Short Course: International Trade Law

Course Details

This course offers a comprehensive and practice-oriented overview of International Trade Law, combining the normative framework with contemporary trade policy debates and negotiation practice. It provides participants with a thorough grounding in the multilateral trading system while critically engaging with geopolitical, economic, and regulatory developments shaping global trade governance.

Participants will develop a solid understanding of the legal framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), including the foundational rules of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), alongside other key WTO agreements and beyond. The course also situates trade law within broader policy discussions, including strategic autonomy, tariff measures, dispute settlement reform, free trade agreements, and the future of the WTO.

By the end of the course participants will:

• Understand the foundations of International Trade Law, including the WTO system and core GATT principles.
• Understand WTO dispute settlement and key reform debates.
• Gain critical insight into the structure and evolving scope of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
• Develop practical knowledge of tariff policy, trade negotiations, and regulatory trade barriers.
• Develop a clear understanding of EU-UK trade relations post-Brexit, including the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), alongside broader issues such as sustainability and trade remedies.
  

 
Course topics:

• Introduction to International Trade Law
  Dr. Julinda Beqiraj, Maurice Wohl Senior Fellow in European Law, BIICL
  
• Trade Policy in Context
  Amb. John Clarke, Former Head of EU Delegation to WTO
  
• WTO Dispute Settlement
  Dr. Julinda Beqiraj, Maurice Wohl Senior Fellow in European Law, BIICL
  
• Free Trade Agreements and the Future of the WTO
  Amb. John Clarke, Former Head of EU Delegation to WTO
  
• Tariffs in Trade Law and Policy
  Amb. John Clarke, Former Head of EU Delegation to WTO
  
• UK-EU Trade Relations
  David Henig, Director, European Centre for International Political Economy 
  
• Trade, Environment and Sustainability
  Tutor TBC
• Trade in Services and Digital Trade
  Prof. Dr. Cristina Vanberghen, Head of Diplomatic Sector, Faculty of International Relations, YSU, and Senior Expert/Member of AI Alliance, European Commission, McGill University's Center for Intellectual Property Policy, former EUI, Florence
• Trade, Development and Labour Standards
  Dr Jean-Pierre Gauci, Senior Research Fellow in Public International Law and Director of Teaching and Training, BIICL and Georgia Greville, Research Fellow in Labour Exploitation and Human Rights, BIICL
  
• Non-Tariff Barriers and Regulatory Measures
  Dr. Lucian Cernat, European Commission, DG TRADE, Head of Unit - Trade in Goods, Technical Barriers to Trade, Customs and Origin
  

Download the Programme 

Course leader

Dr Julinda Beqiraj, Maurice Wohl Senior Fellow in European Law, Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, British Institute of International and Comparative Law.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for professionals and students seeking a rigorous, practice-informed understanding of international trade law including those working in or aspiring to roles within government and diplomatic services, international organisations, legal practice and advisory services, trade compliance and corporate strategy, NGOs and policy think tanks, as well as academia and postgraduate study.

Course format

The course consists of 10 online sessions delivered via Zoom. Each session combines doctrinal analysis, case studies, policy discussion, and practical exercises. Participants will engage directly with tutors and peers through interactive discussion and scenario-based learning.

Testimonials from Past Attendees

"A very meaningful course, well thought-of structure, good quality resource persons, very engaging and professionally delivered. My compliments to BIICL."
"The course was very interactive and insightful."
"I recommended this course to my other colleagues who work on WTO issues."

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 (27 March 2026). Applications must be made via the online form and applications received via any other means will not be considered.

Find out more about training scholarships 

Join in the conversation @biicl.bsky.social #BIICLTraining