| The phenomenon of globalization has led to the integration of national economies. The success that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has achieved has brought about drastic changes in the way municipal regimes function the world over, irrespective of the scholarly debates on whether it had a moral right to do so or not. |
| The relevance of the Course on International Trade Law can be surmised from the number of alumni who have secured admissions at prestigious universities across the globe, after obtaining an Honours Degree in trade law. This are of Law is one which transcends borders and hence its practice is not limited to any particular Country. It doesn’t come as a surprise that who have taken up this course have been able to perform so well at the international level. |
| The Ministry of Commerce of the Government of India, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Directorate General of Anti Dumping etc. offer highly esteemed opportunities of internship to students of trade law. This provides practical experience as well as hones the researching skills of the Student. Students have regularly and fruitfully interned with country’s leading trade law firms including Economic Laws Practice and Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan. Exposure to their practice areas including Customs, Anti Dumping, SEZ and subsidies is of considerable pragmatic value to the students. Apart from the firms aforementioned, firms including International Trade Law Consultants, Strategic Law Group etc. have routinely recruited students specialized in trade law. |
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UNDERGRADUATE COURSE |
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| HONOURS IN LAWS RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE : |
| An Honours course in Laws relating to International Trade is offered to undergraduate students. It enables the students to grasp the emerging dynamics of the international business environment. Considering the undeniable significance trade has in generating and distributing wealth and resources, an understanding of the way in which this regime functions is of primary importance on the road to good governance, especially in developing countries such as India. This course is the first of its kind to be offered at the undergraduate level in India. It also provides a fresh insight into the new generation norms of International Law and the new economic order being formed under the auspices of the WTO. |
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Course Content |
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| The Course on International Trade Law has been designed such that it not only provides a strong theoretical foundation, but also allows the students much needed ‘hands-on’ experience in current matters. The trade policies and trade-related laws of countries, along with their corresponding international obligations comprises the major part of the course. The various papers dealt with are: |
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Introduction to International Trade |
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| This paper introduces the filed of International Trade and its mechanisms to the student. It deals with cross border commercial transactions from both Public as well as Private International Law perspectives. It throws light on international commercial usages, including modes of payment, and conventions aimed at harmonizing them. By analyzing the market efficiency and transaction costs the students get a firm footing in the basic tenets underlying transactions in trade globally. Agreement Establishing WTO and other Agreements annexed thereto are covered in varying details. More importantly for a practicing lawyer, the WTO compliance of domestic trade and indirect tax regime, especially Special Economic Zones, Customs regime, Anti dumping and Countervailing Duties is also examined. |
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Dispute Resolution |
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| Dispute resolution mechanisms in all aspects of commercial activity have certain central characteristics, be it through courts or by means of arbitration. Apart from the issues of Party Autonomy and applicable law, there are also issues of state sovereignty when one or both the parties are sovereign states. This paper in sufficient details covers the procedure for dispute settlement under WTO. |
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Intellectual Property in International Trade |
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| Knowledge of Trade in Intellectual Property is an indispensable tool for a modern-day lawyer, more so given the concerns of a developing country and issues related to access to medicines and public health. To this end, the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPs) is introduced in elaborate detail. The Course largely comprises of a comparison between the International Intellectual Property regime including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties and TRIPs on the one hand and the Indian regime on Patents, Copyright, Trademarks etc. on the other. |
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Trade in Services |
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| No single component of trade in India plays a role as crucial as that of Trade in services in determining the economy’s growth rate and Balance of Payment position. By their very nature, services provided across borders involve issues of complex technical as well as legal importance. Taking a cue from the four modes of services under General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), this paper deals with the legal-economic implications of transactions in services, including banking and financial services. |
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Other Areas |
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| The grey areas of WTO related law including the Trade versus Labour and Human Rights; and Trade versus Environment debates are also touched upon. Trade in Agriculture, where the issue is more of policy than of law, is yet another area which would be of immense interest to those who are keen on knowing how the stakes of developing countries take shape when markets transcend borders and market access becomes a controversial issue. |
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POST GRADUATE COURSE |
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| The post graduate course covers the broad areas aforementioned in wider and deeper manner. The trade related laws is complimented by papers on Investment and Foreign Exchange. It introduces international banking and finance and international corporate legal system, which go hand in hand with commercial regimes involving trade in goods and services. International Monetary System is another paper offered. |
| Any candidate who has completed his graduation in law or any other subject can apply for the course. |
