FIRST INTERNATIONAL CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAMME AND RESEARCH SUMMIT ON “75 YEARS OF MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE DISCOURSE” [1-9 DECEMBER 2023] BY CENTRE FOR WTO-WIPO STUDIES, SCHOOL OF LAW AND TECHNOLOGY, HNLU: REGISTER NOW!!

Mode: Online 

ABOUT HNLU: 

Hidayatullah National Law University, a premier institute for legal education and research is  celebrating its 20th Year of establishment. The University’s motto, ‘Dharma  Sansthapanartham,’ translates to ‘for the sake of establishing the primacy of laws of eternal  values.’ In line with this ethos, HNLU strives to provide an advanced legal education that  shapes students into more than just legal professionals; it instils in them a profound  responsibility to contribute to society. 

The University has launched several innovative programmes in the last few years, like Lex  Osmose, Ex Arca, HNLU Press, Sui Generis, HEXA, HAAI, R-HaS and the Distinguished  Jurist Professor (DJP) Programme. The details can be browsed at www.hnlu.ac.in

ABOUT SCHOOL OF LAW & TECHNOLOGY / CENTRE FOR WTO-WIPO STUDIES  

The School of Law and Technology (SLT) is the Research Hub of HNLU, which is mandated  with research, teaching, and advocacy in the fields of intellectual property, privacy & data  protection, cyber security, digital commerce, artificial intelligence, and policy impact on trade,  commerce, & society. The school and its centres undertake research projects on the policy and  practice of the above segments of the technology & law interface. The Centre for WTO-WIPO  Studies promotes research and analysis on international trade policies and IPRs within the  framework of the WTO and WIPO. It aims to advance knowledge in these crucial domains, facilitate informed policymaking, and promote global cooperation to address interconnected  issues. 

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME: 

As we approach 2023, we look forward to commemorating the seventy-fifth year of the  multilateral trading system (MTS), which was formerly referred to as the General Agreement  on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Over time, this system transformed into the World Trade  Organization (WTO), which was officially formed in 1995. However, its roots can be traced  back to 1st January 1948, when GATT was initially put into practice. The origin and  development of the multilateral trading system is considered the greatest economic  achievements of the post-World War II era, and recently Professor Ralph Ossa, Chief  Economist and Director of the Economic Research and Statistics Division at the World Trade  Organization observed that “a strong multilateral trading system is the best guarantor of  economic security.” 

The journey of trade facilitation and the establishment of MTS, which started with 23  contracting parties, now has 164 members, representing over 98% of international trade. Over  the years, trade has undergone significant transformations, resulting in the evolution of GATT  from a de facto to a de jure institution. As a result, the WTO provides a rule-based system for  trade in goods, services, and intellectual property to ensure smoother, more predictable, and  freer trade flows. It regulates tariff and non-tariff barriers, ensures transparency, and provides  mechanisms to resolve trade disputes through adjudicatory and non-adjudicatory processes.  Additionally, with the coherence mandate, it coordinates with the IMF and World Bank to  achieve greater coherence in global economic policy-making.  

As observed by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, “the post-1945  international economic order was built on the idea that interdependence among nations  through increased trade and economic ties would foster peace and shared prosperity. For most  of the past 75 years, this idea guided policymakers and helped lay the foundation for an  unprecedented era of growth, higher living standards, and poverty reduction.” 

More recently, the idea that globalization has been perceived to expose economies to excessive  risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russo-Ukrainian War, trade sanctions, and  increasing inequalities is giving rise to debate about de-globalisation. Nevertheless, the World Trade Report 2023 concludes that “international trade, anchored in a strengthened multilateral  trading system, plays an indispensable role in creating a more secure, inclusive, and  sustainable world. Building upon these findings, the report makes the case that a better  alternative to fragmentation is ‘re-globalization’ – understood as extending trade integration  to more people, economies, and issues.” 

Against this background, the present International Capacity-Building Programme and Research  Summit aims to provide an opportunity to understand and explore the nuances of the  multilateral trading system. It is aimed at bringing together experts, policymakers, academics,  practitioners, researchers, and students from around the world to discuss and analyze the role  of the multilateral trading system in shaping international trade, its achievements, challenges,  and the way forward.  

