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Legal advisors increasingly need to consider problems of transactions and trade that cross national borders. This course gives students the opportunity to learn the body of treaty, statute and case law that deals with transactions which have an international aspect, and the international institutions and treaties through which organisations may conduct business overseas. It will help students to analyse problems of international business and trade, and to develop the problem-solving skills needed to address them. It is an important elective course for students who are planning to develop expertise in general commercial law or in different aspects of international law.

This course addresses various areas of the law of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the law relating to international business transactions. It examines the legal framework of the WTO, international sales contracts - especially as governed by the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods - the law relating to the international transport of goods by sea, and international payments (documentary credits). The course also includes a study of arbitration as a means of resolving international commercial disputes. Students undertaking the course need to have an understanding of the law of contract. An introductory knowledge of the treaty, statute and case law relating to trade and to the conduct of business across borders will be developed, as will skills of analysis and problem solving. The course will involve lectures and in-class problem-solving, and online discussion and critiques of international business problems.

On successful completion of this course, students should have:

1. Demonstrate [interpret and synthesise] an understanding of a coherent body of knowledge of international trade law and the broader contexts in which international trade law issues arise (PO1, TLO1);
2. Identify and articulate international trade law issues, and apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses to international trade legal issues (PO3, TLO3);
3. Demonstrate and apply the intellectual and practical skills needed to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues relating to international trade law (PO4, LTO4);
4. Communicate international trade law issues in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences (PO5, LTO5); and
5. Identify applicable international treaties in international trade law, and deploy appropriate techniques in the course of solving interpretative problems in international trade law (PO7).