Market Access

Summary of Market Access The degree of participation in the domestic market that a nation allows to foreign suppliers. Tariffs, quotas, and similar protective devices are devices imposed to limit market access. (Main Author: William J. Miller) Market Access and National Treatment in the […]

Judicial Review

Introduction The U.S. case Marbury v. Madison (1803) held that the power of a court to decide what is the meaning of the American Constitution was implicit in an independent judiciary. This power of judicial review in the U.S. was a unique feature of the U.S. constitutionalism well into the […]

Switzerland

For information about the Swiss law and legal research materials, see: The summary of Swiss law is published in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Digest for Switzerland; The Swiss Legal System and Research by Gregory M. Bovey; Introduction to the Swiss Legal System: A Guide for Foreign […]

Common Agricultural Policy

Common agricultural policy (CAP) and the Treaties of the European Union Description of Common agricultural policy (CAP) provided by the European Union Commission: The common agricultural policy is a matter reserved exclusively for the Community. Under Article 33 of the Treaty establishing the […]

Europe

Central and East European Countries (CEECs) and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Central and East European Countries (CEECs): Includes Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, […]

Export Subsidy

Summary of Export Subsidy

A direct payment, tax relief, or other incentive provided by a government to encourage export sales. The use of such devices is apt to be regarded as undesirable by the importing nation and may result in the imposition of Countervailing Duties (read this legal term […]

Quantitative Restriction

A limitation on the quantity of a given commodity that may be imported into a country during a specified period of time. A quantitative restriction is manifested as a Quota ("https://lawin.org/list-of-international-trade-law-terms/">read this and related legal terms for further […]

East- West Trade

A general reference to trade between the industrial nations of the West, particularly those nations that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ("https://lawin.org/list-of-international-trade-law-terms/">read this and related legal terms for […]

Single Market

Summary of Single Market

A component feature of the Common Agricultural policy (read this and related legal terms for further details) of the European Economic Community.

(Main Author: William J. Miller)

Single Market and Europe There is an entry on single market in the European […]

Customs Union

Summary of Customs Union

An arrangement among participating countries whereby tariffs are eliminated or virtually eliminated on products moving between members, and a common external tariff (read this and related legal terms for further details) is adopted to provide uniform treatment to […]

Copyright

Introduction to Copyright Copyright, branch of law granting authors the exclusive privilege to reproduce, distribute, perform, or display their creative works. The goal of copyright law is to encourage authors to invest effort in creating new works of art and literature. Copyright is one […]

Freedom of Trade

Freedom of Trade and Commerce In relation to the freedom of trade and commerce and constitutional law, Gonzalo Villalta Puig[1] made the following observation: The freedom of trade and commerce is a constitutional norm that conceives the sale and purchase of goods and services among or […]

Economic Union

Summary of Economic Union

Also known as an economic community, an advanced form of economic integration on the part of several states. The economic union incorporates the features of a Common market (read this and related legal terms for further details)—unrestricted free trade among […]

Industrial Property

Summary of Industrial Property

Intangible property such as patents and trademarks.

(Main Author: William J. Miller)

Spanish Translation of industrial property This is the legal translation of English to Spanish in relation to industrial property and / or a definition of this […]

Observer

Observer and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Observer: An observer to the GATT is a country or international organization that has been authorized by the GATT Council (Sec. […]

Lome Convention

Introduction to Lome Convention Lomé Convention, trade and aid agreement between the European Union (EU) and 70 African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries, first signed in February 1975 in Lomé, Togo. The Lomé Convention provided a framework of cooperation between […]

Common Market

Summary of Common Market

A supranational organization of trading nations, created to promote economic collaboration and minimize constraints on the free movement of goods among the member states. Features of a common market include elimination of tariffs on goods moving between member […]

Petition

Petition in Constitutional Law From the Comparative Constitutions Project: By right to petition, we mean the right to submit individual or group level grievances to government Petition and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) […]

Customs Valuation

For importers, the process of estimating the value of a product at customs presents problems that can be just as serious as the actual duty rate charged. The WTO agreement on customs valuation aims for a fair, uniform and neutral system for the valuation of goods for customs purposes — a system that conforms to commercial realities, and which outlaws the use of arbitrary or fictitious customs values. The Committee on Customs Valuation of the Council for Trade in Goods (CGT) carries out work in the WTO on customs valuation.

