International Trade Law
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course introduces students to the complexity of international economic relations, particularly trade relations, through an analysis of the legal framework governing the exchange of goods and services.
The analysis will start with multilateral regulations and then focus, in light of the most recent and contemporary developments, on the numerous trade agreements concluded by states outside the WTO and on the unilateral measures adopted by states to achieve a variety of objectives that have an impact on international trade.
The legal analysis will be continuously placed in the broader context of economic and economic policy issues and in the historical trajectory of rules, institutions and debates. Particular attention will be given to the analysis of the various regulatory instruments, dispute settlement mechanisms and the critical issues that have emerged in practice.
The teaching approach, which is systemic and relational, is based on the development of knowledge and skills through study and practice and values the willingness to test oneself and gain experience in the classroom and, ultimately, the development of personal and critical thinking.
The analysis will start with multilateral regulations and then focus, in light of the most recent and contemporary developments, on the numerous trade agreements concluded by states outside the WTO and on the unilateral measures adopted by states to achieve a variety of objectives that have an impact on international trade.
The legal analysis will be continuously placed in the broader context of economic and economic policy issues and in the historical trajectory of rules, institutions and debates. Particular attention will be given to the analysis of the various regulatory instruments, dispute settlement mechanisms and the critical issues that have emerged in practice.
The teaching approach, which is systemic and relational, is based on the development of knowledge and skills through study and practice and values the willingness to test oneself and gain experience in the classroom and, ultimately, the development of personal and critical thinking.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be expected to
· know and understand the legal framework governing international economic and trade relations,
· know and understand the main economic and economic policy issues underlying legal issues,
· have acquired the ability to relate specific situations to the relevant regulatory framework,
· demonstrate familiarity with the appropriate specialist language to express their knowledge and assessments,
· develop the ability to critically and independently analyse situations that arise in international trade, including those that give rise to disputes, and improve their communication skills.
· know and understand the legal framework governing international economic and trade relations,
· know and understand the main economic and economic policy issues underlying legal issues,
· have acquired the ability to relate specific situations to the relevant regulatory framework,
· demonstrate familiarity with the appropriate specialist language to express their knowledge and assessments,
· develop the ability to critically and independently analyse situations that arise in international trade, including those that give rise to disputes, and improve their communication skills.
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
The course is ideally divided into two parts.
The first module deals with multilateral trade regulations, while the second focuses on the growing spread of trade agreements and unilateral measures.
In particular, the main topics covered are as follows: the origin of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the creation of the World Trade Organisation, the institutional structure and powers of the WTO, the treatment of least developed countries, the accession of new members to the WTO, the principles of non-discrimination and reciprocity, tariff and non-tariff barriers to international trade in goods, trade defence measures, the European Union in the WTO, multilateral trade rounds, the regulation of agriculture, the regulation of technical, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, non-economic issues, the debate on the reform and future of the WTO, trade agreements and their relationship with the multilateral trading system, national security and unilateral trade restriction measures.
The first module deals with multilateral trade regulations, while the second focuses on the growing spread of trade agreements and unilateral measures.
In particular, the main topics covered are as follows: the origin of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the creation of the World Trade Organisation, the institutional structure and powers of the WTO, the treatment of least developed countries, the accession of new members to the WTO, the principles of non-discrimination and reciprocity, tariff and non-tariff barriers to international trade in goods, trade defence measures, the European Union in the WTO, multilateral trade rounds, the regulation of agriculture, the regulation of technical, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, non-economic issues, the debate on the reform and future of the WTO, trade agreements and their relationship with the multilateral trading system, national security and unilateral trade restriction measures.
Prerequisites for admission
Students must be familiar with the fundamentals of international law and European Union law. For this reason, passing the relevant examinations is a prerequisite for the course.
Teaching methods
The teaching method focuses on interaction between the teacher and students and among students themselves, with the aim of promoting teamwork and strengthening critical thinking in an approach to the subject that aims, with regard to new topics, to refine communication skills and contextualise the topics covered in relation to the reality of international relations, current affairs, conflicting interests and, above all, the rules governing transnational economic relations.
Although the course is taught in Italian, frequent reference will be made to and use will be made of texts in English, the main working and communication language in international trade.
Although the course is taught in Italian, frequent reference will be made to and use will be made of texts in English, the main working and communication language in international trade.
Teaching Resources
Gabriella Venturini, L'Organizzazione mondiale del commercio, third edition, 2015, Giuffré, Milan, pp. 3-149. The texts and documents published in the second part of the volume complement the essays in the first part. They should be consulted during the course of study and understood to the extent necessary for a better understanding of the topics covered.
Attila Tanzi, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Gian Maria Farnelli, Andrea Mensi (eds.), La transizione ecologica nel commercio internazionale, 2022, University of Bologna, Parts I and II (freely downloadable online).
The course programme will also include additional materials indicated by the lecturer and uploaded to MyAriel.
Attila Tanzi, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Gian Maria Farnelli, Andrea Mensi (eds.), La transizione ecologica nel commercio internazionale, 2022, University of Bologna, Parts I and II (freely downloadable online).
The course programme will also include additional materials indicated by the lecturer and uploaded to MyAriel.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination is written and will include case studies, open-ended questions, and multiple-choice questions. The specific details of the examination will be explained by the lecturer in class and in a document uploaded to Ariel towards the end of the course.
Professor(s)