WASHINGTON – The George Washington University Law School (GW) and The National University of Singapore Faculty of Law (NUS) announce the establishment of the world’s first summer study program dedicated to international trade law.  The program, to be run jointly by GW and NUS and based in Singapore at NUS, is called the “International Trade Law Academy.”

The Academy will sponsor a four-week, English-medium training program for law students and practicing attorneys from around the world.  Applications will be available from GW and NUS, and posted on their web sites.  Individuals who have completed one year of study at an accredited law school will be eligible to apply.

The Academy will offer challenging courses on both fundamental and cutting-edge trade topics.  Examples include GATT-WTO law, trade remedies, regional trade agreements, trade and development, trade and national security, trade and intellectual property protection, trade and investment, trade and competition policy, trade and the environment, trade and labor standards, and trade and human rights.  Courses will be taught by the world’s leading experts.  A certificate will be awarded upon completion.

“Could we imagine a better time and place at which to establish the world’s first International Trade Law Academy, or better universities to establish it?  Singapore is an extremely important partner of the United States on economic, political, and strategic issues,” said GW Law School Dean Michael K. Young.  “This Academy joins the top two law schools on trade in their respective regions - NUS in Asia with GW in North America.  Thus, I am delighted that, through the Academy, GW and NUS will train the leading trade law and policy officials of the future, and be the premier forum for creative thinking about trade issues.”

The Academy is expected to commence operation in June 2003.  Its Co-Directors will be Professors Raj Bhala of GW and Michael Ewing-Chow of NUS.  For more information, please contact them, respectively, at Rbhala@law.gwu.edu or lawmec@nus.edu.sg.  Both Professors noted the exciting context of the new venture - the highly visible role of their respective countries in the WTO, the negotiations between their countries on a free trade agreement, the launching of the Doha Development Agenda, the accession of China to the WTO, and the upsurge in interest in trade among law students and practitioners.

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©2002 The George Washington University Office of University Relations, Washington, D.C.
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