Course syllabus

 

A warm welcome to the course entitled "Trade, Digitalization and Sustainability: Law and Policy" which runs from 2 September to 2 October 2024.

  • Course Syllabus GM1218.pdf
  • For all course activities, examination dates please check the Course Schedule GM1218 autumn 2024. We will meet in person  or over  Zoom  application.

    https://gu-se.zoom.us/j/6694625334

    Meeting ID: 669 462 5334

    To participate in some of the lectures of the course and examinations please ensure that you have access to stable internet connection.
  • Under the section "Modules" you will find information relating to examination components - take-home assignment, seminar, essay examination.

Course Overview

The focus of the course is on the regulatory framework for international trade and dispute resolution mechanism found within the WTO and selected regional and bilateral trade agreements. The course includes digitalization and sustainability considerations connected to international trade. The legal and policy aspects are complemented with the consideration of current and evolving business practices through examples and specific case studies. This course is designed to require at least 20 weekly work hours. 

Brief Course Outline 

Students are required to have access to the material corresponding to the lecture number under the folder - Relevant Extracts under Files either in print or electronic format during the lecture.

Introduction

Course Structure, Examinations

Lecture 1

Students are required to have access to the materials entitled “Lecture 1 - Relevant Extracts” uploaded on canvas under the folder - Relevant Extracts under Files.  

Regulating Trade, World Trade Organization and Dispute Settlement 

International Trade and the law of the WTO

Origins of the WTO law

Mandate of WTO law

Membership of the WTO

Institutional Structure of the WTO

Decision-making in the WTO

Sources of WTO law

WTO law and Public International Law

BIT, FTA's

Issues relating to developing countries

Principles of WTO dispute settlement

Institutions of WTO dispute settlement

Amicus Curiae briefs, transparency issues

Rules of interpretation 

Challenges concerning the WTO dispute settlement

Recommended reading (compulsory): Peter Van den Bossche and Denise Prévost, Essentials of WTO Law, 2nd ed. 2021, Chapters 1-3.

Clair Gammage & Tonia Novitz (eds.), Sustainability in international trade, investment and finance: Toward Responsible and Coherent Regulatory Frameworks Edward Elgar Publishing: Chapter 1, pp 3-9.Sustainable in Trade Investment and Finance - Introduction.pdf

In general, read Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/70/L.1)] 70/1. Agenda 2030 (1).pdf  

In general, browse through the papers and policy notes at OECD: Global Value Chains at https://www.oecd.org/industry/global-value-chains/Links to an external site.

Further reading (Complementary): 

Peter van den Bossche and Werner Zdouc, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization: Text, Cases and Materials, 5th ed. (2012), Chapters 1-3.

Lecture 2

Students are required to have access to the material entitled “Lecture 2 - Relevant Extracts” uploaded on canvas under the folder - Relevant Extracts under Files.  

Principles of Non-Discrimination in International Trade

The two key obligations of trade: Most Favoured-nation treatment and National treatment 

Recommended reading:

Peter Van den Bossche and Denise Prévost, Essentials of WTO Law, 2nd ed. (2021), Chapter 4.

Members review reforms to facilitate participation in  Rules of origin work

Further reading: 

Peter van den Bossche and Werner Zdouc, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization: Text, Cases and Materials, 5th ed. (2012), Chapters 4, 5.

Lecture 3

Students are required to have access to the material entitled "Lecture 3 - Relevant Extracts" uploaded on canvas under the folder - Relevant Extracts under Files.  

Rules of Market Access

Tariff barriers to trade in goods

Non-tariff barriers to trade in goods

Recommended reading:

Peter Van den Bossche and Denise Prévost, Essentials of WTO Law, 2nd ed. (2021), Chapter 5.

Christian Davies, The graphite fight: US tariffs trigger race to build non-Chinese supply chain, Financial Times, 9 June 2024.The graphite fight_ US tariffs trigger race to build non-Chinese supply chain.pdf

Andy Bounds, Alice Hancock and Gloria Li, EU to hit Chinese electric cars with tariffs of up to 48%, Financial Times, 12 June 2024.EU to hit Chinese electric cars with tariffs of up to 48%.pdf

Further reading: 

Peter van den Bossche and Werner Zdouc, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization: Text, Cases and Materials, 5th ed. (2012), Chapters 6-7.

Lecture 4

Students are required to have access to the material entitled "Lecture 4 - Relevant Extracts" uploaded on canvas under the folder - Relevant Extracts under Files.  

General Exceptions: Trade liberalisation versus other societal values and interests  

General Exception under the GATT 1994

Security Exceptions

Regional Integration: Exception for RTAs

Exceptions for Economic Development 

Recommended reading:

Peter Van den Bossche and Denise Prévost, Essentials of WTO Law, 2nd ed. (2021), Chapter 6.

Multinationals Turn to Generative AI to Manage Supply Chains, Financial Times, 13/08/2023.Multinationals turn to generative AI to manage supply chains _ Financial Times.pdf

Gracia Marin Duran, Securing Compatibility of Carbon Border Adjustments With The Multilateral Climate and Trade Regimes, International & Comparative Law Quarterly, 2023.Securing compatibility of carbon border adjustments with the multilateral climate and trade regimes.pdf

Victoria G. Walker, Subsidizing the Microchip Race: The Expanding Use Of National Security Arguments In International Trade, University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, Spring, 2024.Victoria G. Walker, Subsidizing the Microchip Race: The Expanding Use Of National Security Arguments In International Trade,.docx

Further reading: 

Peter van den Bossche and Werner Zdouc, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization: Text, Cases and Materials, 5th ed. (2012), Chapters 8, 10.

