Intl Trade PolicyNegotiations

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

International trade policy has recently experienced some of its most significant changes since the beginning of the post-WWII era. Debate over modern trade policy, and the impact of globalization more generally, has always been an element of domestic political and economic discourse. However, the policies and positions put in place under the Trump Administration and continued or evolved under the Biden Administration potentially signal a significant and lasting change of direction of U.S. domestic consensus on international trade public policy. In the face of global economic challenges including the COVID pandemic, climate change, supply chain disruptions and the return of inflation in advanced economies, the role of trade policy, national security, and multilateral cooperation to address these challenges is being reexamined. This class will examine modern trade policy in light of these questions and critiques of globalization’s impact on domestic economies, workers and industries. How is U.S. trade policy evolving regarding bilateral and multilateral trade? How have other trade partners, such as China and the European Union, reacted to changes in U.S. trade policy? Will the WTO continue to be an effective and relevant body for managing multilateral trade? International trade agreements have evolved from relatively simple agreements into comprehensive treaties that cover most aspects of economic relations between countries—such as trade in goods, services, investment, intellectual property, food standards, labor, and the environment. Consequently, trade agreements are often politically contentious and have become lightning rods for a wide-range of concerns about globalization. Understanding how trade agreements work and how they have been critiqued has perhaps never been more relevant. International Trade Policy and Negotiations will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of modern international trade policy-making, trade agreements and trade negotiations. The class will explore countries’ motives for negotiating trade agreements; the evolution of these agreements at a multilateral, regional and bilateral level; the typical structure of trade agreements; the range of diverse areas they cover; and the domestic policy debates around trade. The class will also enhance students’ practical skills in negotiating and conveying complex information through concise and effective writing.