SHORT COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

INTRODUCTION

Introduction to Commercial Diplomacy
CD1

The course covers the different fields of knowledge and skills associated with the effective professional practice of commercial diplomacy and the integration of the various elements into a coherent analysis of an issue and an integrated strategy for pursuing an organization’s global trade-related objectives. The course provides an overview of the key fields of knowledge, institutions, skills and issues related to the practice of commercial diplomacy, and the terminology used in the field. Students should see this as an opportunity to acquire some basic information about the field so they will be able to participate more effectively in the subsequent courses, and develop an basic understanding of how they can benefit from the various course offerings on commercial diplomacy in advancing their career objectives.

ECONOMICS
   

MACROECONOMICS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
CD2
Provides a solid understanding of the basic concepts of balance-of-payments accounting, fiscal and monetary policy in small open economies, and the effects of international shocks and exchange rate fluctuations on employment and output as well as trade and investment patterns.
   

MACROECONOMICS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
CD3
Provides a solid understanding of the basic concepts of balance-of-payments accounting, fiscal and monetary policy in small open economies, and the effects of international shocks and exchange rate fluctuations on employment and output as well as trade and investment patterns.
   

INTERNATIONAL TRADE THEORY
CD4
Covers the basic general equilibrium models of trade and partial equilibrium models of trade policy. General equilibrium models will be used to highlight the concepts of comparative advantage and the gains from trade, the four main reasons for trade (technology differences, factor endowments, differences in preferences, and scale economies), and important general equilibrium concepts such as Lerner symmetry and theory of distortions. A number of topics commonly covered in liberal arts trade courses (e.g., offer curves) are of limited practical value and will not be covered. Partial equilibrium models will be used to explain the economic impact of border interventions.

TRADE POLICY ANALYSIS

OVERVIEW
CD5
This introductory module serves several purposes. First, it ensures that all students have a common understanding of the magnitude of trade flows, the major patterns of trade, the postwar expansion and liberalization of international trade, and current and emerging issues in trade. Second, it will be team-taught by all permanent faculty involved in the program, giving students and faculty an early opportunity to become acquainted. Finally, it will enable students to begin to identify career opportunities and possible areas of concentration.
   

SOURCES AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
CD6
Introduces students to sources of quantitative information on trade and investment flows, industry structure, domestic and international market shares, employment, profits, etc., and provides the tools necessary for interpreting and using graphical and tabular presentations of the data. This is not a statistics course; it teaches students the art of using data for effective argument.
  

INTEGRATION
CD7
Examines methods used to analyze the goals of trade policy, the means available to achieve them, and the process by which they are pursued. Students will learn to evaluate how the policy process seeks to mediate between competing and/or conflicting goals (e.g., business, economic, political and social) and to what extent these may be achieved by different policy measures.

POLITICS AND POLICY

POLITICAL ANALYSIS
CD8
Provides an in-depth consideration of the factors, interests, and constraints that animate political consideration of international trade issues, the domestic and international contexts for such consideration, and the role of government officials, government-relations executives, international agreements, and institutions in managing this political dimension. Case studies will illustrate the difference between a political and a policy appreciation of specific issues.

    
GOVERNMENT
CD9
The goal of this module is to train students to effectively manage the interaction between government and the private sector, from either perspective. The module seeks to teach students the differences in the goals and responsibilities of the public and private sectors, and how an understanding of these differences can help improve the effectiveness of communications and cooperation between these sectors. Students will be trained to utilize and apply fundamental concepts underlying government/ business/society relationships in the creation and implementation of public policies in trade, investment, and technology

   
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
CD10
Studies the interaction of economics and politics in the formation of public policy, especially as it applies to international economic relations. The course will focus on the political economy of trade and investment issues. The module covers the three leading paradigms – liberal, realist and populist – which provide a conceptual framework for understanding the intersection of politics and economics in policy formation.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS

INTERNATIONAL  TRADE ORGANIZATIONS
CD11
This module studies the evolution, structure, and organization of international institutions, addresses issues of accessibility, considers boundaries of competence and jurisdiction, and assesses the future trajectory of international governance of trade.

This module seeks to provide students with a thorough introduction to the main multilateral and plurilateral organizations and institutions governing international trade and investment relations. By considering why governments have established these intergovernmental organizations, how they affect the behavior of member governments, and how they can resolve problems in international relations, students will gain a thorough appreciation of the important role these organizations play in conditioning the flow of international trade and investment and relations among governments, how they function, the roles of member governments and secretariat officials, how decisions are made and the consequences of such decisions, and how disputes can be resolved. As a result, students should be able to identify how and why an international organization can - or cannot - contribute to the resolution of a specific problem faced by a government or firm as a result of international trade and investment.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW
CD12
Focuses on international law, extending the institutional coverage of module 1in this series, International Trade Organizations, to include general treaties of international law, such as the GATT, WTO and related agreements relevant to the trade community, specific trade laws, case history, and dispute settlement procedures.