Uruguay Round

Uruguay Round and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Uruguay Round: The eighth GAIT Round, launched in 1986 with 105 countries participating, and extended in December 1990 […]

Public Contract

Hierarchical Display of Public contract Trade > Trade policy
Trade > International trade > Trade restriction > Non-tariff barrier
Finance > Public finance and budget policy > Public finance
Trade > International trade > Trade relations > Trade agreement > GATT > Free movement of […]

ACP Countries

Acp Countries Summary of Acp Countries

An acronym for African- Caribbean-Pacific countries. The term originated in conjunction with the LOME CONVENTIONS (read this and related legal terms for further details).

(Main Author: William J. Miller)

ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific) […]

Countervailing Charge

Countervailing Charge and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Countervailing Charge: A charge in addition to normal import duties that may be imposed under the European […]

Surveillance

Crime Detection Surveillance Introduction to Surveillance One of the oldest ways of detecting criminal activity is through surveillance. This method is used when it is likely that a crime will take place at a specific location or when certain persons are suspected of criminal activit…

Voluntary Restraint Agreement

Voluntary Restraint Agreement (VRA) and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Voluntary Restraint Agreement (VRA): An arrangement by which an exporting country takes steps […]

Social Dumping

Social Dumping and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Social Dumping: An unfair trade practice whereby an exporter achieves a cost advantage over its rivals in foreign markets […]

Balance of Payments

Balance Of Payments Summary of Balance Of Payments

The sum owed to or by a nation as the result of its international transactions during a given time period, usually one year. The balance of payments is calculated by subtracting the nation's total payments to foreigners from total […]

Free Trade Area

Summary of Free Trade Area

An association of states that seeks to overcome impediments to trade among members by reducing or eliminating tariffs among the participants. The members of a free trade area do not maintain a common external tariff nor do they (usually) provide for the free flow […]

Commodity Agreement

Commodity Agreement and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Commodity Agreement: A formal international arrangement among exporters and importers of a commodity. Such […]

Free Movement of Goods

Free Movement of Goods and Europe There is an entry on free movement of goods in the European legal encyclopedia. Resources See Also Further Reading Entry "Free Movement of Goods" in the work "A Concise Encyclopedia of the European Union from Aachen to Zollverein", by […]

Rules of Origin

Rules of Origin and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Rules of Origin: The laws, regulations, and administrative practices that are applied to ascribe acountry of origin to […]

Embargo

Summary of Embargo A suspension of trade between nations, usually for political reasons. The term embargo is also applied to a governmental edict prohibiting entry or departure from the nation's ports of vessels flying the flag of a particular country. In those cases where ports are closed […]

Export Processing Zone

Summary of Export Processing Zone

A special type of Foreign Trade Zone (read this and related legal terms for further details) within which certain exemptions from duties, taxes, and regulations are granted as an inducement to export-oriented manufacturing. Customarily a manufacturer within […]

Intellectual Property Rights

Introduction Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) protection is one of the most important and current legal issues in the international trade arena. As international trade and investment increases around the world, copyrights, trademarks, patents and trade secrets need to be subjects of a […]

Free Trade

Introduction Free Trade, interchange of commodities across political frontiers without restrictions such as tariffs, quotas, or foreign exchange controls. This economic policy contrasts with protectionist policies that use such restrictions to protect or stimulate domestic industries. See […]

Nondiscrimination

Nondiscrimination and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Nondiscrimination: Equal application of tariffs, quotas, or other trade restrictions to products from different […]

Discrimination

Summary of Discrimination Unequal treatment in the duties, quotas, or administrative controls accorded to the products of one or more nations. Generally speaking, any nation which does not enjoy most FAVORED NATION (read this and related legal terms for further details) status is the subject […]

Compulsory Licensing

Compulsory Licensing and the GATT Policy Negotiations In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Compulsory Licensing: A term used in the context of intellectual property rights, primarily with regard to […]