International trade; economic, legal and social challenges in a globalized world

Recommended Prerequisites

Economic international law; economics

Teaching Methods

Theoretical-practical lessons. The evaluation will be performed on the basis of a report written and presented by the student.

Learning Outcomes

In this curricular unit, the international trade system will be characterized. In order to do that, four subsystems will be considered. Then, special focus will be put on multilateral subsystems, considering three of its dimensions: multilateralism as an institution (OMC), as a market (rounds) and as a code of conduct (principles and derogation). Students will also learn about recent challenges to multilateralism: those resulting from globalization, regionalism and “deep” integration. This is intended to provide students with interdisciplinary knowledge on the multilateral trade subsystem and on the hotspots to which this system is subject. This knowledge might provide the basis for conducting research on recent international trade themes, either according to a merely juridical perspective or to an interdisciplinary model.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. The international trade system

2. Multilateralism as an expression of the needs and advantages of international cooperation. The Wilkinson thesis

3. Other characteristics of the international trade system. WTO perceived as an institution, as a code of conduct and as a market

4. Multilateralism and globalization

5. The impact of the differences between multilateral trade liberalization and the regional trade liberalization as regards the multilateral regulatory framework for the international trade (analysis of article no. 24 of the GATT). Open regionalism as a means for compatibility between regionalism and multilateralism

6. Proliferation of regional integration agreements

7. Deep integration

Head Lecturer(s)

Luís Pedro Chaves Rodrigues Cunha

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Other: 30.0%
Research work: 70.0%

Bibliography

CUNHA, Luís Pedro

2008 – O Sistema Comercial Multilateral e os Espaços de Integração Regional,

Coimbra, Coimbra Editora

 

JACKSON, John

1998 - The World Trading System - Law and Policy of International Economic

Relations, 2ª edição, Cambridge (Mass), The MIT Press

 

KJELDSEN-KRAGH, Soren

2001 - International Trade Policy, Copenhaga, Copenhagen Business School

Press / Handelshojskolens Forlag

 

LOW, Patrick

1993 - Trading free - The GATT and U.S. Trade Policy, Nova Iorque, The

Twentieth Century Fund Book

 

LOWENFELD, Andreas F.

2002 - International Economic Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press

 

LUFF, David

2004 - Le Droit de l'Organisation Mondiale du Commerce - Analyse Critique,

Bruxelas e Paris, Bruylant e LGDJ

 

MOTA, Pedro Infante

2005 – O Sistema GATT/OMC – Introdução Histórica e Princípios Fundamentais,

Coimbra, Almedina

 

PORTO, Manuel,

2001 – Teoria da integração e políticas comunitárias, 3ª edição, Coimbra,

Almedina