Academy of Global Governance (in collaboration with the School of Transnational Governance)

Scientific Coordinators:
Bernard Hoekman | European University Institute
Chad P. Bown | Peterson Institute for International Economics

Cappella, Villa Schifanoia, Via Boccaccio 121 – Florence

10 – 12 JULY 2019

INTRODUCTION

The learning objective of the course is to give participants an up-to-date understanding of the law and economics of the policy drivers of current global trade conflicts and WTO reform proposals put forward by major protagonists to address their concerns. The course focuses on the strategic challenges confronting the multilateral trade system, many of which centre on managing the repercussions of the rise of China as a major trade power. The accession of China to the WTO was a watershed development for the trade regime. Rapid growth by China has led to geopolitical tensions, both because of its size and its distinct development model.

This course will provide an introduction to the main sources of systemic tension associated with the rise of China, major gaps in the WTO rulebook and help participants understand key issues that have led to deadlock in the WTO and a resurgence in aggressive unilateralism by the US. Speakers will provide a legal, economic and geo-politically informed analysis of the state of play and proposals put forward to strengthen global rules on the use of industrial policies, including technology transfer requirements and the behaviour of state-owned enterprises; regulation of e-commerce and digital trade and invocation of national and economic security concerns to restrict access to markets. The course will also consider the dispute about the operation of the WTO Appellate Body and possible scenarios for reform of trade conflict resolution.

Speakers:

Chad P. Bown | Peterson Institute for International Economics, United States
Simon Evenett | University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Martina Ferracane | ECIPE, Belgium
Bernard Hoekman | European University Institute, Italy
Patrick Low | University of Hong Kong, China
Petros C. Mavroidis | Columbia Law School, United States
Robert McDougal | Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canada
Luca Rubini | University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
Craig Vangrasstek | Harvard Law School, United States
Robert Wolfe | Queen’s University, Canada
Mark Wu | Harvard Law School, United States

Programme

Applications are now closed