Certificate Course on Introduction to WTO Jurisprudence by NLU Odisha! Register Now!

About Course

International trade and investment are the main catalysts of globalization. Major wars in the 19th and 20th centuries have been for trade. It is always an important agenda in diplomatic relations and international summits or negotiations. Trade is an aspect of human interaction and like all human interactions, it involves issues of access, self-preservation and self-interest, dominance, equality, benefits, fairness, rights, culture, disputes, dispute resolution etc. The World Trade Organization was established to ensure that trade, an essential requirement of human civilization and growth, does not become a reason for destructive wars. The Agreements under WTO are basic undertakings of countries to other countries.

The course based on these WTO Agreements is essential for law students. It is an essential part of international commercial law and provides students who have mastered the subject opportunities to work with international organizations, governmental departments and commercial law firms. In addition, students educated in international trade law can better understand the underpinnings of international political developments and many domestic issues such as farmer suicides and farm laws.

About the Resource Person

The Course is offered by Prof. Sheela Rai. Sheela Rai is a Professor of Law at the National Law University Odisha. She teaches International Trade Law and International Investment Law. She has published four books- An Introduction to WTO Jurisprudence (Thomson Reuters South Asia Pvt. Ltd. 2022), Antidumping Measures: Policy, Law and Practice in India (Partridge: A Penguin Random House Company, 2014), Recognition and Regulation of Safeguard Measures under GATT/WTO (London & New York: Routledge, 2011), Recognition and Regulation of Antidumping Measures under GATT/WTO (Lucknow: Eastern Book Company, 2004). In addition to the above she has published edited volumes- Trade Facilitation and the WTO (Co-edited with Prof. Jane K. Winn of Washington Law School) (Cambridge Scholars Press, 2019), Women and Trade: The Indian Context (Thomson Reuters, 2024), Guide to WTO Appellate Body Reports Volumes 1 and 2 (Satyam International, 2021 & 2023). She has also published articles in Indian and international journals. She has more than 20 years of teaching and research experience in International Trade Law.

Course Objectives

The main purpose of the course is to spread WTO literacy. Many aspects of our lives are affected by international agreements and we are not aware of it. This ignorance breeds misconceptions about various government policies and we end up either wrongly blaming the international treaties or passively accepting where we should be cautious. International trade treaties have come to stay. Hence, general awareness about this law should be encouraged so that our interests are better safeguarded in the international forum.

To impart knowledge about the basic legal framework of the WTO Agreement.
To clarify the concepts of international trade law under the WTO.
To guide through case laws how legal provisions are used and applied in disputes.
To help students analyse and evaluate the Agreements and case laws in the background of academic debates around them.
To guide students in research and writing on issues relating to international trade law.

Course Outcomes

Identify the foundational principles of the WTO law.
Explain the framework of the WTO Agreements and their concepts.
Critically analyse and evaluate WTO cases and the legal provisions.
Comment on trade-related issues from social, legal, and developmental perspectives.

Evaluation

Evaluation will be based on a written assignment for 50 marks. Students will have to submit a research paper on a given topic.

Credit

Mode

Virtual

Schedule

Monday to Friday

Time

(7:00 to 8:00) PM

Platform

Google Meet

Duration