote effective communication between the government and industries on government trade policies and corporate strategies.

3. Gathering information and building database

The Center systematically gathers and analyzes update trade information through its unique network, which includes a number of international trade organizations, trade law offices, universities and similar institutions overseas. The Center also maintains a practical database on trade remedies that involve Japanese industries. Government officials and scholars, as well as corporate legal staff, rely on the database on a daily basis. Moreover, the Center gathers and maintains an excellent collection of books, law journals, legal documents, research papers, and other materials on international economic law and related subjects.

4. Seminars and international conferences

The Center organizes trade law seminars about a dozen times a year, often inviting well-known trade lawyers from overseas as speakers. These seminars are well attended by the representatives of the member companies. On occasion the Center sponsors large-scale international conferences concerning WTO matters. Prominent law professors, government officials and other trade experts participate in such conferences, which are open to the public. The Center sometimes accepts young scholars and lawyers for internship.

5. Consulting services

The Center offers consulting services to the member companies on trade issues. The Center gives essential advice in the early stage of  anti-dumping investigations for the companies that have no or little experiences. The Center can provide practical advice on how to handle questionnaires that require strict deadlines by the foreign authorities. Based on the wide network with international trade lawyers, the Center is also able to recommend appropriate legal counsels for retention as needed. In this regard, the Center's function may be regarded as an emergency room of trade laws.
The Center advises the member companies as to how to file petitions for domestic trade remedies. If asked, the Center counsels the member companies on trade-related strategic matters. The Center also responds as public service to variety of trade questions from anyone who makes specific inquiries.

6. WTO capacity building

The Center carries out extensive capacity building programs in collaboration with the Japanese government and other international organizations. The Center plans and administers various training courses in Japan for the officials of developing country on WTO matters, such as dispute settlement mechanism, trade remedies and investment. Such programs have been conducted in cooperation with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and similar institutions. The Center also dispatches its staff to give lectures to the developing countries. Furthermore, the Center tries to be instrumental for institutional building in developing countries in their effort of own capacity building.
The Center attempts to coordinate different programs offered by various international and national institutions, given that one of the primary objectives of the Center is to support the WTO system.