EU Trade policy

Teacher(s)

Cabrita Teresa; Maurer Andreas;

Language

English

Main themes

The first part of this course focuses on the legal dimension of EU trade policy. It addresses the historical and legal processes of international and EU trade liberalisation, the role of the EU in the international trading system (WTO), and the rules, principles and institutional practices governing the exercise of trade competence by the EU. It further introduces the topic of EU trade defence and the suspension or termination of EU trade agreements for breaches of human rights.
The second part of the course focuses more on the political dimensions of EU trade policy, its specific tools and instruments, the (inter-)institutional and procedural architectures, the trade policy of the EU within the multilateral trading system (such as WTO or international commodity organisations), the bilateral trade relations of the EU, as well as political debates regarding its unilateral trade policy instruments. Based on specific examples (CETA, EU-Mercosur, EU-Vietnam FTA, etc.), we will also discuss the interlinkages between internal and external trade policy instruments and cooperation between governmental, parliamentary, and civil society actors within the framework of the respective agreements.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Understand the historical, legal, and political processes of international and EU trade liberalisation, Understand the specificity of the EU’s trade policy (policy-making process, specific instruments, trade strategies),                                                                                        Explain and apply key principles and rules governing the exercise of EU trade competence and the conclusion, suspension and termination of international trade agreements by the EU, Understand the principles governing the WTO system, international dispute settlement, and the role of the EU therein, Discuss the legal and policy aspects surrounding different EU trade defence measures, Deploy theoretical tools to analyse international trade and foreign direct investment, Critically reflect on the EU’s trade relations at the multilateral and bilateral levels and the concept of ‘open strategic autonomy’ in EU trade policy, and Write and critically discuss policy briefs and short academic essays on current EU trade policy topics.

Evaluation methods

The evaluation for this course is based on the presentation and discussion of short essays and related assignments throughout the course (50% of the grade) and on a written exam at the end of the course (50% of the grade). The grades for the in-course assignments will carry over to the August session (resit).
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems is not encouraged in this course. If, however, AI systems are used in the production of course assignments, students are required to submit a print-screen or transcription of the exchange had with the chosen AI system(s), together with a paragraph explaining the advantages and disadvantages found in the use of this method. AI must not, in any case, be used for the development of the argumentative portion of the course assignments.

Faculty or entity

> IEEB