LAW7326

World Trade Organization (WTO) law ( 6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Professor Jeff Waincymer

Offered:
City First semester 2006 (On-campus)

Synopsis: This unit introduces the main features of WTO law. After placing the WTO in its historical and legal context, the unit explains the WTO's institutional structure and decision-making and negotiating processes. It then considers a number of the key WTO Agreements in more detail. Principal topics to be covered include: * The rules governing trade in goods and services in the WTO, in particular the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994) and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), including: * national treatment, MFN treatment, tariff schedules, market access; * key exceptions to the national treatment principle such as public morals, health, environment.

Objectives: A candidate who has successfully completed this unit should: * Be familiar with the history of the GATT and WTO and ongoing negotiations. * Understand the legal framework of the WTO, including the relationship between the various agreements, the relationship between the WTO agreements and national laws, and the dispute settlement process. * Understand the tensions that may arise between WTO objectives and other objectives in national or international law, and how these tensions may be resolved. * Be able to interpret and apply certain key WTO Agreements, including advocating a particular position in a given hypothetical, potential or past case. * Be familiar with major WTO dispute settlement decisions regarding these WTO Agreements, and be able to assess these decisions critically.

Assessment: Take-home examination (3000 words): 40 per cent Research assignment (4500 words): 60 per cent.

Contact Hours: 24 contact hours per semester regardless of the mode of offering.