LAWS6063 - World Trade Organization (WTO) Law I

Objectives

Acquire an introduction to the law of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to the context of economics and politics within which the law operates.
Considers economic and political arguments for and against protection based on some basic economics of trade and of public choice.
Gains an overview of the history of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the creation of the Agreement Establishing the WTO ending with a review of the institutions of the WTO and of the framework of rules applying under the GATT.

Content

The framework of rules under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS); the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS); the fundamental rules of the GATT: rules on tariff bindings & customs duties, national treatment, nontariff barriers, the MFN rule on non-discrimination and the rules on subsidies.

Session

Semester 1 2010
Wednesday Evenings, 6-8pm

Semester 2 Intensive
30-31 July & 5-6 August 2010

The timetable is subject to frequent changes. Please refer to the latest version of the Postgraduate Timetable.

This unit replaced International Trade Regulation.

Assessment

1 x Exam (60%)
1 x 3,000-3,500 Word Essay on a set topic (40%)

Assumed Knowledge

Limited knowledge of law of treaties.

Textbook

No textbook is required. Candidates should consult the Course Information and Outline on WebCT. Materials will be issued on CD Rom. Required Treaties: Candidates will need copies of some of the WTO treaties to bring to class. Candidates may wish to print them from free online sources. See the Course Information and Outline on WebCT to find out which treaties should be obtained. Alternatively, candidates may wish to purchase: WTO, The Legal Texts - The Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations (CUP, 1999)[ISBN# 0521785804 (for Paperback)].

Courses this unit is available in

Sydney Law School