This panel will consider emerging issues related to preferential trade agreements (PTAs), inspired by a recent volume on the topic edited by Kathleen Claussen, Manfred Elsig, and Rodrigo Polanco, The Concept Design of a Twenty-first Century Preferential Trade Agreement: Trends and Future Innovations. At a time when multilateral trading systems are facing legal and political roadblocks, PTAs are becoming even more important to the world’s trading system. The panelists will discuss various aspects of contemporary PTAs, including new developments in various substantive legal areas covered by PTAs; the changing relationship between PTAs and social issues such as labor and environment; and novel approaches to dispute settlement in recent PTAs.

Organized by the International Economic Law Interest Group of the American Society of International Law

Panelists:

• Joanna Langille, University of Western Ontario (moderator)
• Kathleen Claussen, Georgetown University
• Deborah Elms, Hinrich Foundation
• Manfred Elsig, World Trade Institute
• Joost Pauwelyn, Geneva Graduate Institute
• Rodrigo Polanco, World Trade Institute