• Offered by ANU Law School
  • ANU College ANU College of Law
  • Course subject Laws
  • Areas of interest Law
  • Academic career UGRD
  • Course convener
    • AsPr Imogen Saunders
  • Mode of delivery Online or In Person
  • Co-taught Course
  • Offered in Summer Session 2024
    See Future Offerings

The course introduces students to the fundamental principles of international trade law. The primary goal of the course is to acquaint and familiarise students with the main pillars in this arena of international law and their effect on domestic law and policy.  The course covers the key agreements and principles of international trade law and the jurisdiction, policies and processes of the WTO. It also encompasses major critical analyses of international trade law together with an in-depth review of relevant GATT/WTO panel and appellate body decisions.

Themes that will be addressed throughout the course will include the origins of international trade law, fundamental principles of the GATT/WTO regime, Services (GATS), the WTO Dumping and Subsidies regimes and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement.  The effects of trade liberalisation in general on developing countries will also be the subject of review together with an analysis of the on-going conflict between the basic dictates of international trade agreements on the one hand and the need to enshrine and protect international environmental and labour standards on the other.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. Explain and analyse the role of the World Trade Organisation and the principal international trade agreements it administers;
  2. Describe and analyse how the rules, principles and institutions of international trade impact on domestic legal, political and social arrangements;
  3. Describe and analyse how global trade liberalisation impacts upon developing countries, and on the domestic regulation of areas such as human rights and environmental protection;
  4. Select and apply a range of approaches to written communication, and apply the critical thinking required to bring about solutions to complex legal problems in the area of international trade law;
  5. Plan and conduct a legal research project with intellectual independence.

Other Information

Classes may be offered in non-standard sessions and be taught on an intensive base with compulsory contact hours (a minimum of 36 hours). Please refer to the LLB timetable for dates. Please contact the ANU College of Law Student Administration Services to request a permission code to enrol in classes offered in non-standard sessions.

Indicative Assessment

  1. A compulsory online quiz (null) [LO null]
  2. A compulsory written assessment consisting of either a research essay OR a group work simulation activity (null) [LO null]
  3. A compulsory final examination (null) [LO null]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

  • Classes offered in non-standard sessions will be taught on an intensive base with compulsory contact hours (approximately 36 hours of face to face teaching). The course will also require advanced preparation through assigned readings. In total, it is anticipated that the hours required for completion of this course (class preparation, teaching and completion of assessment) will not exceed 120 hours.
  • Classes offered during semester periods are expected to have three contact hours per week. Students are generally expected to devote at least 10 hours overall per week to this course.

Click here for the LLB Program course list

Inherent Requirements

Not applicable

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must be studying a; Bachelor of Laws (ALLB) and have completed or be completing five 1000 level LAWS courses and have completed LAWS2250 International Law; or Juris Doctor (MJD) and have completed or be completing five 1000 or 6100 level LAWS courses and have completed LAWS2250/LAWS6250 International Law. You are not able to enrol in this course if you have previously completed LAWS8229 International Law of World Trade.

Prescribed Texts

Students must rely on the approved Class Summary which will be posted to the Programs and Courses site approximately two weeks prior to the commencement of the course. Alternatively, this information will be published in the Program course list when known.

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees

Student Contribution Band:
34
Unit value:
6 units

If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee
2024 $4980
International fee paying students
Year Fee
2024 $6000
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

Summer Session

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
1475 08 Jan 2024 09 Jan 2024 12 Jan 2024 23 Jan 2024 In Person View

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions