950012 KU WTO Law (2024W)

Aims: This is an introduction to the law of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The aim of this class is to provide students with a basic understanding of the law regulating world trade, the economics and history of trade liberalization, the basic principles of the institutional arrangements of the WTO, the main pillars of its substantive law and the dispute settlement mechanism.
Contents: The class first gives an introduction to the basic economic principles underpinning the world trade system and international economic law. It then discusses the historical roots of international trade law from the GATT 1947 to today’s WTO followed by an introduction to its current structure, institutions and decision-making rules. The main part of the class will discuss the principles and substantive standards of WTO law, with a focus on the principle of non-discrimination and exceptions in the rules governing trade in goods. The final part of the lecture will deal with dispute settlement within the WTO.
Method: Lecture and class discussion