Trisha Rajput, “Restricting International Trade through Export Control Laws: National Security in Perspective” in Abhinyan Basu Bal et al. Regulation of Risk (Brill Nijhoff 2023).  https://brill.com/edcollbook-oa/title/62958Links to an external site.

United Nations, Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework, HR/PUB/11/04, 2011. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdfLinks to an external site. 

Lecture 5

Trade and sustainability I: Sanctions, Due Diligence and Technical Standards   

Recommended reading:

Peter Van den Bossche and Denise Prévost, Essentials of WTO Law, 2nd ed. (2021), Chapter 8.

What makes a technical specification a WTO compliant standard?What makes a technical specification a WTO compliant standard_.pdf

Corporate sustainability due diligence: Could value chains integrate human rights and environmental concerns? https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2022/729424/EPRS_BRI(2022)729424_EN.pdfLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism_enLinks to an external site.

Enrico Partiti, “The Place of Voluntary Standards in Managing Social and Environmental Risks in Global Value Chains” (2022) European Journal of Risk Regulation 114-137.

Further reading: 

Peter van den Bossche and Werner Zdouc, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization: Text, Cases and Materials, 5th ed. (2012), Chapters 14.

John Gerard Ruggie, Caroline Rees and Rachel Davis “Ten Years After: From UN Guiding Principles to Multi-Fiduciary Obligations” Business and Human Rights Journal, (2021), pp. 1–19.Ten-years-after-from-un-guiding-principles-to-multi-fiduciary-obligations.pdf

Roles and Responsibilities of Private Actors. (2021). In H. Micklitz, O. Pollicino, A. Reichman, A. Simoncini, G. Sartor, & G. De Gregorio (Eds.), Constitutional Challenges in the Algorithmic Society (pp. 261-262). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Roles-and-responsibilities-of-private-actors.pdf

Lecture 6

Trade and Digitalisation I: Platforms and Ecosystems in Trade, informatics perspective

Further reading: 

Nathan Furr and Andrew Shipilov, Building the Right Ecosystem for Innovation, 2018 MIT Sloan Management Review 59.Building the right ecosystem for innovation[90].pdf

Dattée, Brice & Alexy, Oliver & Autio, Erkko. (2017). Maneuvering in Poor Visibility: How Firms Play the Ecosystem Game when Uncertainty is High. Academy of Management Journal. 61. amj.2015.0869. 10.5465/amj.2015.0869.Manoeuvring in poor visibility How firms play the ecosystem game when uncertainty is high.pdf

Gawer A, Cusumano MA, Yoffie DB. The Platform Organization. In: Snow CC, Fjeldstad ØD, eds. Designing Adaptive Organizations. Cambridge Companions to Management. Cambridge University Press; 2023:86-103.The Platform Organization[88].pdf

Jacobides, M. G., Cennamo, C., & Gawer, A. (2018). Towards a theory of ecosystems. Strategic Management Journal, 39 (8) 2255-2276.Towards a New Treaty on Digital Trade.pdf

Lecture 7

Trade and Digitalisation II: Law and Informatics

Recommended reading:

How China’s ‘Shein village’ grabbed the fast fashion supply chain.pdf

Digital transformation - heralding in a new era for international trade law.pdf

Further reading:

Emerging Interface of Innovation and Sustainability.pdf

 Jensen and others - How TradeLens Delivers Business Value With Blockchain Technology.pdf

Lecture 8

Trade and Digitalisation III: The case of trade, transport, and customs  

Recommended reading:

The role of advanced technologies in cross-border trade: A customs perspectiveThe role of advanced technologies in cross-border trade- A customs perspective.pdf

Understanding the Single Window Environment: Volume 1 Part 1

Read generally, Agreement on Trade Facilitation https://www.wto.org/English/docs_e/legal_e/tfa-nov14_e.htmLinks to an external site.Links to an external site. 

Further reading:

A Basu Bal, T Rajput, ‘Customs as “Provider” of Transparent AI in the EU’ (2022) 4 International Trade Law and Regulation 223-241.

Lecture 9

Students are required to have access to the material entitled "Lecture 9 - Relevant Extracts" uploaded on canvas under the folder - Relevant Extracts under Files.  

Subsidies and countervailing measures

Basic elements of WTO law on subsidies and subsidised trade

Determination of subsidisation

Prohibited subsidies

Actionable subsidies

Countervailing measures

Special and differential treatment for developing-country

Recommended reading:

Peter Van den Bossche and Denise Prévost, Essentials of WTO Law, 2nd ed. (2021), Chapter 7, 159-171.

DDG Ellard: Conclusion of Fisheries Agreement creates positive momentum at the WTO https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news22_e/ddgae_28jul22_e.htmLinks to an external site.Links to an external site. 

In general, read Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, Ministerial Decision Of 17 June 2022. 

Further reading: 

Peter van den Bossche and Werner Zdouc, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization: Text, Cases and Materials, 5th ed. (2012), Chapters 12. 

Lecture 10 

Trade and sustainability

Course Coordinator: Trisha Rajput, trisha.rajput@law.gu.se

Guest Lecturers:

Carolina Dackö, Mannheimer Swartling, Gothenburg

Dr Aleksandre Asatiani, Department of Applied IT, University of Gothenburg

Dr Abhinyan Basu Bal, Department of Law, University of Gothenburg

Lars Karlson, Head of Trade & Customs Maersk A.P, T R

Prof Michael Cardwell, University of Leeds, UK

Contacts