Introduction to International Economic Law

Introduction to the unit 2

1. Nature of International Economic Law 2

1.1 Nature of International Economic Law 2

1.2 Multiple choice questions 3

2. The Bretton Woods Agreement 5

2.1 The Bretton Woods Agreement 5

2.2 Multiple choice questions 6

3. The Three Regulatory Pillars of the World Economic Order 8

3.1 The Three Regulatory Pillars of the World Economic Order 8

3.2 Multiple choice questions 9

4. Regional Economic Law Organisations 9

4.1 Regional Economic Law Organisations 9

4.2 Multiple choice questions 11

Do this 12

Try this 12

Acknowledgements 12

Introduction to the unit

This unit is an introduction to the subject of International Economic Law. It includes a historical development of the subject and refers to the principal organisations related to International Economic Law.

The purpose of this unit is to increase:

· Familiarisation with the historical development and purpose of the most prominent institutions regulating international economics.

1. Nature of International Economic Law

1.1 Nature of International Economic Law

International Economic Law deals with the regulation of economic affairs between two or more different States. This is its main function. If such regulation applies to two States only, we then speak of bilateral economic regulation. If, on the other hand, such regulation applies to more than two States, we speak of multilateral economic regulation.

Beyond this, International Economic Law is seen to increasingly deal with the regulation of traders from different countries. As a result, International Economic Law has a dual character nowadays, as it deals both with the regulation of economic relations of different States but also with the regulation of traders from different countries.

Activity 1

This activity should take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Click on the tabs in the animation to see the difference between bilateral economic regulation and multilateral economic regulation

An animation that shows the difference between bilateral economic regulation and multilateral economic regulation.

Flash content unavailable

International Economic Law deals with two kinds of legal instruments: soft law instruments and hard law instruments. Hard law instruments create obligations being binding and enforceable in nature, whereas soft law instruments do not create obligations and are non-binding and generally unenforceable in nature.

Activity 2

This activity should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

An animation that shows the difference between hard and soft law instruments.

Flash content unavailable

Answer

This animation shows that:

· A hard law instrument is for instance a binding provision such as the competition provisions of EU law.

· A soft law instrument is a non-binding instrument which may have to be followed such as the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund.

End of answer

1.2 Multiple choice questions

Now test your understanding of what this section has covered so far.

The following multiple choice questions should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Question 1

What is the subject matter of International Economic Law in the main?

(a) Economic relations between States

(b) Economic relations between traders of different States

(d) Economic relations between different regional trade blocks

Answer

The subject matter of International Economic Law in the main is:

(a) Economic relations between States

End of answer

Question 2

International Economic regulation can be concerned with two States only. It can also be concerned with many States. What are the terms to describe these two types of regulation?

(a) Bilateral and multilateral economic regulation

(b) Regional and global trade block

(d) Unipolar and multipolar trade affairs

Answer

The correct terms to describe International Economic regulation between two States and between many States are:

(a) Bilateral and multilateral economic regulation

End of answer

Question 3

International Economic Law is increasingly seen to be having a dual character. This character relates to:

(a) Traders and trade blocks

(b) Traders and States

(d) Traders and banks

Answer

International Economic Law is increasingly seen to be having a dual character, relating to:

(b) Traders and States

End of answer

Question 4

Depending on the level of force behind an International Economic Law instrument, an instrument as such can be:

(a) Hard or soft law

(b) Multilateral or bilateral agreement

(d) Regional or global law

Answer

Depending on the level of force behind an International Economic Law instrument, an instrument as such can be:

(a) Hard or soft law

End of answer

2. The Bretton Woods Agreement

2.1 The Bretton Woods Agreement

The foundations for the organisations relating to modern International Economic Law were laid in 1944 with the Bretton Woods Agreement. The Agreement was concluded by 44 Allied States.

The Bretton Woods Agreement grew out of the desire to eradicate the causes that led to the Second World War, the ultimate goal being the creation of a new world economic order.

Activity 3

You should expect to spend approximately 10 minutes on this activity.

Explore the map using your mouse to see which countries were involved in the Bretton Woods Agreement.

An interactive world map that show the countries which were involved in the Bretton Woods agrement.

Flash content unavailable

Answer

The countries who signed the Bretton Woods Agreement were:

· Australia

· India

· Belgium

· Iran

· Bolivia

· Iraq

· Brazil

· Liberia

· Canada

· Luxembourg

· Chile

· Mexico

· China

· Netherlands

· Colombia

· New Zealand

· Costa Rica

· Nicaragua

· Cuba

· Norway

· Czechoslovakia

· Panama

· Dominican Republic

· Paraguay

· Ecuador

· Peru

· Egypt

· Philippines

· El Salvador

· Poland

· Ethiopia

· Union of South Africa

· France

· Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

· Greece

· The United Kingdom

· Guatemala

· The United States

· Haiti

· Uruguay

· Honduras

· Venezuela

· Iceland

· Yugoslavia

End of answer

2.2 Multiple choice questions

Now test your understanding of what this section has covered so far.

The following multiple choice questions should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Question 5

What was the name of the Agreement that laid the foundations for the creation of the WTO, the IMF and the World Bank Group?

