8236 - INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW

This course deals with the international  regulation of trade relationships between nations in the framework of the globalized world economy at the beginning of the second Millenium. The focus in on the law of the World Trade Organization as the main multilateral regulation of trade. The WTO is put in the perspective of the coexistence of a multiplicity of international organisations dealing with different aspects of the world economy in general  (the IMF and the World Bank as to monetary and development issues), together with regional organisations not limited to trade (the European Union, OECD, NAFTA, ASEAN, etc).

• Multilateralism, sectoral approach and regionalism in the governance of the world economy.
• From GATT 1947 to the WTO: the Uruguay Round Results.
• The WTO institutional framework.
• The Dispute Settlement System.
• Basic issues under GATT 1994; non discrimination and MFN treatment.
• Dumping, Subsidies, Safeguards.
• Sanitary and Phitosanitary Measures: the precautionary principle.
• GATS: national regulation  and liberalisation of services.
• The WTO and the protection of non-trade interests: exceptions, environment, human rights.
• The challenge of economic regionalism to the multilateral system.
• European law and the WTO: what protection for  private parties.

Evaluation of papers and presentations during the course and a final written exam.

• The WTO Agreements and texts of Panels and Appellate Body Reports (www.wto.org)
• P. VAN DEN BOSSCHE, The Law and Policy of the WTO, Cambridge Un. Press 2005, paperback.
• J. BAGWATI, In Defence of  Globalization, Oxford Press, 2004.