Developing Countries and the WTO

Subject LAWS70169 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

July, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: The total class time is between 24 and 26 hours.
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites:

It is recommended that students have either a background in international law or have successfully completed Principles of International Law.
Corequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Core Participation Requirements: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Jurgen Kurtz

Contact

For more information, contact the Melbourne Law Masters office.

Email law-masters@unimelb.edu.au or phone +61 3 8344 6190.

Alternatively, visit our website:

www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject will examine the economic and legal issues facing developing countries in their engagement within the WTO. A central organising theme will be the evolving theory and practice on the role of economic liberalisation in the developmental processes of these countries.

Principal topics will include:

  • History of developing country engagement in the GATT–WTO
  • Evolving theory on trade and development
  • GATT legal framework: Pre-Uruguay Round
  • Overview of Uruguay Round and WTO legal framework
  • Agriculture
  • Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
  • Trade remedies: Anti-dumping, countervailing duties and safeguards
  • The ‘fair trade’ debate: Environmental and labour standards
  • The ‘non-WTO’ Singapore issue of foreign investment
  • The developmental implications of bilateralism and regionalism
  • The future: The Doha Ministerial Declaration.
Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Be able to critique the role of economic liberalism and any necessary complementary policies in the process of economic development
  • Be able to assess the evolution of the legal framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) from the perspective of developing countries
  • Be able to identify necessary changes to the institutional and substantive coverage of the WTO to better reflect developing country interests.
Assessment: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Prescribed Texts: Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Related Course(s): Master of International Business

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