International Trade Law (LAWS70028)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
May
Teaching staff:
Ross Becroft (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office.
July
Teaching staff:
Martin Davies (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office.
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | May July |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
The rules governing international trade and investment are of great importance to almost every country in the world. Many legal relationships are necessary for goods to be traded from one country to another and for parties in one country to invest in another, and they are all predictably flavoured by the issues that arise when different legal systems interact. This subject gives an overview of the private international law issues that arise when goods are traded from one country to another, and considers the public international law issues that arise when governments try to influence the subject of international trade as well as the international and regional framework that exists for this purpose. The goal of the subject is to examine the international legal frameworks governing trade.
Indicative list of principal topics:
- Commercial trading relationships
- International sale contracts and the law governing them
- Framework agreements
- Payment mechanisms
- The impact of 2020s technology (trade in data, blockchain verification, etc)
- Long-term trading relationships
- Antitrust/pro-competitive concerns about exclusive distribution arrangements
- Parallel importing in relation to products protected by intellectual property rights
- Compulsory licensing
- GATT/WTO
- The framework as designed, including dispute settlement
- The framework in the 2020s, including (particularly) dispute settlement
- The impact of regional trade agreements and bilateral free trade agreements on the multilateral ‘rules-based’ trading system
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject should be able to:
- Examine and explain the legal frameworks governing trade in goods
- Explain how international conventions, treaties and intergovernmental agreements promote, regulate and restrain trade in goods
- Analyse the various ways in which government regulation and policy may affect international commercial transactions
- Analyse and explain increasing trend towards integration and cooperation in the area of trade, particularly in the Asia Pacific region
- Analyse the ways in which the foundational assumptions of existing legal models of international trade relationships need to be modified to take account of technological developments affecting trade in the 2020s.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into a relevant Melbourne Law Masters program
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50094 | International Commercial Law & Disputes | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are taught at an advanced graduate level and requires a thorough background in common law. While efforts are made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, teaching and assessment activities are designed to give an advanced and integrated understanding of the discipline of law for legal practitioners, learners and researchers.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Option 1: Take-home examination
| May offering: 27 -30 June 2025 | July offering: 22 -25 August 2025 | 100% |
Option 2: Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
| May offering: 23 July 2025 | July offering: 17 September 2025 | 100% |
Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Students must choose assessment from the options listed above. If an option contains parts, all parts must be completed if that option is chosen.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- May
Principal coordinator Ross Becroft Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 16 April 2025 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 14 May 2025 to 20 May 2025 Last self-enrol date 21 April 2025 Census date 16 May 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 27 June 2025 Assessment period ends 1 August 2025 May contact information
Teaching staff:
Ross Becroft (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office.
- July
Principal coordinator Martin Davies Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 9 June 2025 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 7 July 2025 to 11 July 2025 Last self-enrol date 13 June 2025 Census date 11 July 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 15 August 2025 Assessment period ends 19 September 2025 July contact information
Teaching staff:
Martin Davies (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office.
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment, subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Commercial Law Course Master of Laws Course Graduate Diploma in International Law Course Graduate Diploma in Laws Course Graduate Diploma in International Economic Law Course Master of Public and International Law Course Master of Law and Development Course Juris Doctor - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If subject coordinator approval is required, or for further information about Community Access Program study, please contact us
(enquiries for current students | enquiries for prospective students).
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025