BTF5905 - Laws of international trade and commerce - 2019

This unit provides an introduction to the rules and practices that regulate international trade and commerce. Turning first to the way in which trade between nation states is regulated, the unit introduces the World Trade Organisation and the key disciplines of international trade law before considering the contribution that the ever-increasing number of regional and bilateral trade agreements make to trade regulation. In this part of the unit, students critically examine the ways in which nation states make trade rules through trade negotiations and the interplay between these rules and the goals of development and domestic regulation of health and environmental risks.

The unit then moves to introduce the framework of laws that apply when business professionals trade goods internationally. Using examples of the contracts, documents and processes involved in the international sale and transport of goods, students will develop an understanding of the principal rights and obligations of the parties and available remedies for the purpose of ensuring that traders are aware of, and can avoid, the legal risks and disputes that can arise in international commerce.

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

1. understand the framework of trade rules that regulate international trade between nation states and how the rules are made, applied and impact the goals of development and nation states' domestic regulatory authority
2. understand that principal legal rights, obligations and remedies available to parties in fundamental international commercial contracts and a familiarity with fundamental documents and instruments used in these transactions
3. identify, analyse and avoid or resolve legal problems in an international trade and commercial law context
4. develop problem-solving, negotiation and team-work, presentation, research and writing skills.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information