Students
LAWS8089 – International Trade Law
2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Shawkat Alam
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to LLM or MIntTrdeComLaw or (Admission to JD and LAWS600 or LAWS8001)
|
| 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: Critically appraise the scope of 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: Evaluate 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
All written assessments submitted electronically must be submitted through the link provided in iLearn. This unit will utilise Turnitin plagiarism detection software. Students should carefully check that they submit the correct file for an assessment, as re-submissions will not be accepted after the due date and time, including instances where students upload an incorrect file in error.
The design, moderation and feedback of all assessments is in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Procedure (link provided under ‘Policies and Procedures’ below).
Assessment Overview
Assessment 1 – Professional Skills Due: Ongoing | Weighting: 20% Students are expected to attend all scheduled tutorials fully prepared, having completed the prescribed readings and ready to participate in active discussion. This assessment fosters the development of communication, critical engagement, and analytical thinking through regular interaction with peers and teaching staff.
Assessment 2 – Take-Home Exam Date: 30 September 2025, 10:00–13:00 | Weighting: 30% This timed assessment will consist of a hypothetical problem-solving question, similar to those covered in tutorials, along with several short-answer questions. The total word count is approximately 1,500 words.
Assessment 3 – Research Essay Due: 28 October 2025 | Weighting: 50% Students are required to submit a research essay that responds to a set question based on course content. Detailed instructions, including the essay question and assessment criteria, will be provided on iLearn.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take home exam | 30% | No | 30/09/2025 |
| Professional Skills | 20% | No | Ongoing |
| Research Essay | 50% | No | 28/10/2025 |
Take home exam
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: 30/09/2025
Weighting: 30%
The take-home exam will include multiple-choice questions, short answer theoretical questions, and/or problem questions on a range of topics covered in this unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically appraise the scope of 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.
- Evaluate the way economic, political and ethical values shape the development of international regulation and relevant standards.
- Apply multilateral trade agreements, case law, and soft law to resolve legal problems in international trade law.
Professional Skills
Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
Students will develop essential legal professional skills through structured classroom activities such as oral advocacy, critical reasoning, strategic problem-solving, collaborative work, team leadership, mooting, simulated client consultations, legal presentations or demonstrations, doctrinal analysis and problem solving, and/or collaborative legal research. These activities are designed to develop students’ professional capabilities including capacity to communicate legal concepts clearly and engage professionally with diverse audiences in diverse contexts.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically appraise the scope of 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.
- Evaluate the way economic, political and ethical values shape the development of international regulation and relevant standards.
- 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: 27 hours
Due: 28/10/2025
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:
- Critically appraise the scope of 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.
- Evaluate the way economic, political and ethical values shape the development of international regulation and relevant standards.
- 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
Delivery
Lectures: one weekly pre-recorded lecture, avalilable in echo360 on iLearn.
Tutorials: one weekly in person/online tutorial, according to details available in the academic timetable and iLearn.
Resources
The required textbook is:
Peter van den Bossche and Werner Zdouc, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization - Text, Cases and Materials (5th edn, 2022, Cambridge University Press).
Students can purchase these textbooks online from online resellers such as Booktopia, Amazon and Zookal.
Additional readings will be accessible through iLearn.
Students require access to a computer, internet with decent speed and a secure/reliable server. The iLearn page contains all Unit requirements and a weekly schedule for teaching, readings and tutorials. Information about all assessment tasks is also available on iLearn.
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:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Academic Integrity
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success
Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
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.
Unit information based on version 2025.02 of the Handbook