James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2023

BX3137 - International Trade Law

Subject Description

This subject deals with fundamental aspects of the international trade law system, including the history of the international legal system; customary international law; treaty law and interpretation; the jurisprudence of international sovereignty recognition; international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation, the United Nations, the IMF, World Bank, and UNCTAD, as well as the association between domestic and international legal systems. The subject also considers specific market trade law issues in goods, services, technical barriers to trade, environmental issues and IPRs. The subject will also review the judicial avenues available to adjudicate international dispute resolution systems for governments and businesses. Special consideration is given to the dispute resolution tools provided by the World Trade Organisation, the International Centre for Settling Investor-State Disputes and International Commercial Arbitration and the acknowledgment of judgements through regional courts.

Learning Outcomes

• evaluate the structure of the international legal system, which includes the theory, relationships and influence of treaty law and international customary law
• examine the GATT/WTO multilateral trading frameworks and the key international agreements covered within these frameworks
• compare and contrast the roles played by international organisations including the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the IMF, World Bank, UNCTAD, UNCITRAL and ICSID
• analyse several key areas of international trade law including trade in goods, services, technical barriers to trade, environmental issues, IPRs etc

Subject Assessment

• Written > Examination (centrally administered) - (50%)
• Written > Examination - In class - (25%)
• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (25%)

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

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