This course offers a comprehensive and practice-focused exploration of U.S. trade law and its interaction with the World Trade Organization (WTO) legal system. Students will study the statutory framework governing U.S. international trade—including the Trade Act of 1974, the Tariff Act of 1930, Section 301, antidumping/countervailing duties, safeguards, export controls, and trade preference programs—and analyze how these laws comply with or challenge multilateral WTO rules.
Emphasis is placed on practical legal applications such as trade remedy litigation, WTO dispute engagement, compliance risk mitigation for corporate actors, and strategic navigation of bilateral and multilateral trade tensions. The course blends legal doctrine, policy analysis, and simulation-based training for future trade lawyers, policy professionals, and corporate advisors.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
-
Understand the statutory foundations and regulatory architecture of U.S. trade law.
-
Analyze the compatibility and conflicts between U.S. trade measures and WTO disciplines.
-
Apply U.S. trade laws in litigation, compliance, and trade policy development.
-
Advise corporations on legal risk stemming from trade remedies, sanctions, and regulatory measures.
-
Evaluate the strategic use of trade laws in economic diplomacy and global supply chain governance.
-
Navigate legal tensions arising from unilateral U.S. trade actions and multilateral commitments.
