1. To stimulate the academic and practical interest of students in a challenging area of law.

2. To encourage and develop analytical thinking.

3. To enable the creation of effective solutions to legally and factually complex problems.

4. To develop the capacity to construct an effective argument, soundly based in critical analysis of the law both orally and in writing.

5. To cultivate a range of fundamental legal and transferable skills.

(LO1) Demonstrate an understanding of the institutional and normative foundations of world trade law

(LO2) Evaluate the WTO covered agreements and their various implications from a legal perspective

(LO3) Appreciate the role of dispute settlement within world trade, including its merits and demerits

(LO4) Critically appraise world trade law from the perspective of different groups of states, business interests and other interest groups, including environmental and social interest groups

(LO5) Use and understand complex legal texts, case law, and academic writing to identify solutions for legal and policy issues arising from the application of world trade law

(S1) Communication - influencing skills -argumentation

(S2) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

(S3) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S4) Critical thinking and problem solving - Problem identification

(S5) Working in groups and teams - Negotiation skills

The module will address key topics concerning the formation, application,and evolution of world trade law. These will be grouped into three main themes: (1) institutions (2) rules, and (3) global challenges.

Some of the topics to be covered in the module are as follows:

- Normative and institutional foundations of world trade law, including the history of the World Trade Organization
        
- The relationship between the WTO and regional institutions of trade such as the EU and NAFTA.

- Dispute settlement in trade law, in particular at the World Trade Organization

- The meaning and scope of non-discrimination principles in trade law

- Disciplines on the use of tariffs and quantitative restrictions

- Disciplines on the use of non-tariff barriers to trade, including regulations, taxation, and subsidies.

- Challenges confronting world trade law such as potential conflicts with human rights, public health, and environmental protection.

Please note that not all the above topics may necessarily be taught inany given semester.

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: As the module will draw on a number of texts, a hand-out outlining the fundamental principles of world trade law will be made available prior to the relevant sessions to facilitate the students engagement with the lectures. Lectures will focus on key topics within the syllabus, with particular emphasis on novel and complex legal issues. They are designed to provide the students with a detailed outline of the relevant law and legal issues, including details of key cases and principal legal and policy issues. Lectures will complement and elaborate on the material contained in the students' lecture notes and should therefore be attended. To make full use of lectures, the students should read hand-outs before the sessions takes place.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Seminar
Description: Seminars will allow students to examine the issues covered in the module in significant detail. These issues will be discus sed and debated, any particular problems or gaps in the knowledge identified and clarified, and feedback given to students to facilitate their learning progress. In preparation for the seminars, students will be given a list of essential reading usually including academic articles and book chapters, as well as primary legal materials such as treaty texts and WTO dispute settlement reports.
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: The 6 hours of seminars are divided into 3 two-hour seminars

Teaching Method 3 - Online
Description: Students will be provided with online exercises in preparation for seminars and by way of learning summary. One formative assessment will also be undertaken online in the form of an asynchronous discussion.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 4 - Drop-In
Description: At the end of the module students will be offered the opportunity to attend a drop-in session to discuss feedback on their formative assessment and address issues they may have encountered in the course of learning and preparation for summative assessment.
Attendance Recorded: No