This course provides a detailed, comparative, and practical examination of dispute settlement mechanisms (DSMs) embedded in key international trade agreements, with a focus on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). It explores how legal disputes over trade measures, investment rules, labor and environmental obligations, and market access are litigated, adjudicated, and enforced under these frameworks.
Students will study procedural rules, jurisdictional thresholds, evidentiary standards, remedies, enforcement mechanisms, and strategic use of DSMs by states and private actors. Through simulations and corporate-focused exercises, students will acquire skills for advising clients, preparing legal filings, and navigating multi-forum trade disputes in an era of evolving global trade architecture.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
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Understand the legal architecture of WTO and USMCA dispute settlement mechanisms.
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Compare procedural stages, substantive scope, and legal standards across trade agreements.
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Analyze case law and panel/arbitrator reasoning in trade disputes.
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Simulate the role of state actors, corporate stakeholders, and legal counsel in trade litigation.
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Draft legal arguments, evidence strategies, and compliance advice for clients subject to trade disputes.
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Assess strategic decisions in choosing forums, coordinating claims, and managing remedies.
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Evaluate the future of DSMs amid geopolitical shifts and institutional reform.
