Studies in Global Economic Law / Studien zum globalen Wirtschaftsrecht / Etudes en droit économique mondial – serie

Since the beginnings of international law, the law of the sea has been of paramount importance for international trade. Yet this area of law and international trade regulations have developed as two distinct areas with little interface with each other. As the GATT/WTO emerged in parallel to the LOS Convention since the 1970s, both bodies have made extensive efforts in international treaty making. However, the relationship between trade regulations and the law of the sea has hardly been explored. The author examines some key aspects of this relationship, in particular port entry, access to cargo in coastal shipping (cabotage) and access to cargo in international shipping. The inclusion of services in WTO law will render this relationship of great importance in the future as the agreement extensively covers maritime transport. It is just a matter of time until the current exclusion of maritime transport under special exemptions will be reviewed in future negotiations. The book provides the background and a normative basis for approaching some of the problems which members of the WTO will have to address in coming years. It also deals briefly with the problem of choice of law and competing jurisdictions between trade law and maritime law.

With increasingly globalised markets, changing consumer preferences and the steady development of technologies influencing food trade flows, safety and quality concerns have triggered the development of new forms of global (food) governance. Since its creation in 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has succeeded in providing a multilateral legal framework for the development of regulatory practices through its multiple agreements. Similarly, the continuing importance of regional and bilateral trade agreements, such as in the European Union and in Switzerland, has enhanced WTO’s accomplishments through a comprehensive and dynamic set of international rules and standards for trade. However, the changing trends in the production and distribution of food products have questioned the effectiveness of the regulatory status quo. This book addresses the legal aspects of the current global architecture for food governance, particularly with regard to the role of international standards. In doing so, this work attempts at mapping the implications of domestic food measures in international trade law.

Non-violation complaints are a particular feature of the WTO legal order. Ever since the GATT came into force, non-violation complaints, based upon the tradition of bilateral US Trade Agreements, have puzzled scholars and practitioners alike. This book provides an in-depth analysis of panel practice and theory on the subject. It offers a new approach to reading and interpreting non-violation within contemporary international law. The reader will find not only a comprehensive analysis but also a new theory on non-violation complaints, based upon international liability. The book will be of help to all dealing with the complexities of WTO law and litigation and assist them in understanding the functioning of the WTO.

This book provides a comprehensive study of consultation procedures within the dispute settlement system of the World Trade Organization. It offers in-depth analysis of diplomatic practices relating to what has been a poorly explored and researched part of the Dispute Settlement Understanding. Findings are supported by interviews with representatives of several Member States. The author analyses its relationship to panel proceedings and uses comparative studies with other parts of international law. The study particularly focuses on a Chinese perspective which has placed strong emphasis upon consultation and negotiated settlements. With its theoretical and practical insights, the book will be of equal use to scholars, diplomats and government officials alike.