The EU, the WTO and China

This book presents a new theoretical framework for understanding the regulation of international trade. For this purpose, it analyses a series of integrated studies of relations between the EU, the WTO and China. It consists of three main parts. Part I introduces the basic concepts. It surveys the literature on law and globalisation, introduces the concept of sites of governance and the theory of global legal pluralism and sketches the foundations of global legal pluralism. It shows that each site of governance has both a structural dimension, consisting of institutions, norms and dispute resolution processes, and a relational dimension, comprising its relations with other sites of governance. The totality of sites of governance constitutes a new form of global legal pluralism. Part II analyses global legal pluralism in action in relations between the EU, the WTO and China. It examines the construction of relations between sites, ways in which relations between sites give rise to new legal concepts or transform the character of rules, the tension between regionalism and international integration and the governance of international production networks. It emphasises the reciprocal interaction between the structural features and the relational features of sites. Part III explores new directions in global legal pluralism. It first analyses regional trade agreements as a way of creating new sites of governance, focusing on agreements involving China. Then it considers how to enhance ethical values in international trade regulation. Based on an institutional analysis of relations between the WTO and other sites of governance, it proposes ways in which global legal pluralism can be used to reform the WTO, today the predominant institution in the regulation of international trade, including trade between the EU and China.

1 Introduction
PART I GLOBALISATION, SITES OF GOVERNANCE AND GLOBAL LEGAL PLURALISM
2 Globalisation and the Law
3 Governing Economic Globalisation: Sites of Governance and Global Legal Pluralism
4 Foundations of Global Legal Pluralism: International Competition, Legal Strategies and Unintended Consequences in the EC Chinese Bicycles Anti-dumping Saga
PART II GLOBAL LEGAL PLURALISM IN ACTION: THE EU, THE WTO AND CHINA
5 The Construction of Relations Between Sites of Governance: the European Courts and WTO Law
6 Global Legal Pluralism and the Creation of New Legal Concepts: the 'Non-market Economy' in EU Anti-dumping Law
7 Relations between Sites and the Legalisation of Norms: Individual Treatment in EU Anti-dumping Law about China
8 Competing Constellations of Sites: EU Customs Law and International Production Networks
PART III NEW DIRECTIONS IN GLOBAL LEGAL PLURALISM
9 The Creation of New Sites of Governance: China, Regional Trade Agreements and WTO Law
10 Social Solidarity Ethics and the WTO: Toward Closer Relations between Sites of Governance
II. Current Relations between the WTO and Other Sites of Governance
Bibliography
Index

“As far as the structure is concerned, it is clearly and precisely divided into different parts and chapters, thereby making it reader-friendly.

It is not only innovative in style and approach but also an invaluable contribution to a relatively underdeveloped area of legal research in the field of international trade law. I can warmly and wholeheartedly recommend this book as an excellent legal companion to those interested in International Trade Law, ranging from lawyers, international jurists, and trade diplomats to advanced students in law, political science and commerce.

” –  Dr Sideek M. Seyad, The Law and Politics Book Review, Volume 21, No. 10

“I strongly recommend purchasing this volume. It comprises some of the main goals reached by the author in the last years of research. The outcome is a dynamic survey, which combines history and proposals for the future, constituting a unique book, a coherent work and a must-have item for every international trade lawyer's bookshelf.” –  Carlo Maria Cantore, The Common Market Law Review, Volume 48-4