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Postgraduate Handbook

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International Trade Law - LAWS9972
Law Books

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
 
School:  Faculty of Law
 
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Postgraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 8
 
 
EFTSL: 0.16667 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 0
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: Academic Program must be either 9200, 9210, 9230, 9240, 5740, or 5760
 
 
Excluded: LAWS2084
 
 
Fee Band: 3 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

A study of the legal environment of international trade transactions, consisting of the role and structure of global and regional legal and economic institutions and national government regulations affecting trade. The course is intended to provide students with a working knowledge of the fundamental relations affecting international trade. The course will start with a basic introduction to the various economic theories and ideas with regard to trade, show the historic development of international trade and address some of the challenges of 'globalisation'. Furthermore, the course will explore the new global system governing international trade under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its specialised agreements. The dispute settlement system (DSU) of the WTO will also be studied by looking at the case law of the GATT/WTO panels and the WTO Appellate Body. An outlook will be given on such issues as Trade and Investment, Trade and Competition Rules, Trade and Environment, Trade and Social Standards, etc. The course will finally also look in a comparative way at the most important of today's regional trade agreements such as the Internal Market of the European Union (EU) and its related agreements, NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), ASEAN, APEC (Asia-Pacific Co-operation), Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas).

LLM Specialisations

Corporate and Commercial Law; Corporate, Commercial and Taxation Law; International Law; International Business and Economic Law.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

Some basic knowledge of and/or interest in economics are of advantage though not a prerequisite.

Course Objectives

The course is intended to give students the tools to understand the recent developments in international trade and with regard to globalisation and enable them to apply the general principles to new situations and future trade agreements.

Main Topics

  • Introduction to the Economics and History of Trade: the economics of trade; historic development of trade and globalisation; basic concepts and overview of global actors; "Neo-liberalism and New Protectionism"; regional trade agreements under Art. XXIV GATT and Art V GATS
  • The Global Trading System: the World Trade Organization; dispute resolution; trade in goods; trade in services; trade-related Intellectual Property Rights
  • Current Issues: trade and investment; trade and competitions rules; trade and environment; trade and social standards; trade and human rights

Assessment

Take-home exam 100%
OR
 
Research essay
 
 
5,000 words
 
 
100%
 

Course Texts

Prescribed

Recommended
Refer to Course Outline provided by lecturer.

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.