LAW566
International Trade Law
(Barsukov & Rojas)
Prerequisite courses:
Prerequisite for:
Instructor(s): Romeo A. Rojas, FCIArb / Artem N. Barsukov, FCIArb
Method of presentation: Lecture
Teamwork: YES
METHOD OF EVALUATION
Evaluation of this course is comprised of two non-exam components: (1) a WTO Legal Factum assignment worth 60% of the Grade and (2) a simulated trade negotiation exercise worth 40%, comprised of negotiation strategy (15%), negotiation participation (15%), and a reflection assignment (10%).
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course examines the legal framework governing inter‑state trade in goods within the rules-based international economic order. The course is anchored in the law and institutions of the World Trade Organization (WTO), with particular emphasis on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and its core principles, including tariff bindings, quantitative restrictions, non‑discrimination, and general exceptions. Through close engagement with treaty texts, leading WTO jurisprudence, and commentary on jurisprudence, students are introduced to the economic rationales, historical evolution, and institutional design of the multilateral trading system. The course situates these rules within contemporary debates over globalization, regionalism, and the fragmentation of the established trade order, encouraging students to assess both the normative foundations and current challenges facing international trade law.
The course further integrates domestic and international perspectives by examining Canada’s legislative framework for trade in goods, trade remedies, and import and export controls, alongside an introduction to international investment law and investor-state dispute settlement.
A distinctive feature of the course is its experiential focus: students develop practical skills in legal analysis, advocacy, and negotiation through the preparation of a WTO‑style legal factum and participation in a simulated bilateral or multilateral trade negotiation. By combining doctrinal study with applied exercises and guest practitioner insights, the course prepares students to understand, critique, and participate in international trade governance as lawyers, policymakers, and informed observers of global economic regulation.
SPECIAL COMMENTS
Description updated 2026-27. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.
REQUIRED TEXTS (IF ANY)
TWEN syllabus/reading list (with links to primary materials and selected readings) and PowerPoint slides