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LAW37590

Academic Year 2025/2026

International Economic Law (LAW37590)

Subject:
Law
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Law
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Joseph McMahon
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Whilst Public International Law governs the legal relationships between sovereign states, International Economic Law is that area of Public International Law dealing with the trading relationships between states. The scope of this area covers not only international trade law but also international investment law; this module will concentrate on the former through an analysis of the law developed within the World Trade Organisation (WTO). That law has come increasingly under threat in recent years and more recently with the recent announcement of tariffs imposed by the United States.
The module will focus on that threat through an examination of the foundational principles of international economic law - most-favoured-nation treatment and national treatment as exemplified in provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the General Agreement on Trade in Services. Thereafter, the module turns to an examination of specific agreements within the WTO, namely, those dealing with Industrial Policy (i.e. Agreement on Dumping, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Duties and the Agreement on Safeguards). The module will conclude with a discussion of how the GATT and GATS could be reformed to reflect the new reality of the international trading system.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the module, students should have an enhanced appreciation and understanding of:
- the nature and sources of international economic law,
- the fundamental principles of the international trading system established under WTO rules, and
- the scope of the issues relating to the policy space allowed to Members of the WTO.

On completion of this module, students should also have enhanced the generally transferable skills and specific skills already developed throughout their degree programmes. This module aims to enhance the following skills:
- the ability to conduct legal research, especially using international legal materials and
- the ability to present a coherent written legal argument.

Students will be expected to demonstrate these learning outcomes through an examination in which they will be required to answer two questions from a range of questions reflecting the lectures in the module.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction to the history of international economic law since 1945
- threats to IEL
The WTO Dispute Settlement System
- the demise of the Appellate Body and the search for a replacement
The fundamental principles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the General Agreement on Trade in Services
- most-favoured-nation treatment
- national treatment
- exceptions and national security
WTO Agreements on Industrial Policy
- the Agreement on Dumping
- the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
- the Agreement on Safeguards
A new WTO Agreement?

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

101
Lectures

24
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module involves the delivery of a series of lectures with presentations in lectures being made available on Brightspace. These will indicate general reading for the topic along with additional readings and opportunities within the lectures for interaction.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Examination: A two-hour closed book examination in which students will be asked to answer two questions from a number of questions addressing issues discussed in the module. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
100
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Generalised feedback will be offered to all students on student performance in the examination.

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