International Law of World Trade

The course introduces students to the fundamental principles of international trade law. The primary goal of the course is to acquaint and familiarise students with the main pillars in this arena of international law and their effect on domestic law and policy.  The course covers the key agreements and principles of international trade law and the jurisdiction, policies and processes of the WTO. It also encompasses major critical analyses of international trade law together with an in-depth review of relevant GATT/WTO panel and appellate body decisions.

Themes that will be addressed throughout the course will include the origins of international trade law, fundamental principles of the GATT/WTO regime, Services (GATS), the WTO Dumping and Subsidies regimes and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement.  The effects of trade liberalisation in general on developing countries will also be the subject of review together with an analysis of the on-going conflict between the basic dictates of international trade agreements on the one hand and the need to enshrine and protect international environmental and labour standards on the other.

At the conclusion of this course students should be able to:

• understand the theoretical basis of trade law as free trade theory and the attacks that have been made on free trade theory
• understand the development in the last century of international institutions governing trade
• understand the laws and policies of the WTO
• develop problem solving skills in trade law
• understand the relationship between trade, development, the environment and human right

Students must rely on the Approved Assessment which will be posted to the course homepage on the ANU Law website, prior to the commencement of the course.

26 Contact Hours (Intensive Delivery)

Click here for the 2010 timetable

Any preliminary reading required for this course will be available from the course home page at least one week prior to the commencement of the course.