(a) The Bretton Woods Agreement (1944)

(b) The Potsdam Agreement (1945)

(d) The Luxembourg Agreement (2003)

Answer

The name of the Agreement that laid the foundations for the creation of the WTO, the IMF and the World Bank Group was:

(a) The Bretton Woods Agreement (1944)

End of answer

Question 6

What was the desire behind the Bretton Woods Agreement?

(a) A desire to put an end to the Second World War

(b) A desire to eradicate the causes that led to the Second World War

(d) A desire for the abolition of different currencies

Answer

The desire behind the Bretton Woods Agreement was:

(b) A desire to eradicate the causes that led to the Second World War

End of answer

Question 7

What was the ultimate goal of the Bretton Woods Agreement?

(a) The creation of a global alliance of States

(b) The creation of an economic trade block

(d) The creation of a military alliance

Answer

The ultimate goal of the Bretton Woods Agreement was:

End of answer

3. The Three Regulatory Pillars of the World Economic Order

3.1 The Three Regulatory Pillars of the World Economic Order

The Bretton Woods system gave birth to three international organisations of paramount importance for International Economic Law.

These are:

1. The World Trade Organization (WTO) (the successor of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade)

2. The International Monetary Fund (IMF)

3. The World Bank Group

These are generally perceived as the three main organisations regulating the international economic order.

Activity 4

You should expect to spend approximately 10 minutes on this activity.

Use this animation to find out further information about the Three Regulatory Pillars of the World Economic Order.

An interaction which gives further information on the WTO, IMF and World Bank

Flash content unavailable

Answer

The Three Regulatory Pillars of the World Economic Order include:

· The World Trade Organisation: The main functions of the WTO are:

o To administer WTO agreements

o To review trade policies of member states acting as a forum for the resolution of international trade disputes

· The WTO adheres to four principles:

o Non-discrimation

o Reciprocity eg. mutual tariff reduction

o Transparency eg. clear unambiguous trade measures

o Fairness eg. restrictions on dumping goods

111. The International Monetary Fund: An international organisation which keeps the global financial nexus under inspection.

111. The IMF does so by observing the world exchange rates and the balance of payments and multilateral payments.

111. The IMF also offers technical assistance to various countries around the world.

111. The World Bank: A set of organisations that strive for the promotion of world development by:

o Making financial resources available to governments

o Making financial resources available to private enterprises

o Stimulating investment flow

o Providing a forum for resolving disputes arising within the areas of investment

End of answer

3.2 Multiple choice questions

Now test your understanding of what this section has covered so far.

The following multiple choice question should take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Question 8

International Economic Law is primarily concerned with certain institutions of global remit. These are:

(a) The ASEAN, the EU and NAFTA

(b) The WTO, the IMF and the World Bank Group

(d) The NATO and the International Criminal Court

Answer

International Economic Law is primarily concerned with certain institutions of global remit, which are:

(b) The WTO, the IMF and the World Bank Group

End of answer

4. Regional Economic Law Organisations

4.1 Regional Economic Law Organisations

International Economic Law is also relevant to certain regional trading blocks, as illustrated in the map below.

Activity 4

You should expect to spend approximately 10 minutes on this activity.

Use this animation to familiarise yourself with regional trading blocks: some of the most important include:

· The European Union

· The European Free Trade Area

· The North American Free Trade Agreement

· The Mercosur

· The Association of Southeast Nations

· The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-Operation

An interactive map which shows the regional economic law organisations and their member states.

Flash content unavailable

Answer

The regional trading blocks shown on the map include:

· The European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Ital, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

· The European Free Trade Area: Iceland, Norway Switzerland, Liectenstein

· The North American Free Trade Agreement: Canada, USA, Mexico

· The Mercosur: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay

· The Association of Southeast Nations: Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

· The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-Operation: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, USA, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Russia, Vietnam

· The Andean Community of Nations: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

· The Commonwealth of Independent States: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

· The Association of Caribbean States: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

· The African Union: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tongo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

· South East Asian Association for Regional Cooperation: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka

End of answer

4.2 Multiple choice questions

Now test your understanding of what this section has covered so far.

The following multiple choice questions should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Question 9

International economic regulation operates on two levels. Which are they?

(a) Political and economic

(b) Unipolar and multipolar

(d) Financial and political

Answer

International economic regulation operates on two levels, which are:

End of answer

Question 10

Despite the global relevance of International Economic Law, such law is also concerned with the regulatory frameworks of certain regional trading blocks. Which are these blocks?

(a) The NATO and the G8

(b) The WTO, the IMF and the World Bank Group

(d) The European Union, the European Free Trade Area, the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mercosur, the Association of Southeast Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation

Answer

International Economic Law is also concerned with the regulatory frameworks of the following regional trading blocks:

(d) The European Union, the European Free Trade Area, the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mercosur, the Association of Southeast Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation

End of answer

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Acknowledgements

Author: Antonios Platsas

Image of Supreme Court building Perth, Western Australia: Photo & copy: Adrian van Leen for openphoto.net CC:PublicDomain

All other written material contained within this unit originated at the University of Derby.