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Course Overview

Course OutlineThe World Trade Organization (WTO) is (or was) one of the most important intergovernmental organisations in the world. It is now best known for the endless negotiations of its members, inability to reach consensus decisions, and the destruction of the Appellate Body. In June 2022, at the 12th Ministerial Conference members were able to eke out a partial Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, but has made no progress since.  Over the life of the WTO, the number and breadth of regional trade agreements (RTAs) has continued to grow. RTAs are often no longer regional and some do not even deal with market access. More recently, several narrow RTAs of dubious WTO legality have been agreed. 
While most people in most countries use or consume imported goods and services most days, surveys of public opinion in many countries show the public has become increasingly wary of the impact of international trade agreements. In some countries, the left and the right have become oddly aligned in their opposition.
The costs and benefits of trade have never been evenly spread throughout society. Trade agreements may adversely impact environmental, health, labour, and social inclusion policies. In addition to diverse impacts within countries, the institutions of international trade are often seen not to work to the equal advantage of all countries - especially the smaller developing countries. Economic nationalists and others see the WTO as impeding industrial development and facilitating some members in the geostrategic competition for control over high-tech industries. Trade and investment are increasingly seen to be in tension with national security interests. Many governments have responded to Covid by imposing numerous new barriers to international trade and investment and starting to rethink the wisdom of global supply chains. Some governments have sought to renegotiate or renege on trade agreements. Capturing the shift away from a rules-based system of international trade, President Trump has proclaimed that “trade wars are good, and easy to win”.
This course will examine selected issues central to the challenges facing the world trading system from different perspectives. 
The first semester will consist of seminars led by the lecturer, which will involve discussion of readings that address various topics such as the liberty/security trade-off, the normality/emergency dichotomy, deference, due process, and constitutionalism. The second semester will consist of seminar presentations by students on their chosen topics of research.
Syllabus
Topics may include:
♦ objectives and effects of international trade and trade agreements
♦ history and institutions of the WTO system
♦ role and treatment of developing countries
♦ regulation of import duties and non-tariff barriers
♦ trade remedies and disciplines on subsidies
♦ preferential trade agreements and the Belt and Road Initiative
♦ trade in services and electronic commerce
♦ trade wars and national security
♦ the interaction between trade and the environment, human rights and labour

Workload Expectations


Officially, an honours seminar is a 20-point course - that is 48 hours of class time. According to the University, as a general guide, the total workload for this course is 200 hours. However, given how an honours seminar operates, the reality is that the workload will be different depending on the time of year. In semester 1, you will likely need to spend the several hours per class in order to be properly prepared to participate in discussion. In semester 2, unless you are presenting that particular week, this will not be necessary. You should, however, be working on your research project steadily throughout the year.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite

Additional Advice on Prerequisites

To complete this course students must enrol in LAWHONS 754 A and B

Locations and Semesters Offered

Location
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Campus Experience & Campus Experience
Attendance at seminars is required to receive credit for certain components of the course. The activities for this course are not scheduled as normal weekly course. The seminars will be broken up into blocks - one 5-day block in the first semester, and one 2-day block in the second semester. 


Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources


Students may also be asked to access additional materials via the Internet or in the Davis Law Library. All students are expected to read and study all the assigned reading for each class.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

Course Details
Venue    Room 340, Level 3, Building 810, 1-11 Short Street

Dates
Semester 1 20241-7 May9 am - 5 pm

Semester 2 2024
19-20 September
9 am - 5 pm

Contact Details
Law School Student Services  Level 2, 1-1 Short St
postgradlaw@auckland.ac.nz

Lecturer Contact Details
Chris Noonan
Room 743, Level 7, 1-11 Short St
Email: c.noonan@auckland.ac.nz


Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type1234567

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Feedback will be considered in the delivery of the course in 2024.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.