Why do countries trade? And given that they mutually benefit from trade, why are they setting up barriers to cross-border movements of goods, services, workers, and capital? These questions are at the core of every system of international trade and investment – regional and global, past and present. We will look at the most important theoretical perspectives and combine them with short case studies around the globe.

Despite being in crisis, the WTO is still the most important multilateral framework for international trade. We will look at the guiding principles of the organization first and then survey its most important agreements, focussing on how the WTO can help enforce claims of exporters against protectionist measures. We will also have a look on recent discussions about the reform and future role of the organization.

International investors nowadays benefit from a dense global network of bilateral investment treaties granting them minimum standards of protection in host countries. We will look at the concrete content of investors’ rights and the means to enforce them, using various examples from current arbitral jurisprudence. Also, we will focus on current activities to reform the international investment protection, and evaluate them both from an investor’s and economic policy perspective.

There are basically three questions about the export of goods. May the goods be exported or is there an export ban? If there is no prohibition, is delivery subject to authorisation? Finally, what formalities should be fulfilled if necessary? We will discuss these questions and find answers following an easy-to-use formula.

„If you think compliance is expensive – try non-compliance“ (former US Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty). After a brief introduction into the basics of compliance, we will have a closer look at the key concepts of customs compliance and the various steps required to implement a Customs Compliance Management System (C²MS^©). We will also understand the merits of a process-based approach to compliance.

The ICC Incoterms^© are the most important private rules in use for international and domestic trade. They have very recently been updated to accommodate new developments in global trade, e.g. the greater attention to security in the movement of goods. During the course we will deal with these innovations as well as with some general issues concerning the application and the choice of the “right” Incoterms^© rules.

Export sales agreements are a cornerstone of global trade. We will have an in depth look at some of their key components, including the correct choice of law and forum.  We will discuss some of the clauses frequently used in international contracts, such as force majeure, hardship and penalty/liquidated damages from a legal as well as from an economic point of view. Furthermore, participants will get to appreciate the Vienna Sales Convention (CISG) as a reference tool for drafting international sales contracts.