International Trade Law (LAWS70028)

Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

You’re viewing the 2025 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks

Overview

Availability(Quotas apply)
May
July
FeesLook 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

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Option 1: Take-home examination

  • 5000-6000 words
May offering: 27 -30 June 2025 | July offering: 22 -25 August 2025100%

Option 2: Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator

  • 6000 words
May offering: 23 July 2025 | July offering: 17 September 2025 100%
Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required.Throughout the teaching periodN/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 coordinatorRoss Becroft
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours34
    Total time commitment150 hours
    Pre teaching start date16 April 2025
    Pre teaching requirementsPlease refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences.
    Teaching period14 May 2025 to 20 May 2025
    Last self-enrol date21 April 2025
    Census date16 May 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail27 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 coordinatorMartin Davies
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours34
    Total time commitment150 hours
    Pre teaching start date 9 June 2025
    Pre teaching requirementsPlease 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 date13 June 2025
    Census date11 July 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail15 August 2025
    Assessment period ends19 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

Last updated: 4 March 2025