International trade is regulated through inter-national law in the strict sense of the term, meaning that regulations result from agreements between national governments, either in the framework of the WTO or by means of bi- or multilateral agreements. Private companies generally are only indirectly involved in this process in the form of lobbying and advising their governments on what would be desirable or less desirable agreements. Moreover, with a few exceptions, primarily anti-dumping rules, government policies and not the practices of private firms are the object of public international trade law. Disputes about international trade law typically concern government practices such as import restrictions inadmissible export promotion etc.
Knowledge of public international trade law nevertheless is essential, for exporting companies but also for import competing companies, in other words, for the vast majority of companies. The first reason is simple, ex-and importing companies need to adhere to the rules established for international trade. Knowledge of the agreements on rules of origin, pre-shipment inspections and customs valuation, for example, is crucial for the smooth completion of an international trade transaction. Secondly, international trade agreements shape market access and thereby create strategic business opportunities. What tariff is applied to the good one wishes to import / export? How likely is this tariff to change? What countries have granted preferential market access and in what products? Under what conditions are countries allowed to deviate from the market access commitments they have made? Finally, knowledge on international trade regulation is becoming increasingly important for private firms as the scope of such regulation is expanding. Long gone are the days that international trade regulation was primarily concerned with tariffs and quotas. Nowadays a great many other issues is contained in international trade agreements, such as intellectual property rights, investment matters, product standards, government procurement etc.
This course is intended to give an overview of the most important aspects in international trade regulation and to enable you to navigate this complex issue yourself.
- Õpetaja/Teacher: Antonius Johannes Hubertus Notermans