The Constitutionalisation of International Trade Law

THE PROSPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE REGULATION: FROM FRAGMENTATION TO COHERENCE, pp. 69-102, Thomas Cottier and Panagiotis Delimatsis, eds., Cambridge University Press, 2011

18 Pages Posted: 8 Jul 2011

See all articles by Anne Peters

Anne Peters

Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law

Klaus Armingeon

University of Bern - Institute of Political Science

Karolina Milewicz

University of Oxford

Simone Peter

University of Basel

Date Written: 2011

Abstract

Empirical research lends support to the idea of a, "multi-speed globe," of differentiated (fragmented) constitutionalisation, rather than a fully-fledged integrative constitutional process. "Variable geometry," on the global scale could acknowledge irreconcilable differences between nation states.

A prominent candidate for one fragment of this variable global constitutionalisation is the World Trade Organization (WTO). Constitutionalisation of the WTO means an evolution from constitution to constitutionalism within this organisation.

A core constitutional issue is the public interest. The concept of, "public interest," can be used in various ways. Exception and limitation clauses play an important role in the constitutionalist reconstruction of international law.

The WTO is so far only modestly constitutionalised, but could and should be further constitutionalised. Further constitutionalisation of the WTO should comprise the following reforms: upgrading non-trade concerns such as the environment in the treaty language itself, liberalisation in trade sectors in which poor countries can compete, empowerment of individuals by enabling at least indirect participation in secondary law-making (parliamentary dimension) and dispute settlement (direct effect), streamlining of the decision-making and law-making processes by reviving the legally available options for majority voting and judicial review of WTO acts.

Keywords: WTO constitutionalisation, democratisation, rule of law, international, human rights, legitimacy, international organisation, power imbalance, veto right, voting, weighted, sovereign equality, public interest, Article XX GATT, legitimacy crisis multilayered governance, accountability

Suggested Citation

Peters, Anne and Armingeon, Klaus and Milewicz, Karolina and Peter, Simone, The Constitutionalisation of International Trade Law (2011). THE PROSPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE REGULATION: FROM FRAGMENTATION TO COHERENCE, pp. 69-102, Thomas Cottier and Panagiotis Delimatsis, eds., Cambridge University Press, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1881650 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1881650

Anne Peters (Contact Author)

Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law ( email )

Im Neuenheimer Feld 535
69120 Heidelberg, 69120
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.mpil.de

Klaus Armingeon

University of Bern - Institute of Political Science ( email )

Lerchenweg 36
Bern 9, 3000
Switzerland

Karolina Milewicz

University of Oxford ( email )

Department of Politics and International Relations
Oxford, Oxfordshire
United Kingdom

Simone Peter

University of Basel ( email )

Petersplatz 1
Basel, CH-4003
Switzerland

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
361
Abstract Views
1,897
Rank
151,741
PlumX Metrics