International Trade Law
Economic interdependence between countries and across production chains continues to grow. In this context, stable rules on international trade and investment are key. This course focuses on the rules established under the World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as selected regional trade agreements entered into by the United States. What are the benefits and risks of trade liberalization? How can trade liberalization go hand in hand with other public policy goals such as protecting the environment and human rights or promoting the economic development of poor countries? The course will offer an in-depth, practical knowledge of substantive WTO law drawing heavily on case law. It will address the basic principles of trade in goods and trade in services as well as more specialized WTO agreements on, for example, health measures, subsidies and intellectual property rights. From a more procedural side, the course will pay close attention to the unique WTO mechanism for the solution of trade disputes, with special reference to the recent trade tensions between the United States and emerging countries like Brazil, China and India. We will also focus, in particular, on disputes related to information technology, the internet and the movie industry.