STRUCTURE & SCHEDULE OF THE PROGRAMME: 

The program is designed to extend over a week. The structure and schedule of the programme  is as follows:

Day 1 – December 1, 2023 (Friday)
S. No.  Event Particulars  Time (IST)
1.  Inaugural Session  4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
2.  Plenary session on “The Evolution of the World Trade Order &  Multilateral Trading System 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Day 2 – December 2, 2023 (Saturday)
S. No.  Event Particulars  Time (IST)
1.  Panel discussion on “Globalization’s Changing Dynamics:  Revisiting the Idea of Multilateralism 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
2.  Plenary session on “Institutional Structure of the WTO and Dispute  Settlement Mechanism 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Day 3 to 7 – December 3-7, 2023 (Sunday – Thursday)
S. No.  Event Particulars  Time (IST)
1.  Plenary session on “Principles of the Multilateral Trading System  and the Scope of its Exceptions 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

2.  Thematic session on “The regulatory regime under covered  agreements for Goods, Services and IPRs 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
3.  Thematic session on “Multilateral Framework for Tariff and Non Tariff Barriers to Trade 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
4.  Thematic session on “Rules on Unfair Trade and Trade Remedies  within the framework of MTS 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
5.  Thematic session on “Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference 2022  and its Outcomes 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Day 8 – December 8, 2023 (Friday)
1.  Panel discussion on “G-20 to MC-13: Analysing the New Delhi  Declaration 2023 and Its Global Impact 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
2.  Presentations of Research Papers in Technical Sessions – 1 to 3  5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Day 9 – December 9, 2023 (Saturday)
1.  Presentations of Research Papers in Technical Sessions – 4 to 6  5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
2.  Valedictory Session  7:30 PM – 8:30 PM 

CALL FOR RESEARCH PAPERS: 

Research papers in English are invited from academicians, researchers, professionals,  practitioners, and students in the fields of law, economics, International Trade, International  Economic Law, WTO studies, environmental studies, business studies, social sciences,  sustainability, or any other stream related to the areas on the broader themes as given below. 

Themes for Research Paper Presentations: 

  1. Geopolitical Dynamics and International Trade  
  2. International Trade and Global Health 
  3. Trade and Sustainable Development 
  4. Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment 
  5. Multilateralism vis-à-vis Regionalism  
  6. Food Security and Trade Liberalization 
  7. International Trade and Investment  
  8. Competition Policy and International Trade 
  9. Trade and Intellectual Property Rights
  10. E-commerce and Digital Trade 
  11. Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade 
  12. Trade and Human Rights 
  13. Unfair Trade and Trade Remedies 
  14. WTO in crisis and suggestive reforms 

Note:  

The themes are suggestive and not exhaustive. Research papers not covered under the above themes but relevant to the thrust area may also be considered. 

The short-listed papers will be published in the form of an edited book with an ISBN.

DATES TO REMEMBER 

Deadline for Registration & Fee Payment: 25 November, 2023 

Notification of confirmation for Participation: 25 November 2023 

Deadline for the Submission of Research Paper: 5 December 2023 

Date of the Programme: 1-9 December, 2023 

REGISTRATION FEES FOR PARTICIPATION:  

Indian Participants: 

For Academicians and Professionals: INR 2000 

For Research Scholars and Students: INR 1500 

Foreign Participants: 

For Academicians and Professionals: 30 USD 

For Research Scholars and Students: 20 USD 

Note – 

Upon registering for the First International Capacity-Building Programme and  Research Summit, participants will receive a confirmation email as mentioned above  containing a Google form for submitting research papers. 

There is NO REGISTRATION fee for the research paper presentations. However, only  short-listed papers as submitted by registered participants for the programme shall be  allowed to be presented in technical sessions.  

Co-authorship shall NOT be allowed. 

BANK DETAILS 

Account Holder’s Name: Registrar, Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur Bank Name: IDBI Bank 

Account No.: 1188102000000806 

IFSC Code: IBKL0001188 

MICR Code: 492259503 

Branch Name: HNLU Campus Branch, Uparwara, Nava Raipur  

Account Type: Current A/C 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 

The abstract is to be around 300 words and to be accompanied by a brief profile of the  author indicating his/her email ID, contact number, designation, and official address.

The word limit for a research paper/article along with an abstract is 4000-6000 words  (excluding footnotes), which must be submitted in MS Word format.  

Font: Times New Roman, Font Size: 12, Line spacing: 1.5, A4 size paper with 1”  margin on all sides. 

The papers are not to exceed 10 % similarity under any anti-plagiarism detection  software. 

For references and bibliography, the author is required to follow the Bluebook: A  Uniform System of Citation, 20th edition. 

LINK/QR FOR REGISTRATION 

https://forms.gle/juZ15AFggCv6jbE97

CONTACT DETAILS: 

For further queries and additional information, please contact: 

Dr. Ankit Awasthi, Programme Director 

Head – Centre for WTO-WIPO Studies, School of Law and Technology  Email id: cws@hnlu.ac.in 

Contact No.: 7355235075

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