NLU Odisha: Certificate Course On Introduction To WTO Jurisprudence
LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK
18 May 2024 1:35 PM IST
International trade and investment are the main catalysts of globalization. Major wars in the 19th and 20th centuries have been for trade. It is always an important agenda in any diplomatic relations and any international summit or negotiations. Trade is an aspect of human interaction an like all human interactions it involves issues of access, self-preservation and self-interest, dominance, equality, benefits, fairness, rights, culture, disputes, dispute resolution etc.
The World Trade Organization was established to ensure that trade being an essential requirement of human civilization and growth does not become a reason for destructive wars. The Agreements under WTO are basic undertakings of countries to other countries. The course based on these WTO Agreements is essential for a law students. It is an essential part of international commercial law and provides students who have mastered the subject opportunities to work with international organizations, governmental departments and commercial law firms. In addition to this, students educated in international trade law are better able to understand underpinnings of international political developments and many domestic issues such as farmer suicides and farm laws.
Course Objectives: The main purpose of the course is to spread WTO literacy. Many aspects of our lives are affected by international agreements and we are not aware about it. This ignorance breeds misconceptions about various government policies and we end up either wrongly blaming the international treaties or passively accepting where we should be cautious. International trade treaties have come to stay. Hence, general awareness about this law should be encouraged so that our interests are better safeguarded in the international forum. The two-credits course being offered by NLUO Centre for International Trade Law is an effort in this direction.
The main objectives of the course are:
To impart knowledge about the basic legal framework of the WTO Agreement.
To clarify the concepts of international trade law under the WTO.
To guide through case laws how legal provisions are used and applied in disputes.
To help students analyse and evaluate the Agreements and case laws in the background of academic debates around them.
To guide students in research and writing on issues relating to international trade law.
Course Outcomes: After completing the course successfully, a student will be able to
Identify the foundational principles of the WTO law.
explain the framework of the WTO Agreements and their concepts.
critically analyse and evaluate WTO cases and the legal provisions.
Comment on trade-related issues from social, legal, and developmental perspectives.
LECTURE PLAN
Class No. | Module | Topic |
Class 1 | Module 1 | General Introduction and History |
Class 2 | Module 1 | History and Creation of WTO |
Class 3 | Module 1 | Theories on Trade |
Class 4 | Module 2 | Organisational Structure of WTO |
Class 5 | Module 2 | Dispute Settlement Under WTO |
Class 6 | Module 2 | Dispute Settlement Under WTO |
Class 7 | Module 3 | Market Access (Articles XI of GATT and Exceptions) |
Class 8 | Module 3 | Market Access (Article II of GATT) |
Class 9 | Module 4 | MFN and Exceptions |
Class 10 | Module 4 | National Treatment |
Class 11 | Module 5 | Trade Facilitation |
Class 12 | Module 5 | Trade Facilitation |
Class 13 | Module 6 | General Exceptions under GATT |
Class 14 | Module 6 | Security Exceptions |
Class 15 | Module 7 | Antidumping Measures |
Class 16 | Module 7 | Antidumping Measures |
Class 17 | Module 7 | Subsidies and Countervailing Measures |
Class 18 | Module 7 | Subsidies and Countervailing Measures & Fisheries Subsidies |
Class 19 | Module 7 | Safeguard Measures |
Class 20 | Module 8 | Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosantiary Measures |
Class 21 | Module 8 | Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosantiary Measures |
Class 22 | Module 8 | Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade |
Class 23 | Module 9 | Agreement on Agriculture |
Class 24 | Module 9 | Agreement on Agriculture |
Class 25 | Module 10 | General Agreement on Trade in Services |
Class 26 | Module 10 | General Agreement on Trade in Services |
Class 27 | Module 11 | Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights |
Class 28 | Module 11 | Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights |
Class 29 | Module 12 | Trade and Investment |
Class 30 | General Discussion |
Evaluation will be based on written assignment for 50 marks. Students will have to submit the a research paper on a given topic. The purpose is to encourage students to research and think on WTO related issues.
Mode of Teaching and Duration of the Course
July 1, 2024 to August 10, 2024.
The course will be conducted online Monday to Friday 7pm. to 8 pm.
Google meet link will be shared with the registered students.
Declaration of results August 16, 2024.
Successful students will be given a certificate. The certificate will also specify that the course is of two credits.
Fee : Rs. 1000/- per person.
Last Date for payment and Registration: June 25, 2024.
Google Form for Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lM5QQsKzZ7xrue1Se7lJ8R1OpWhfDeWAUtW8a46fCYc/edit
Payment Guidelines: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14--0lVyKsqFJ1IRyr2D3Genrq1QYS_TO/edit
