World Trade Organisation Law module (LW52132)

The establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the 1990s marked a critical step in the move towards globalisation.

It also signified a deeper institutionalisation of international rules and procedures. These were designed to respect international trade.

However, an extended period of negotiations about further development of the WTO laws and procedures occurred. Today, the WTO still faces many challenges created by different crises.

This module will strengthen your understanding of complex international economic relations. It also offers a strong foundation for a critical knowledge of the subject. This is useful if you are interested in a career in any field of international economic law.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• be introduced to international trade law and policy from a critical perspective
• learn about the current challenges and opportunities that the WTO faces
• learn about the challenges and opportunities WTO offers to States

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• describe the historical, political, and legal framework of the WTO system
• describe the WTO dispute-resolution mechanism
• describe the rules on non-discrimination and market access
• describe the exceptions with emphasis on those for the protection of human and animal health and of the environment
• describe the rules on unfair trade
• describe the harmonisation of national regulation

Assignments / assessment

• online open book exam
• formative test

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures
• student-led seminars
• independent study