B6203 - International Trade and Business Law from an EU Perspective

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to provide students with the analytical skills required to assess, evaluate and explain the rules and principles governing international trade and business operations from an EU perspective. Moreover, the course strives to support participants in developing a solid knowledge of the fundamentals of transnational business transactions and activities in the light of the international and EU legal framework. At the end of the course, students will be able to critically assess the legal and policy issues arising out the EU internal market, to navigate through the most compelling challenges confronting the multilateral trading system, and to deal with the legal issues arising out of crossborder business transactions.

Course contents

The first part of the course will provide students with an in-depth introduction to the EU internal market and its external aspects.

The second part of the course will examine and investigate the multilateral trading system’s legal foundations and will subsequently turn on the rules and principles of the law of the World Trade Organization.

The third part of the course will address the fundamentals of European business law in an international setting. Subjects covered will be jurisdiction and choice of law in civil and commercial matters, the impact of the EU law on commercial arbitration, EU competition law, distribution of products and vertical agreements in EU Law and consumer protection in EU law.

Readings/Bibliography

Catherine Barnard, The Substantive Law of the EU: The Four Freedoms (7th edn, Oxford University Press, 2022): selected topics.

Michael J. Trebilcock, Joel Trachtman, Henry Braker, Advanced Introduction to International Trade Law (2nd edn, Elgar, 2020): selected topics.

Other materials and relevant cases will be provided during the course. Assignments for classes will be posted on a weekly basis.

Teaching methods

The class format will combine lecture-style introductions to a particular topic and (subsequent) discussions. Still, a Socratic method will primarily be adopted, and students are therefore expected to prepare for classes by reading in advance the relevant chapter of the textbook adopted and/or the cases and the materials assigned and to participate in class discussions on a regular basis.

Assessment methods

Evaluation will be based on an in-class final exam (written or oral upon choice of the students in the summer session and only oral in the following sessions), aimed at verifying the level of understanding of the issues dealt with during the course.

The written exam will consist of 11 multiple-choice questions and 2 open-ended essay questions. The grade will be calculated according to the formula detailed below: 1) multiple choice questions: 2 points for every correct answer, 0,5 points will be deducted for any wrong/missing answer; 2) open-ended essay questions: max 8 points.

Conversely, at the oral exam students will be asked three questions about different topics covered in class; each answer will be graded on a 0-10 scale.

Erasmus students that have regularly attended classes are granted the possibility to write an essay on a topic assigned by the instructor.

Teaching tools

Teaching materials (slides, legal texts, decisions, documents, assignments) will be made available on Virtuale. Weekly wrap-ups will be also available online.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Ragno