LAW4526 · World Trade Organisation (WTO) law

Overview

This unit will examine the main features of WTO law, situated within a broader context of international economic law. The unit will explore the WTO in its historical and legal context, its institutional structure and decision making and negotiating processes, and dispute settlement. It will examine the core obligations contained in a number of the key WTO agreements in more detail, in particular the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). A particular focus of the unit will be disputes involving issues of public policy such as health and the environment.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate core knowledge of the history, content and objectives of the WTO agreements.
2. Analyse contemporary challenges to the application of the WTO agreements in the context of international economic law.
3. Critically evaluate examples of how the WTO agreements are used in international trade disputes.
4. Formulate responses to specific legal problems emerging from the use of the WTO agreements in dispute resolution.

Workload

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. 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.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.