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Centre for Trade and Economic Integration

Trade Law Course Argentina

Intensive Course on International Trade Law & Policy

 

The programme

This program engages leading academics and practitioners to teach both traditional and cutting-edge international trade law and policy, which are of the highest importance to today’s foreign affairs and world economy. This area of law and policy is also highly relevant to Argentina, despite its only marginal representation in academic institutions across the country.

The Course will offer theoretical and practical tools for the understanding of international trade law and policy. In this Course, we will examine why the WTO’s function and its evolution from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to what it is today.

The Course will offer in-depth and practical analysis of substantive WTO law, drawing heavily on the case law. It will address the basic principles of trade in goods and trade in services, as well as other more specialized WTO agreements. From the procedural side, the Course will pay close attention to the unique WTO mechanism for the settlement of trade disputes, including an exploration of recent and ongoing cases. The Course will allow students to understand why Argentina and other developing countries conclude trade agreements, and their scope and effects.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

background

The World Trade Organization (WTO) and international trade law in general attract significant attention and criticism, at both the global and regional level. Why do economists say that liberalizing trade flows is a good thing? How can this liberalization go hand in hand with other public policy priorities such as protecting the environment, advancing human rights or promoting the economic development of poor countries? These debates shape policy across Argentina, Latin America and the world.

In the last 50 years, Latin American countries have signed several trade agreements. However, the region's integration has been limited and the participation of Latin American countries in world trade has virtually stagnated since the 1960s. This partially explains why some policymakers in the region criticize the international trading system. This phenomenon can also be seen in Argentina, despite the indisputable role of international trade law in several key aspects of Argentina’s development.

Compounding the difficulty of policy formulation amidst these long-running challenges is the current health situation. While the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated global trade challenges and highlighted the urgency of providing security and agility to global trade, it has also created new opportunities for Latin America and Argentina. Navigating these requires a solid foundation in the existing trade rules and how these are evolving.

General Objective

The general objective of the Course is to train 40 Argentine students in the strategic area of international trade law and policy, promoting the development of professional and academic resources in the country.  

International trade law and policy is an area of key importance for Argentina's development, of relevance to many other developmentally significant policy areas. For example, the promotion of exports of goods and services, the development of value chains, regulating and promoting electronic commerce, the protection of health and the environment, the promotion of investments, and the protection of intellectual property rights. All those topics are impacted by international trade law and are fundamental aspects for broadening Argentina’s integration to the world. A deep knowledge of international trade law and policy allows to better promote these fundamental goals.

Despite the importance of trade law to Argentina, there are comparatively few resources in the country for disseminating it. Persons with knowledge and experience in this area of law and policy in Argentina are concentrated in specialized government agencies and in a handful of private institutions. Therefore, the training of Argentine students by leading professionals and academics in the field of international trade law and policy will reinforce existing capacity on the subject in Argentina and ultimately form a necessary tool for the development of the country.

In summary, this project will consist of advising, organizing and developing an intensive postgraduate program of the highest academic excellence with virtual and in-person components.

Specific objectives

  • Allow students to acquire substantive knowledge and practical skills in international trade law and policy, a strategic area for Argentina's national development.

  • Broaden the international and cross-cultural networks of Argentine students by allowing them to interface directly with leading academics and practitioners from around the world

  • Leave lasting installed capacity in Argentina in this strategic area of educational vacancy.

 

Structure and dates of the course

 

STRUCTURE

The Course has a hybrid structure, featuring a mix of virtual and in-person classes. The Course aims to teach to a maximum of 40 Argentine students and will have a duration of six months, running between April and September of 2022.

DATES

The course is divided in the following three phases:

  1. virtual classes from April to May 2022 (3 to 6 hours every Friday) 

  2. an intensive in person week in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires from June 27 to July 2 2022 

  3. virtual classes from July to September 2022 (3 to 6 hours every Friday). 

Language

Spanish and English

Argentina course Flyer

Course Flyer (Spanish)

Program

The Course will consist of:

  • 1 introductory General Course,

  • 7 specific Thematic Courses,

  • 4 Lectures, and

  • 1 Practical Training course.

The Course is designed to address the most important topics of international trade law and policy. The academy is composed of leading professors or practitioners specialized in the assigned field. Besides, all the modules include practical exercises and tutorials.

Course Modules

Joost Headshot
Introduction to International Trade Law (including trade in goods and services) | General Course

Joost Pauwelyn

Ricardo Ramirez Headshot
International trade Dispute Settlement (at WTO and under regional trade agreements) | Thematic Course

Ricardo Ramirez Hernandez

Katrin Kuhlman 1
Trade and sustainable development | Lecture

Katrin Kuhlmann

Henry Gao
Services, e-commerce, data & the digital economy | Thematic Course

Henry Gao

Jesse Kreier
Trade Remedies (Dumping, Subsidies, Safeguards) | Thematic Course

Jesse Kreier

Gabrielle Marceau
New developments on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)|Thematic Course

Gabrielle Marceau

Jan Bohanes2
Agriculture, SPS and TBT | Thematic Course

Jan Bohanes

Carolos Correa
Trade and Intellectual Property Rights | Thematic Course

Carlos Correa

Manuel Miranda2
Trade and Sustainable Development (including S&DT, GSP, environmental, human rights, labour rights, etc.) | Thematic Course

Manuel Sanchez Miranda

j Hillman 3
Trade Dispute Settlement--why the system is broken and options for fixing it | Lecture

Jennifer A. Hillman

Facundo Perez Aznar
Regional Trade Agreements and the Multilateral Trading System | Thematic Course

Facundo Perez Aznar

Gracia Duran
Trade and sustainable development | Thematic Course

Gracia Marin Duran

Dmitry headshot 2022
WTO and Trade Negotiations – Theory into Practice | Practical Training Course

Dmitry Grozoubinski

Application

 

DEADLINE

Applications will be accepted until 6 March 2022. The application shall be done through the website of the Argentine Ministry of Education here.

Requirements to apply

  1. To have Argentine nationality or to perform diplomatic functions and duties of the Argentine government abroad 

  2. Hold a university degree or a degree certificate in process from an Argentine educational institution in the areas of law, international relations or economics 

  3. Be a graduate or regular postgraduate student in any discipline at an Argentine educational institution whose academic interest is focused on problems related to international trade law and/or policy; and/or carry out a professional activity related to international trade law and/or policy 

  4. Have an outstanding academic average in undergraduate studies (from 7 to 10 points) 

  5. Have an advanced knowledge of English (proof of TOEFL, IELTS, CAE exams or demonstrate equivalent knowledge

Cost of the Course

The course is financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). No fee is required from the selected participants.

Accreditation and Evaluation Criteria

In order to obtain the certificate of attendance to the course, students must attend 90 percent of the online classes and 90 percent of the in-person classes

ORGANIZING TEAM

 

CONTACT

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to tradelawcourseargentina@graduateinstitute.ch

 

Executive Committee

The team in charge of the organization of the project will be the following: