Risky Business? Legal Rules on High-Risk Vendors
and Their Global Trade Effects
Commercial and Trade Relations with China in a Shifting Global Order:
Between Strategic Dependence and Legal Restrictions
Warsaw School of Economics
January, 2026, 12:00–2:00 p.m.
stationary: SGH and on MS Teams I cordially invite you,
Lukasz Dawid Dabrowski
The discussion will feature representatives of:
Participants will be announced at a later date.
Registration is not open yet.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
it is my great pleasure to invite you to a seminar dedicated to the intersection of cybersecurity, international trade law, and geopolitics, highlighting the EU’s delicate balancing act: securing critical infrastructure while managing complex trade relations with China. The HRV debate provides a platform for a broader discussion on cooperation with China, particularly in light of its close ties with Russia.
The global rollout of fifth-generation (5G) networks is advancing rapidly, with the United States and China leading in coverage, although significant regional disparities remain. While sixth-generation (6G) technology is still in development, countries such as the U.S., China, Japan, and South Korea are already investing heavily in 6G research and contributing to the creation of international standards.
Alongside these technological advances, EU Member States face critical challenges in protecting infrastructure from potential foreign influence, particularly regarding Chinese telecommunications suppliers. Many EU countries have introduced regulatory frameworks to identify and restrict high-risk vendors (HRVs), reflecting growing concerns over cybersecurity, national security, and strategic dependence. These measures carry important implications for EU–China trade relations, as they directly limit the participation of Chinese firms in European ICT markets and, to some extent, align with broader U.S. policy objectives.
Excluding certain entities—primarily Chinese ICT equipment suppliers—from the telecommunications market directly impacts both the financial standing of those vendors and the businesses that rely on their services. Companies dependent on HRVs face costs associated with equipment replacement, operational disruptions, and potential delays in infrastructure rollout. These burdens fall disproportionately on telecommunications operators and, more broadly, on the IT sector.
This seminar will address the following key themes:
What are the main legal and economic consequences for businesses when a supplier is designated as a high-risk vendor (HRV)?
How do HRV regulations influence the balance between national security concerns and the principles of free trade under WTO rules?
In what ways do EU regulatory measures shape political and commercial relations with China in the ICT sector?
What challenges do EU Member States face in maintaining technological sovereignty while relying on global supply chains?
How might the designation of HRVs affect global ICT markets and the pace of innovation?
Can restrictions on HRVs inadvertently create trade tensions or discourage international investment?
How should policymakers reconcile cybersecurity imperatives with commitments under international trade agreements?
What strategies can businesses adopt to mitigate risks associated with HRV regulations while remaining competitive internationally?
Bringing together leading experts in international law, economics, and policy-making, the seminar will provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary perspective on one of the most pressing trade and security challenges of our time.
I warmly invite policymakers, academics, legal practitioners, business leaders, and students to join us for this important discussion.
Łukasz Dawid Dąbrowski
Assistant Professor, Institute of World Economy
SGH Warsaw School of Economics
Attorny-at-law
Biogram SGH -Link
ORCID:Link
Are you looking for a thesis topic that not only meets academic requirements but also engages with real-world issues?
The scope of the proposed topics covers issues of significance from the perspective of contemporary economic, legal, and social processes, examined in both national and international contexts.
🌍 International Trade and International Trade Law
Analysis of the mechanisms shaping the global exchange of goods and services, as well as the legal frameworks underpinning the functioning of contemporary international markets.
💼 Foreign Trade and Foreign Trade Law
Examination of economic relations between states, with particular focus on trade exchange, customs barriers, and legal regulations affecting the movement of goods and services.
🤝 Foreign Investments and International Investment Agreements
Analysis of investment protection systems, the scope of state obligations and investor rights, as well as dispute resolution mechanisms through international arbitration.
👷 Employment in National and International Contexts
Comparative study of labour law regulations across various jurisdictions, encompassing both domestic norms and standards derived from international legal instruments.
🔐 Digitalization - Cybersecurity
Legal and organisational aspects of digitisation, cybersecurity, data protection and international cooperation in the field of information and communication security.
📈 Regulated Markets – Mechanisms and Challenges
Characteristics of markets subject to special legal regimes, including electronic communications, energy, transport, and other strategic sectors.
💡 Significance of Addressing the Selected Issues
Conducting a thesis in one of the proposed areas allows for:
deepening specialist knowledge in the chosen field of study,
developing skills in identifying and interpreting complex legal and economic problems,
relating research findings to real processes shaping contemporary economic, political, and social life.
Szukasz tematu pracy dyplomowej, który nie tylko spełnia wymagania akademickie, ale także dotyczy rzeczywistych problemów?
Zakres proponowanych tematów obejmuje zagadnienia istotne z perspektywy współczesnych procesów gospodarczych, prawnych i społecznych, analizowanych w ujęciu krajowym oraz międzynarodowym.
🌍 Handel międzynarodowy i prawo handlu międzynarodowego
Analiza mechanizmów kształtujących globalny obrót towarami i usługami oraz regulacji prawnych stanowiących podstawę funkcjonowania współczesnych rynków międzynarodowych.
💼 Handel zagraniczny i prawo handlu zagranicznego
Badanie relacji gospodarczych między państwami, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem wymiany handlowej, barier celnych oraz regulacji prawnych wpływających na przepływ towarów i usług.
🤝 Inwestycje zagraniczne i międzynarodowe umowy inwestycyjne
Analiza systemów ochrony inwestycji, zakresu zobowiązań państw oraz praw inwestorów, a także mechanizmów rozstrzygania sporów w drodze arbitrażu międzynarodowego.
👷 Świadczenie pracy w ujęciu krajowym i międzynarodowym
Porównawcze ujęcie regulacji prawa pracy w różnych jurysdykcjach, obejmujące zarówno normy krajowe, jak i standardy wynikające z aktów prawa międzynarodowego.
🔐 Cyfryzacja - cyberbezpieczeństwo
Ujęcie prawne i organizacyjne cyfryzacji, digitalizacji, cyberbezpieczeństwa, ochrony danych oraz współpracy międzynarodowej w zakresie bezpieczeństwa teleinformatycznego.
📈 Rynki regulowane – mechanizmy i wyzwania
Charakterystyka funkcjonowania rynków podlegających szczególnym reżimom prawnym, rynku komunikacji elektronicznej, energii lub transportu, i innych sektorów strategicznych.
💡 Znaczenie podjęcia wskazanej problematyki
Realizacja pracy dyplomowej w wybranym obszarze umożliwia:
pogłębienie wiedzy specjalistycznej w zakresie analizowanych zagadnień,
rozwinięcie umiejętności identyfikacji oraz interpretacji złożonych problemów prawnych i gospodarczych,
odniesienie treści badawczych do realnych procesów kształtujących współczesne życie gospodarcze, polityczne i społeczne.