Insegnamento a.a. 2025-2026

• Multilateralism and regionalism in the governance of world trade.
• 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 (NT and MFN treatment).
• Dumping, Subsidies, Safeguards.
• Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: the precautionary principle.
• GATS: national regulation and liberalization of services.
• The WTO and the protection of non-trade interests: exceptions, environment, human rights.
• The challenge of economic regionalism to the multilateral system and neo-protectionism.
• Standards of protection of foreign investments in bilateral and regional treaties.
• Investment dispute settlement by arbitration.
• From investment to a court system?

• Understand global governance of trade and investment.
• Master the WTO core rules of non-discrimination and market access, as well as their main exceptions.
• Understand contemporary "trade wars" against international trade rules
• Illustrate the main features of the multilateral and regional systems regulating international trade and investment.
• Understand the main standards of protection of international investments
• Explain and describe the main case law for both disciplines.

• Correctly interpret and use international trade law provisions. 
• Analyze the main provisions of a bilateral investment treaty.
• Discuss the complex legal and political issues surrounding the WTO and investment treaties.
• Teamwork (through assigned presentations to groups) and communication skills (through case-law simulation).

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Interaction/Gamification

The course hosts guest speakers from foreign universities and international organizations. Students learn from the analysis of key case studies.

Class participation in discussions will constitute 10% of the final grade.

The partial and final exams will constitute 90% of the grade.

The first partial exam is composed of a choice of (three out of four) questions of the 'essay-style' variety, involving more discursive description, explanation, illustration, analysis, critical discussion, and evaluation of the law.

The second partial exam is composed of a 'problem-style' question, involving the application of the law to hypothetical factual situations based on cases presented in class.

The final exam is composed by a 'problem-style' question, involving the application of the law to hypothetical factual situations based on cases presented in class, and a choice of (three out of four) questions of the 'essay-style' variety, involving more discursive description, explanation, illustration, analysis, critical discussion and evaluation of the law.

The exam is closed book, but the relevant legal provisions for the ‘problem-style’ question will be provided to students. Use of a bilingual dictionary is allowed.

Students can sit the second partial exam only in the following sessions: 14/01/2026  and 30/01/2026. The second partial exam can be taken only once.

Only exchange students can sit the second partial exam or the general exam also on 15/12/2025.

If a student withdraws or fails the partial exam in October, she must sit the final written exam. 

The first partial exam is composed of a choice of (three out of four) questions of the 'essay-style' variety, involving more discursive description, explanation, illustration, analysis, critical discussion, and evaluation of the law.

The second partial exam is composed of a 'problem-style' question, involving the application of the law to hypothetical factual situations based on cases presented in class.

The final exam is composed by a 'problem-style' question, involving the application of the law to hypothetical factual situations based on cases presented in class, and a choice of (three out of four) questions of the 'essay-style' variety, involving more discursive description, explanation, illustration, analysis, critical discussion and evaluation of the law.

The exam is closed book, but the relevant legal provisions for the ‘problem-style’ question will be provided to students. Use of a bilingual dictionary is allowed.

Students can sit the second partial exam only in the following sessions: 14/01/2026  and 30/01/2026. The second partial exam can be taken only once.

Only exchange students can sit the second partial exam or the general exam also on 15/12/2025.

If a student withdraws or fails the partial exam in October, she must sit the final written exam. 

TRADE LAW PART
 
TEXTBOOK:
 
Peter Van den Bossche, Werner Zdouc, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization, 5th edition (CUP 2021), (only selected chapters)
 
MATERIALS:
The text of the WTO Agreements, as well as other relevant legal texts, is available at:
http://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/legal_e.htm
Summaries of all WTO disputes, key findings, and current status are available at:
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_status_e.htm
All WTO panel and Appellate Body reports may be found and searched at:
http://www.worldtradelaw.net/search/searchreports.htm
The jurisprudence of the WTO, organized by agreement and by article by the WTO Secretariat, may be found at:
http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/analytic_index_e/analytic_index_e.htm

INVESTMENT LAW PART:
 
C. Schreuer, ‘Investments, International Protection’, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (available in electronic format at Bocconi library)
John Merrills & Eric De Brabandere Merrills’ International Dispute Settlement (7th ed.).
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2022): Chapter 7. This textbook is also available online via Bocconi Library (Database: Cambridge Core)
C. Schreuer, ‘Arbitration, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)’ Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (available in electronic format at Bocconi library)
Nicolas Angelet, ‘Fair and Equitable Treatment’, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (available in electronic format at Bocconi library)
Alice Ruzza, ‘Expropriation and Nationalization’, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (available in electronic format at Bocconi library)
Sebastián López Escarcena, ‘Expropriation, Indirect’, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (available in electronic format at Bocconi library)
Jean Ho, ‘Contract Claims: Investment Arbitration’, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (available in electronic format at Bocconi library)
Eric De Brabandere, ‘Full Protection and Security’, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (available in electronic format at Bocconi library)
Céline Braumann, August Reinisch, ‘Investment Court Systems’, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (available in electronic format at Bocconi library)
Lucy Reed, Zoe Scanlon, Dafina Atanasova, ‘Protected Investment’, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (available in electronic format at Bocconi library)
Stephan Wittich ‘Compensation’, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (available in electronic format at Bocconi library)
The ICSID Convention and relevant texts of international investment awards 

Suggested non-mandatory readings:
Giorgio Sacerdoti & Niall Moran, International Trade and Investment Dispute Settlement : From Rise to Crisis and Reform. 1st ed. (Taylor & Francis Group, 2025). This textbook is also available online via Bocconi Library (https://library.unibocconi.it/permalink/39UCLB_INST/chtij2/alma991006841421907991)