The paper should be about 950 words, not counting tables that may be included. Care should be taken regarding footnotes and references. Do not just ask
Google a question and then copy that as part of your paper. Check that information with original sources from countries or international organizations. Better
still, just use the original sources. Some potential original sources and suggestions about them were given in the “announcement” for the small paper on
BlackBoard, dated 24 April 2023 as well as the “announcement” on “links to international trade statistics”, dated 1 March 2023. Sources relating to the
international trading system will become will become available when we start covering those topics.
You can think of two types of papers – either on a country basis, or on a “trading system” basis. For the “trading system basis” it may be a good idea to wait
for a week or so (about three meetings) so that you have a better idea of what may be covered. International relations majors and those interested in legal
issues may find the trading system basis more relevant to these fields.
I. On a “country basis”:
- You can think of this as a continuation and development of the “short paper”. You may use the same country, and develop your short paper or you may
choose another country. From what we have seen, the short papers did not all follow the directions which were provided. Some papers looked at only
bilateral trade between two countries but not the overall international trade structure of the country. Some papers only explained the gravity model, some
ignored the importance of trade agreements, such as the European Union, on international trade. You should look at the totality what the country exports,
what it imports (why it exports and imports these particular goods), to whom it exports, from whom it imports, are these countries nearby or far away, has
there been any change in all of this, what are your ideas for explaining your observations … Although trade in services is an important part of a country’s
international trade, you do not have to study this trade as we have not focused on it in class. If you choose to develop your small paper, expand it, make it
more detailed in line with what is said above, and improve the explanation. You should not directly copy-paste what you have in your small paper, but rather
develop it and present a new paper. It would also be good, if you look at a relatively long time period and talk about the country's trade policies. - Again on a country basis, your “main paper” may be a presentation and discussion of selected dispute(s) that a country is party to (either as complainant
or respondent) at the World Trade Organisation. You can study up to four (not necessarily four) disputes. If you think even one dispute is a very important for
the country and you study this in detail, that can be sufficient. The issues you should look at must include why it is important for the country – how it relates
to its economic structure, economic performance and to its development. Any other comment that you may have are, of course, welcome. They will enrich
the paper.
II. On a “trading system basis”
A. You can discuss and make an assessment of one of the agreements of the WTO – its essential characteristics, reasons and justification for its
emergence, and an evaluation of the agreement from the point of view of either developing or industrialized countries, or both.
B. You can discuss and make an assessment of an important case taken up at the Dispute Settlement Mechanism of WTO or earlier at the GATT times. What
the issues are, why do you think that this an important case, how do you think it has helped in the formation of the current international trading system, and
which countries have benefited most.
C. You can assess the functioning of a regional trading arrangement or a bilateral trade agreement. You should discuss how this agreement has impacted on
the structure and content of trade – how trade has (or has not) differed from what would happen if this agreement were not in effect, how it has (or has not)
changed the previous trade structure and pattern. You may focus on one country’s experience with the arrangement and look at it from that country’s point of
view, but the discussion would be more complete if the impact is discussed more generally.