HNLU’s Multilateral Trading Summit – International Capacity Building & Research | Dec. 2023

Table of Contents

1. About HNLU
2. About the Programme
3. Structure & Schedule of the Programme
4. Call for Research Papers
5. Submission Guidelines
6. Registration Fees for Participation
7. For Registration
8. Bank Details
9. Dates to Remember
10. Organizing Committee
11. Contact Details

First International
Capacity Building Programme and Research Summit on
75 Years of Multilateral Trading System
Past, Present & Future Disclosure

Organised by

In Collaboration with

1 – 9 DECEMBER 2023
Mode: Online

1. 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 advanced legal education that shapes students into more than just legal professionals; it instils in them a profound responsibility to contribute to the society.

The University has launched several innovative programmes in the last few years like Lex Osmose, Ex Arca, HNLU Press, Sui Generis, HEXA, HAAI and R-HaS.

1.1 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.

2. 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.

3. 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)

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Inaugural Session

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Thematic session on “The Evolution of the World Trade Order & Multilateral Trading System”

Day-2 December 2, 2023 (Saturday)

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Panel discussion on “Globalization’s Changing Dynamics: Revisiting the Idea of Multilateralism”

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Thematic session on “Institutional Structure of the WTO and Dispute Settlement Mechanism”

Day-3-7 December 3-7, 2023 (Sunday – Thursday)

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Thematic session on “Principles of the Multilateral Trading System and the Scope of its Exceptions”

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Thematic session on “The regulatory regime under covered agreements for Goods, Services and IPRs”

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Thematic session on “Multilateral Framework for Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade”

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Thematic session on “Rules on Unfair Trade and Trade Remedies within the framework of MTS”

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Thematic session on “Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference 2022 and its Outcomes”

Day-8 December 8, 2023 (Friday)

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Panel discussion on “G-20 to MC-13: Analysing the New Delhi Declaration 2023 and Its Global Impact”

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Presentations of Research Papers in Technical Sessions – 1 to 3

Day-9 December 9, 2023 (Saturday)

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Presentations of Research Papers in Technical Sessions – 4 to 6

7:30 PM – 8:30 PM | Valedictory Session

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. For Registration

Please Scan the QR Code or Click the link given below: https://forms.gle/juZ15AFggCv6jbE97

8. 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

9. Dates to Remember

Deadline for Registration & Fee Payment – 25 November, 2023

Notification of confirmation for Participation – 26 November, 2023

Deadline for the Submission of Research Paper – 05 December, 2023

Date of the Programme – 1-9 December, 2023

10. Organizing Committee

Dr. Ankit Awasthi, Programme Director

Dr. Debmita Mondal, Faculty

Dr. Anindhya Tiwari, Faculty

Dr. Ankit Singh, Faculty

Ms. Garima Panwar, Faculty

Dr. Eritriya Roy, Faculty

Mr. Amitesh Deshmukh, Faculty

Dr. Priyanka Dhar, Faculty

Dr. Atul. S. Jaybhaye, Faculty

Dr. Priyanka R. Mohod, Faculty

Mr. Abhinav Shukla, Faculty

Mr Mayank Shrivastava, Faculty

11. Contact Details

For further queries and additional information, please contact:
Dr. Ankit Awasthi
Programme Director
Head, Centre for WTO/WIPO Studies, School for Law & Technology
Email id: cws@hnlu.ac.in, Contact No.: 7355235075