International Trade and Development Project

This project came to an end in December 2007.

The International Trade and Development Project, based at the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, was established at the University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia) in September 2004 to contribute to a better understanding of contemporary international trade and development issues.

As a university-based research initiative, the International Trade and Development Project played an important and unique role in providing original, non-partisan research into issues of systemic importance to the field. Accordingly, the Project emphasised research into fundamental issues of importance related to public international trade law, defined broadly to include almost any subject involving law as it relates to cross-border economic activity.  

The project's aim was to examine some of the more poignant issues facing Australia and the WTO, such as the review of the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding; Australia’s role in shaping international trade policy; the explosion of bilateral trade agreements and their effect on the multilateral system; policy issues in relation between international trade law and human rights; the challenge posed to developing countries in gaining and enforcing their benefits and rights; and the relationship between trade and environment.   The Project attempted to influence actual events and policy making in Australia and to provide important critiques of governmental and WTO policies, negotiations, or WTO dispute settlement tribunal decisions.

Training Seminars and Activities

Iin mid-2004 the Project Director delivered a two-day training course on the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU): Policy and Procedures to a group of visiting senior lawyers from China.

Areas of expertise associated with this Project included: