INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAWS

The laws controlling and regulating International trade have become one of the fastest growing areas of international law. International trade laws concerns rules and customs for handling trade between States or between private companies at an international level. There are two types of trade laws: substantive trade laws and procedural trade laws. The former gives rights and imposes obligations on the States regarding trade laws, for example World Trade Organization (WTO). While the latter deals with the procedure regulating trade laws between the States. In other words, the procedural trade law focuses on the legal steps taken by the States to follow and attain the aim specified under substantive trade law.

The enforcement of international trade laws between States is done through establishment of certain entities, having sole purpose of imposing rights and obligations on States. The trade is facilitated by various entities at international level. For example, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body, is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues. While the UNCTAD covers the procedural aspect of trade laws, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) deals with the legal aspects of international trade laws and formulates and regulates international trade in cooperation with the World Trade Organization.