The paper provides an analysis of WTO law's security exceptions. First, it examines if acts adopted with reference to national security are reviewable and, if they are, which elements are reviewable and what defenses, if any, are enjoyed by member states? Second, it inquires whether WTO law’s...

Voluminous studies have documented the rise of international standards and their ramifications for the WTO, though most of these studies have focused on environment, food safety, public health, and financial regulations issues. An equally important, yet less explored, area is the information and...

This paper examines the Association Agreement between the EU and six Member States of the Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA), in particular Part IV of the Agreement (trade). More specifically, the paper is concerned with the repetition and reinforcement of WTO norms in the...

One of the cornerstones of the EC internal market is the principle of mutual recognition of goods, according to which the technical legislation of EU Member States must allow the marketing of goods lawfully manufactured or marketed in another EU Member State, provided that the goods provide an...

This paper argues that mutual recognition at the WTO, as a type of liberalism, must be embedded in a process of governance that has two components. First, mutual recognition can only take place to the extent of satisfactory essential harmonization: to the extent that states can legitimately...

This paper illustrates how the work of the WTO's standing committees is fuelling regulatory cooperation between WTO members, and inspiring RTA negotiators. We explore, as a case study, how the WTO TBT Committee has shaped provisions on international standards in RTAs, and focus on the extent to...

As part of its Green Deal, the European Commission is considering the introduction of border carbon adjustments and alternative measures. The measures, which would primarily apply to basic materials like steel and cement, pursue a double objective: they are aimed at enhancing the effectiveness...

It has become conventional wisdom that once the UK leaves the EU it will have to renegotiate core aspects of its WTO rights and obligations, and in particular its concessions under Article II of the GATT 1994 and Article XX of the GATS. This article argues that, on the contrary, based on WTO...