Rodrigo Polanco – författare

The Concept Design of a 21st Century Preferential Trade Agreement describes the current status and possible future evolution of trade agreements. The individual contributions provide fine-grained analyses of the various challenges trade agreements face and how these differ across countries. The book brings together leading researchers from international law and international relations to provide conceptual and empirical insights to inform the ongoing reform debates. By taking stock of scholarly advances, the book further aims at stimulating cross-fertilization in the study of trade agreements in the field of international economic law. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

The approach of Latin American countries to preferential trade agreements (PTAs) is a fascinating topic. There is a rich history of policymakers using PTAs to pursue different economic and political models of integration. What really stands out is the diversity of approaches and attitudes to the use of PTAs. While some countries have been rule-makers and have made innovative attempts to introduce new issues, others have been reluctant to use PTAs. In response to the growing interest in and politicisation of PTAs in the wider public -  including renewed consideration of 'with whom to trade' - this book brings together scholars from inside and outside Latin America to address the past, present, and future challenges associated with PTAs. The contributions, from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, offer new insights into issues related to the design, diffusion, and impact of PTAs. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.

This book advances the idea that in order to address some of the criticisms against investor-state dispute settlement, a large majority of states have taken a 'normative' strategy, negotiating or amending investment treaties with provisions that potentially give more control and greater involvement to the contracting parties, and notably the home state. This is particularly true of agreements concluded in the past fifteen years. At the same time, there is a potential revival of the 'remnants' of diplomatic protection that are embedded in investment treaties since the beginning of the system. But why is the home state being brought back into a domain from which it was expressly excluded several decades ago? Why would a home state be interested in intervening in these conflicts? Is this 'new' role of the home state in foreign investment disputes a 'return' to diplomatic protection of its nationals, or are we witnessing something different?

The post-Cold War era has seen an unprecedented move towards more legalization in international cooperation and a growth of third-party dispute settlement systems. WTO panels, the Appellate Body and investor-state dispute settlement cases have received increasing attention beyond the core trade and investment constituencies within governments. Scrutiny by business, civil society, academia, and trade and investment experts has been on the rise. This book asks whether we observe a transformation or a demise of existing institutions and mechanisms to adjudicate disputes over trade or investment. It makes a contribution to the question in which direction international economic dispute settlement is heading in times of change, uncertainty and increasing economic nationalism. In order to do so, it brings together chapters written by leading researchers and experts in law and political science to address the challenges of settling disputes in the global economy and to sketch possible scenarios ahead of us.

This open access book brings together some of the most eminent scholars of international trade to celebrate the scholarly, diplomatic, and institution-building achievements of Thomas Cottier, Professor Emeritus of International Economic Law at the University of Bern and founder of the World Trade Institute. Over his half-century career, Thomas Cottier has promoted the development of international trade law by shaping our understanding of how multiple layers of law interact to form a global legal system. While multilateral trade law is the “melody” of the system, it is made fuller by a host of regional and national layers of harmonising – and sometimes discordant – legal rules. Covering both general trade policy and the economic relations between Switzerland and the EU, the chapters examine Thomas Cottier’s fundamental belief in the necessity of studying the interaction of every level of governance – local, national, and international – when considering the policies of economic exchange between countries, as well as his cosmopolitan belief in the need to foster a global community dedicated to bettering the lives of individuals around the world. The special relationship between the EU and Switzerland is addressed, honouring Professor Cottier’s dedication to the political debates within Switzerland on the extent to which the country should participate in the European project, exemplifying the themes of multilayered governance and the common concerns of all people. The book’s contributors comprise leading scholars and practitioners who have worked closely with, or whose work and professional journeys have been largely influenced by, Thomas Cottier.The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

This open access book brings together some of the most eminent scholars of international trade to celebrate the scholarly, diplomatic, and institution-building achievements of Thomas Cottier, Professor Emeritus of International Economic Law at the University of Bern and founder of the World Trade Institute. Over his half-century career, Thomas Cottier has promoted the development of international trade law by shaping our understanding of how multiple layers of law interact to form a global legal system. While multilateral trade law is the “melody” of the system, it is made fuller by a host of regional and national layers of harmonising – and sometimes discordant – legal rules. Covering both general trade policy and the economic relations between Switzerland and the EU, the chapters examine Thomas Cottier’s fundamental belief in the necessity of studying the interaction of every level of governance – local, national, and international – when considering the policies of economic exchange between countries, as well as his cosmopolitan belief in the need to foster a global community dedicated to bettering the lives of individuals around the world. The special relationship between the EU and Switzerland is addressed, honouring Professor Cottier’s dedication to the political debates within Switzerland on the extent to which the country should participate in the European project, exemplifying the themes of multilayered governance and the common concerns of all people. The book’s contributors comprise leading scholars and practitioners who have worked closely with, or whose work and professional journeys have been largely influenced by, Thomas Cottier.The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

As private actors increasingly enter the space sector, longstanding questions about the regulation of outer space take on new urgency.Is the existing international legal framework sufficient to govern this shift, or will national laws and state-supported commercial initiatives create regulatory fragmentation? What responsibilities do states and private entities share in this evolving domain? Can trade, investment, and tax laws developed for earthbound commerce be extended to space-based activities?Regulating Space-Based Commerce brings together leading voices from both legal and economic disciplines to explore these pressing questions. Moving beyond traditional space law, the book offers a fresh, external perspective that recognises the growing relevance of non-space-specific frameworks—such as trade, taxation, and investment—in regulating commercial activity beyond Earth.The book is structured around three central themes: space resource management, the governance of space as a global commons, and the legal and regulatory challenges posed by security and private enterprise. The book provides a multi-angled platform, allowing readers to engage with each issue from several expert viewpoints.With contributions from both established and emerging scholars, the book provides a timely, thought-provoking entry point into the interdisciplinary challenges shaping the future of space governance. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in the legal and economic architecture of space-based commerce.