Module: EU Trade Law & Policy

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	EU Trade Law & Policy
Module Code	LAW1068 (ITS: LG5070)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module explores central topics in EU trade law and policy, emphasising the interplay between various economic and political interests on the domestic, European and international levels. It considers the role of the EU as an actor at the World Trade Organization and in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs). The module examines: 1) EU trade negotiations both multilaterally and bilaterally; 2) the current trade rulebook to which the EU is subscribed at the WTO and under its RTAs; 3) trade disputes, dispute settlement and case law involving the EU at the WTO and under the EU’s RTAs; and 4) EU ‘trade defence instruments’ and recent EU initiatives including its carbon-border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), the EU’s newly proposed anti-coercion instrument (ACI), rules on foreign subsidies and procurement, co-ordinated FDI screening, ban on imports using forced labour etc. The module will look at these issues from legal, historical, political, and economic perspectives.

Learning Outcomes

1. 1. Describe EU trade policy with reference to WTO law, EU regional trade agreements, and other EU trade instruments.
2. 2. Identify and discuss the main bodies of the WTO and how the EU interacts with them with respect to the structure, functions and powers of each.
3. 3. Be able to interpret and apply key WTO and regional trade agreements, including advocating positions in hypothetical or past cases.
4. 4. Critically analyse EU trade policy and contemporary trade disputes in which the EU has been a participant.
5. 5. Assess key challenges for EU trade policy today.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Assessment Feedback	22	No Description
Assignment Completion	102	Preparing and submitting policy paper Preparing and submitting research paper
Assignment Completion	126	Preparatory Readings for Class, background readings for assessments Preparing and submitting 2-3 questions for weekly submission, 30 minutes Preparing for group presentation
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	20621	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Niall Moran	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Research Paper	n/a	80%	n/a
Presentation	Group presentation	10%	n/a
In Class Test	Formulating questions for class discussion	10%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

Peter Van den Bossche and Werner Zdouc: 2021, The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization: Text, Cases and Materials, 5th,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None