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International business and economic law has become an integral element of globalisation. It provides the fundamental framework for regulating cross-border activities ranging from trade, investment and finance to treaty negotiations, rulemaking and dispute resolution. As one of the world's largest economies, China is now among the most influential players in using and shaping the international economic law order. 

We have recruited 11 top Chinese international economic law (IEL) academics to join UNSW Law & Justice to research and teach in the CIBEL area. This makes CIBEL a leader in teaching, offering many courses on various aspects of Chinese international business law. Through the core group of IEL academics and other CIBEL participants’ work, the Centre seeks to advance understanding and debate on Chinese IEL through wide-ranging research programs, publications and ongoing education initiatives. 

CIBEL offers a range of courses to equip students with knowledge and analytical ability across a broad spectrum of contemporary issues surrounding international business and economic law matter in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. 

Courses

LAWS3084/JURD7484 - International Trade Law: The Law and Policy of the WTO (2021 Term 1) 

This course introduces students to the legal, business and policy aspects of international trade, focusing on the complex legal framework of the various WTO Agreements. This course analyses the legal framework of the WTO by studying the regulatory legal principles of the WTO and how they operate at both the national and international level.

This course is an elective course, developed to be integral in the Masters of Dispute Resolution. Given the practical applicability of the subject matter, it provides an excellent complement to any Masters in Law program.

This course aims to provide an overview on central topics of international investment law. It will trace the traditional approach of regulating foreign direct investments in customary international law and then focus on the present state of investor protection through a dense web of nearly 3000 bilateral investment protection treaties as well as some multilateral agreements containing investment provisions such as NAFTA, the Energy Charter Treaty and others.

  • LAWS8989/JURD7689 - World Trade Law: Contemporary Issues and Concerns (2023 Term 3) 

International trade is increasingly becoming more important to practitioners (as evidenced by free trade agreements negotiated by Australia and other states), non-governmental organisations, and the general public. This course provides students with an opportunity to study select issues of international trade law in much more detail than can be covered in the introductory international trade law course. Increasingly, issues of contemporary legal significance are being decided by international trade law. They not only have effect on the international trading system, but also affect civil society more broadly. Examples include environment, labour, competition, and data flow. The course is useful for students who work, or want to work, for law firms, regulatory agencies, industry, and other entities related to trade law or who wish to understand the forces shaping the global and cross-border trade.

Recognizing the growing importance of China in the new world economy, this course is developed to address an area of both academic and practical importance. It will provide students with an opportunity to study selected issues of corporate and securities laws in greater detail than can be covered in the typical introductory Chinese law course. 

This course discusses the theory and practice of various forms of dispute settlement, namely negotiation, mediation, arbitration and court proceedings. It gives a critical insight into the Chinese dispute resolution system, in its historical and socioeconomic contexts. It will also discuss new trends in dispute resolution in China, such as digital courts, e-Arbitration and the China International Commercial Courts. 

This course examines the legal framework of international business transactions by focusing on trade terms, the Vienna Convention on the International Sale of Goods, and the structure and finance of international trade. The course covers a wide range of topics, including the commercial terms of the sales agreement, shipping contracts, financing arrangements, insurance and customs documentation. The course also examines foreign direct investment transactions and the major legal issues involved. International business regulation is also reviewed with particular attention focused on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and regional trade agreements. Finally, dispute resolution is considered with emphasis on commercial arbitration and settlement of disputes under the WTO.

This course examines the key aspects of investment dispute resolution, addressing various modes of resolution at both national and international levels. It provides a comprehensive examination of mechanisms for Investor-State dispute settlement under arbitral procedure, to control mechanisms and enforcement of arbitral awards. Additionally, it examines the prospects and challenges of Investor-State mediation, along with other innovations. The course examines the interactions between Investor-State dispute resolution and a diverse array of other issues and concepts that frequently emerge in investment disputes, such as state contracts, investment treaties, health, environment, and human rights issues. 

This is a two-week intensive course held in Shanghai each year. It provides an introduction into the legal system of the People's Republic of China with particular reference to modern developments in commercial law and other important legal areas. It looks at particular areas of development not only for their own sake but also as indicators of the changing role of law in Chinese society.

Run in Beijing in conjunction with Tsinghua University Law School, this course provides an introduction to the legal system of the People's Republic of China. Emphasis is placed on modern developments in China’s commercial law, international business and economic law, and other important legal areas.

Master of Laws

International business and economic law has become an integral element of globalisation. It provides the fundamental framework for regulating cross-border activities ranging from trade, investment and finance to treaty negotiations, rulemaking and dispute resolution. As one of the world's largest economies, China is now among the most influential players in using and shaping the international economic law order.

In the Master of Laws Chinese and International Business and Economic Law (CIBEL) specialisation, you will acquire advanced knowledge and analytical ability across a broad spectrum of contemporary issues such as:

  • the development of international trade and investment rules and policy
  • the settlement of trade and investment disputes
  • technological developments and regulation (such as the regulation of digital financial services and e-commerce).