| Unit name | World Trade Law |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0115 |
| Credit points | 30 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Greg Messenger |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
n/a |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
n/a |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
n/a |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
World Trade Law is the area of international law that effects our day-to-day lives more than any other. From where we buy products, to whom we sell our services, what we can eat, buy, and sell – all are determined in part by world trade law.
The law and institutions of the World Trade Organization and free trade agreements are central to global trade and of critical importance to large multinational businesses and small-scale traders alike. As one of the most effective and institutionalised systems within international law, world trade law is also critically important for those interested in how governments can pursue ‘non-trade’ policies that can be otherwise ignored or side-lined. This includes topics as diverse as the protection of public health, combating the climate crisis, protecting national security, or tackling global economic inequality. This unit explores how trade law shapes the global economic order and actors within it, from government officials to businesses, diplomats to campaigners.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
For those that want to understand an area of law that is of central importance to the international community, businesses, and civil society, world trade law is key. As an area of law with a history firmly rooted in colonialism and power politics in the global economic order, it is also one that empowers students to critically engage with both the international economic order as it is today and the reasons for its existence.
An overview of content
You will examine the key institutions of world trade law: the World Trade Organization, free trade agreements, and standard setting bodies. You will consider who can shape the rules – and who is excluded – whether as a matter of law or practice. You will assess the rules of world trade law and test their limitations. This includes rules on market access for goods and services, rules on how governments regulate, and restrictions on what governments can do to encourage the development of specific strategic sectors or improve levels of industrialisation. You will examine how trade disputes are resolved, both through diplomatic and legal means. You will also examine pressures facing the world trade law system from increasing geopolitical tensions and the climate crisis.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will be able to identify the institutions and rules of world trade law and appreciate their impact on government policy-making and corporate interests. You will have experience of working collaboratively with peers to unpack challenges in trade law and communicating complex issues simply and clearly to non-academic audiences.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit, you should be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of seminars and lectures. The unit is scenario-driven, delivering learning through group simulations in each seminar (e.g., preparing a briefing, contributing to policy design, providing negotiation support, etc). The interactive scenario-driven approach to learning activities reflects the application of trade law in legal and policy practice.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Interactive multiple choice questionnaires (MCQs) will be used to assess your subject-matter expertise in specific areas of world trade law, independent research skills, and close-reading of primary texts. There will be two sets of MCQs released during the unit, timed to support you to test your knowledge and skills on specific points of the unit ahead of summative assessment points. You will receive feedback on your answer choices and a mark.
You will take part in drafting workshops as part of seminar group tasks, producing 100 word notes for peer-review. This will support you to develop your ability to identify, appraise, and communicate issues in trade law. This will also help you to develop your communication skills and the ability to consider trade law issues at pace. These drafting workshops feed into both summative tasks S1 and S2.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
There are two summative tasks. The mark for the unit is an aggregate of both tasks, each counting for 50% of the total mark.
The first summative assessment is a 1,500 word briefing note for a policy actor (e.g., government official, private client, parliamentarian) in relation to a selection of possible topics in trade law. The practice of writing a briefing note will be developed through formative drafting workshops, and subject-matter expertise developed in part through MCQs.
You will have 7 days to produce the briefing note. This task assesses Learning Outcomes 1 and 2.
The second summative assessment is a 1,500 word legal risk assessment of a new policy proposal. The practice of writing a legal risk assessment will be developed through formative drafting workshops, and subject-matter expertise developed in part through MCQs.
You will have 7 days to produce the legal risk assessment. This task assesses Learning Outcomes 1 and 3.
When assessment does not go to plan
If you need to retake summative assessment, alternative questions for S1 and S2 will be made available during the reassessment period.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LAWDM0115).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
