This course is an introduction to the legal order of international trade in a broad sense, i.e. including trade in goods, in services, the regulation of foreign direct investment and international sales transactions. It starts with providing a conceptual framework of international economic law, its main actors and institutions. In particular, the limits of the jurisdiction of states, i.e. their power to regulate transborder commercial activities, will be discussed. The emphasis will be on the principal obligations of the WTO/GATT system (National Treatment, Most-Favoured-Nation Principle, Technical Barriers, provisions on quantitative restrictions, developing countries and government procurement; General Agreement on Trade in Services; Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights). The course will also address issues raised by the dispute settlement procedures of the WTO as well as by unilateral trade remedies (anti-dumping, countervailing duties, safeguards, etc.) according to national laws.
Prerequisite or corequisite: LAWS2081 Public International Law or equivalent.