OL International Trade: Negotiations and Agreements

International Trade: Negotiation and Agreements typically consists of three modules designed to progressively introduce students into the complex world of trade negotiations, with focus on the World Trade Organization. Module 1 generally starts with supplying broad conceptual toolkits for understanding International Political Economy (IPE); an essential framework for an increasingly contested global economy. It typically follows this with an introductions the concept of Economic Diplomacy as a set of tools states use in order to advance their interests abroad - and at home. Then students may be introduced to theories of trade bargaining, as a subset of economic diplomacy. Module 2 typically follows with a shift in focus to the evolution of the WTO, and its current institutional arrangements. Broad consideration may also be given to the various trade instruments, from tariffs to intellectual property rights, inter alia, governed at the WTO level, and updates students on current debates over the future of the WTO. Module 3 generally sets students to utilising the toolkits and institutional knowledge developed in modules 1 and 2 in an intensive trade bargaining simulation. The course is typically delivered through a blended learning approach with teaching materials and online modules provided through the MyUni course page. In this mode, students are be expected to complete all online modules prior to the face-to-face sessions.