This module aims to:
Develop students understanding of the European Single Market, its theoretical and normative foundations and ability to make connections between EU Trade Law and the orientations of its trade policy towards increasing role of bilateral and regional arrangements relevant to their experience and practice.
Provide students with the knowledge and tools enabling them to evaluate the way in which the substantive and procedural rules in EU Trade Law and rulings by the European Court of Justice can be regarded as being responsive to current and emerging issues regarding the interplay between economic integration, legitimacy, fundamental rights and sustainability values.
Facilitate the use of effective methods for communicating the current and future development of EU Trade Law and its implications for the multilateral trading environment to peers, businesses and society.

(LO1) Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the rationale, perspectives and justifications (constitutional, economic and cultural) for EU Trade Law underpinning the European Single Market against the background of bilateral and regional trade arrangements;

(LO2) Students will be able to use the knowledge of EU institutions, judicial mechanisms and EU trade policy to make connections between the European Single Market project, and the role of law as an instrument for harmonisation and embedding fundamental freedoms;

(LO3) Students will be able to evaluate the extent to which substantive and procedural rules of EU Trade Law and rulings by the European Court of Justice are responsive to current and emerging issues regarding the interplay between economic integration, legitimacy, fundamental rights and sustainability values;

(LO4) Students will be able to undertake effective research, appropriate to the relevant legal problems encountered in EU Trade Law;

(LO5) Students will be able to use of effective methods for communicating current contemporary issues in EU Trade Law and rulings by the European Court of Justice to peers, businesses and society. These include acquisition of critical skills with regard to the merits of particular arguments and making reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments.

(LRE1) Problem solving.
Students will be encouraged to think critically about the concepts and principles and their own experiences to scrutinise the rationale and assumptions underpinning the interaction between European Single Market project, EU trade policy and the significance of key European Court of Justice rulings with regard to the conclusion, interpretation and application of international treaties to which the EU is a party. This will be evidenced by engaging in relevant research, mobilising knowledge, synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a reasoned and coherent response or advice.

(LRE2) Reflective Practice.
The teaching, learning, and assessment strategy in this module ensures that students are exposed to diverse ideas and values associated with the EU Trade Law from a national, international and global perspective. Students will demonstrate understanding of the changing needs and expectations of businesses and how EU Trade Law rules impact decision making and practice of businesses.

(LRE3) Understanding of substantive and procedural rules in EU Trade Law and role of European Court of Justice.
The module content as well as independent reading, discussion and inquiry will address issues relevant to EU Trade Law and competences of the European Court of Justice rulings with regard to the conclusion, interpretation and application of international treaties to which the EU is a party.

(LRE4) Internationally aware.
Students will gain an understanding of the wider ramifications of EU Trade Law in diverse national, regional and international settings.

(LRE5) Research, Communication, and IT fluency.
Students will have opportunities to demonstrate research, communication, and IT skills during the course of research, participation and submission of assessments. Reading, analysing and synthesising different viewpoints, becoming familiar with different viewpoints, key European Court of Justice rulings with regard to the conclusion, interpretation and application of international treaties to which the EU is a party and presenting findings/conclusions in clear, comprehensible, structured format.

(LRE6) Time management and planning.
Students evidence their assumption of responsibility for management of their assignments and ability to meet deadlines.

Introduction to EU Trade Law: Concepts, Themes and Practice
European Single Market: Institutions, Principles and Freedoms e.g., the EU Commission, the European Court of Justice, economic justifications, and free movement.
EU Trade Policy and Law e.g., conceptions and frameworks for free movement and the specific competences of the European Court of Justice with regard to the conclusion, interpretation and application of international treaties to which the EU is a party.
EU Trade Policy and Law e.g., Free movement of goods, Free movement of workers, Freedom of establishment and Free movement of services and the specific competences of the European Court of Justice with regard to the conclusion, interpretation and application of international treaties to which the EU is a party.

The Learning and Teaching Strategy has been guided by the Liverpool Curriculum Framework. This includes the emphasis placed on the value of developing module content informed by current and cutting-edge research in the relevant subject area (s) and needs of professionals in the business and commercial sector. Students will be provided with relevant knowledge of the evolving European approach to the integration of national markets, the procedural and substantive rules of EU Trade Law, and the increasing role of the European Court of Justice with regard to the conclusion, interpretation and application of international treaties to which the EU is a party against the background of diverse economic, political, social and constitutional contexts. In addition to use of case studies and examination of relevant EU trade policy, the directed learning and study materials will equip them with the skills necessary to enable them to demonstrate their ability to critically engage with the comple xities of EU Trade Law.

The module will primarily be delivered through a series of e-lectures, delivered through a variety of methods, covering key concepts, themes, issues and case studies. These will be supported by individual online tasks such as, case studies, interactive exercises, use of IT tools and discussion boards, which will be used to develop and apply learning. These activities will be moderated by the module instructor. Students will also be directed to key academic and practitioner readings to further develop their learning.
Description: Asynchronous learning materials, directed and independent reading which enable students to develop their understanding of rationale, key concepts and principles in EU Trade Law including rulings by the European Court of Justice in respect of trade policies to which the EU is a party. The asynchronous lectures will be complemented by the use of discussion boards, interactive exercises and 2 synchronous workshops (2 hours each) to help student acquire and apply their knowledge and legal skills. The asynchronous lectures will equate to 60 minutes per week over a 8 week duration.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.
Scheduled Directed student hours: 4 hours
Description: Each synchronous seminar will equate to 2 hours in total.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.