Students

LAWS5010 – Trade Law

2021 – Session 2, Special circumstances

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Shawkat Alam
Contact via 02-98508890
6 First Walk, room 534
12-1 Wednesdays or by appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp in LAW or LAWS units
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The unit introduces students to the principal areas of international trade law and policy, and in particular examines the legal regime governing the international exchange of goods, services, and intellectual property under the WTO. Topics include the WTO dispute settlement system; rules on non-discrimination; rules on market access; rules on unfair trade; preferential trade agreements.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Understand various multilateral trade agreements and other legal principles embedded in international trade.
  • ULO2: Analyse how international trade law impacts on national trading policy and practice, and confronts controversial and pressing issues of trade and finance in the contemporary era of economic globalisation.
  • ULO3: Understand the way economic, political and ethical values shape the development of international regulation and relevant standards.
  • ULO4: Apply multilateral trade agreements, case law, and soft law to resolve legal problems in international trade law.

General Assessment Information

 

Quizzes

The quizzes comprise multiple-choice questions that are on the content of the compulsory material (i.e. lectures, tutorials/webinars and textbook readings) covered up to the point of the quiz. Both quizzes are equally weighted. You have 30 minutes to answer 6 multiple-choice questions. Each quiz can be taken any time between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm on the respective test dates.

Quiz 1 tests you on the material covered in Weeks 1-4. Quiz 2 tests you on the material covered in Weeks 5-11.

 

Take-Home Exam

The take-home exam involves a shorter hypothetical problem question. The take-home exam is released on September 14 at 9 am and is due by 12 pm on the same day. Late submissions will not be accepted. More information about the take-home exam will be provided closer to the date. 

 

Research Essay

Students will be required to write a research essay focusing on aspects of the unit content. Students will be provided a list of topics for the research essay in due course.

 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participatory tasks 20% No 17:30 18/8/2021 and 17:30 2/11/2021
Take-Home Exam 30% No 12:00 14/9/2021
Research Essay 50% No 23:30 03/11/2021

Participatory tasks

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: 17:30 18/8/2021 and 17:30 2/11/2021
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will be required to demonstrate engagement and understanding of the unit materials through activities such as quizzes, discussions, debates and problem solving activities.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand various multilateral trade agreements and other legal principles embedded in international trade.
  • Analyse how international trade law impacts on national trading policy and practice, and confronts controversial and pressing issues of trade and finance in the contemporary era of economic globalisation.
  • Understand the way economic, political and ethical values shape the development of international regulation and relevant standards.

Take-Home Exam

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: 12:00 14/9/2021
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will be required to solve a hypothetical problem question.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand various multilateral trade agreements and other legal principles embedded in international trade.
  • Analyse how international trade law impacts on national trading policy and practice, and confronts controversial and pressing issues of trade and finance in the contemporary era of economic globalisation.
  • Apply multilateral trade agreements, case law, and soft law to resolve legal problems in international trade law.

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 41 hours
Due: 23:30 03/11/2021
Weighting: 50%

 

Students will be required to write a research essay focusing on aspects of the unit content

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand various multilateral trade agreements and other legal principles embedded in international trade.
  • Analyse how international trade law impacts on national trading policy and practice, and confronts controversial and pressing issues of trade and finance in the contemporary era of economic globalisation.
  • Apply multilateral trade agreements, case law, and soft law to resolve legal problems in international trade law.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Mandatory textbook: 

Peter van den Bossche and Werner Zdouc, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization - Text, Cases and Materials (4th edn, 2017, Cambridge University Press)

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
12/07/2021 Research Essay Due Date 3 Nov 2021

Unit information based on version 2021.05 of the Handbook