Expert Briefing: Tariffs and Trade: Legal Frameworks and Global Responses

Outline

In recent months, global trade tensions have intensified as U.S. President Donald Trump (re)introduced aggressive tariff policies as part of his economic strategy. These new tariffs are quickly reshaping global trade relationships. This session will explore what these tariffs involve, how key players—especially the European Union, UK and China—are responding, and what it all means for businesses, policymakers, and trade professionals.

The aim of the session is to give a clear understanding of what is happening and why, and to offer practical tools for planning and responding effectively.

This session is part of the BIICL annual Trade/WTO Law Series 

Content

The session will start by unpacking the Trump administration's trade approach, which emphasizes protecting American industries and bringing production back to the U.S. While this is presented as a pro-industry move, it also brings higher costs for U.S. businesses that rely on imported goods, and likely price increases for consumers. From the standpoint of international trade law, such measures raise serious questions—particularly regarding compliance with the multilateral trade rules in the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO). For trading partners like the EU, the impact is significant—especially as supply chains are disrupted and new costs are added.

The session will also cover how global partners are reacting and the extent to which these responses are compatible with or a disruption of the existing frameworks and agreements - multilateral trade rules or regional trade agreements. The EU, for example, is preparing both retaliatory tariffs and formal complaints through the WTO. Diplomatic efforts are also ongoing behind the scenes. We will explore these responses and look at possible future scenarios.

Finally, we will focus on what businesses can do in this changing environment. From rethinking supply chains to finding new sourcing options and engaging in policy discussions, companies need to stay flexible and proactive. Risk management strategies will also be discussed, which can help reduce exposure and prepare for what's ahead.

Learning objectives

By the end of this training session, participants will be able to:

• Understand key U.S. tariff policies: Explain the goals and structure of the Trump administration's trade measures, including their intended economic impact and legal implications under international trade law.
• Assess global reactions to U.S. trade policies: Identify how major trading partners such as the EU, UK, and China are responding, and evaluate whether their responses align with WTO rules and regional agreements.
• Analyse impacts on business and trade systems: Understand how new tariffs affect supply chains, trade flows, business costs, and consumer pricing across sectors and regions.
• Explore strategic responses for stakeholders: Discuss practical strategies for companies & policymakers—such as supply chain adaptation, legal challenges, or diplomatic efforts—to stay resilient and compliant. Discuss possible scenarios to prepare for trade uncertainty and mitigate potential disruptions.

  
Who is the session for?

The interactive session is designed for civil servants, business leaders, legal advisors and practitioners, consultants, academics, and anyone working in sectors affected by international trade.

Format

This is a hybrid training session, being offered in person at the BIICL office in Russell Square, London and virtually via Zoom.

Leaders

• Dr Julinda Beqiraj, Maurice Wohl Senior Fellow in European Law, BIICL
  
• Dr Jean-Pierre Gauci, Arthur Watts Senior Research Fellow in Public International Law and Director of Teaching and Training, BIICL
  

Tutors

John Clarke has nearly 40 years of experience in trade diplomacy, John has held senior roles including Director for International Affairs at the European Commission and Head of the EU Delegation to the WTO and UN in Geneva. He has led major trade negotiations with the US, China, India, ASEAN, and others, and is a trusted expert in trade policy, diplomacy, and international affairs.

John Clarke is an Honorary Senior Fellow at BIICL. He contributes regularly to global publications such as the Financial Times, Byline Times, Tribune of India, and Modern Diplomacy. He is a Fellow at Maastricht University's Institute for Globalisation and the Royal Asiatic Society, and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of International Trade Law and Regulation.

Prof. Lorand Bartels MBE is a leading authority in international trade law, Professor of International Law at the University of Cambridge, and counsel at Freshfields. He advises governments, including the UK, and private clients on WTO law, FTAs, digital trade, services, subsidies, and national security.

Lorand is the Chair of the UK Trade and Agriculture Commission, an independent body which advises the government and parliament on how newly signed UK FTAs relate to the UK's laws on animal welfare, animal and plant health, and the environment. He also delivers FTA negotiations training through expert and practitioner level courses on trade law for trade negotiators across all UK government departments and for Australian government officials.

Dr Mona Paulsen is an Assistant Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science Law School. An expert in international economic law, Dr Paulsen researches and writes on economic security, international trade and investment law, and the law and politics of the World Trade Organization (WTO). She is regularly called upon to speak about international trade law, industrial policies, the intersection of trade and national security, and WTO reform. Dr Paulsen also contributes to the United Kingdom's trade policies, engaging with the Department of Business & Trade and the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office.

Training scholarships

We are delighted to be able to offer scholarships designed to enable individuals from communities currently under-represented in the legal field to access our world-class courses and benefit from unparalleled learning experiences.

Scholarships are aimed at 3 categories: individuals from communities and backgrounds that are under-represented in the legal field in the UK and abroad; individuals who have recently received a needs-based bursary from their university or further-education college and representatives from Small Charities, NGOs, and Community-Based Organisations.

Applications for training scholarships must be received at least three weeks ahead of the course start date (30 May 2025). Applications must be made via the online form and applications received via any other means will not be considered.

Find out more and apply for a scholarship

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