REGIONAL TRADE ORGANIZATIONS
CD13
Studies regional trading arrangements, the laws and agreements which govern such arrangements and their relationship to the international institutions and laws covered in modules Laws and Institutions: International Trade Organizations and Laws and Institutions: International Trade Law.

NATIONAL TRADE  LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS

UNITED STATES
CD16
Introduces students to the main features of U.S. laws and regulations regulating or influencing the flow of trade in goods and services into and out of the United States, including the tariff and related issues, antidumping and countervailing duties, safeguard procedures, government procurement regulations, export controls, and export assistance programs.

OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
CD26
Covers the principle trade laws and policies of the European Union, Japan, and Canada, and gives a brief overview of the broad range of laws that can effect the flow of goods, services, capital and technology.  The course will address how in each of these entities different institutional and constitutional conventions have developed to address conflicting interests and reach politically satisfactory solutions.

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN THE TRADING SYSTEM
CD27
To provide students with a critical appreciation of the various claims to special status for developing countries - historical, political, and intellectual - that have emerged over the years have influenced the application of international trade rules to developing countries and the emergence of special institutional mechanisms. As a result students should be well placed to analyze how best to pursue trade and investment opportunities in developing countries, how to negotiate with these countries and resolve problems with them.

HISTORY OF TRADE POLICY

HISTORY OF TRADE THOUGHT AND POLICY
CD14
Explores the historical evolution of thought on trade, starting with the emergence of mercantilism in pre-Renaissance Europe; the role of Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Karl Marx, and others in shaping modern thought on trade; British trade policy in the nineteenth century; the resurgence of protectionism in the early twentieth century; the postwar liberalization of trade; and the development of new ideas to address the increasing breadth and depth of international integration.

ECONOMIC HISTORY
CD39
Explores the economic history of the world since the beginning of the industrial revolution, and its effect on the growth and distribution of trade.  The class looks at the industrial revolution and the development of colonies to feed it, the rise of the modern industrial states, the chaos of the interwar period of trade liberalization, the rise of the multinational corporation, globalization, and  the regional integration movement.

EVOLUTION OF U.S. TRADE POLICY
CD15
Focuses on the evolution of U.S. trade policy, beginning with Alexander Hamilton and the earliest policies adopted by the young Republic, through the protectionist trade policies of the 1920s and 1930s, to the postwar development of more liberal policies. This module highlights the political forces that give rise to major policy changes and stresses how political compromises among competing interest groups lie behind many of the major trade policies in effect today. The evolution of trade policies in other countries will be touched upon briefly but will be covered in greater depth in elective modules.

BUSINESS/GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

FRAMING THE ISSUES
CD17
Addresses how to frame an issue for government action, i.e., how to translate problems identified from a business or interest group perspective into issues that can be addressed by trade officials through negotiations with other governments. Discussions will focus on how to address a specific problem, and at the same time preserve general policy goals that might be undermined by possible courses of action. The module will also focus on the writing of options papers for senior policy guidance. It will outline what information should be included in these papers and how they should be written and organized to achieve maximum effectiveness.

RHETORIC OF ECONOMICS
CD18
Assists students in converting economics into a practical tool for supporting arguments in the public arena. Economics is usually learned in a sterile environment, in which the complexities of the political and physical world are absent. Many students have great difficulty in translating the academic models and theories of economics into tools which bridge the academic-practical gulf. Discussion and cases will include: the distinction between theory as a precise prediction and theory as a rule of thumb; the translation of economic ideas and concepts into comprehensible English; and the use of empirical evidence in non-technical environments.

THE ART OF POLITICS
CD19
Explores the management of politics surrounding an issue. Any particular policy initiative is likely to be supported by some economic and political interests and opposed by others. This module will explore some strategies that might be employed to build support and deflect opposition to a proposed course of action. Class discussion will also focus on the skills required for effective political management of an issue, including consensus building at the national and international levels.

MANAGING PUBLIC ADVOCACY PROCESS

OVERVIEW OF SKILLS
CD23
To be provided.

PRESS & PUBLIC RELATIONS
CD20
Explores how the media can help or harm the achievement of policy objectives. This module will focus on the content of effective press releases, techniques for handling questions by reporters, developing good press relations, and using the media to influence public opinion. The topics will be covered from the perspectives of international organizations, national governments, industry and non-governmental organizations.

WORKING WITH LEGISLATORS
CD21
Examines the dynamics of dealing with an elected legislature and the legislative process. Discussion will focus on the role and motivation of legislators and their staffs, the various ways in which political pressure is brought to bear on officials through the legislature, and the possible ways in which a policy analyst or policy maker can respond to the legislative branch. Class activities will include the preparation of written testimony, the presentation of oral testimony, and simulations of legislative hearings. The coverage includes U.S. and non-U.S. legislative processes and differentiates between the roles of foreign and domestic, industry and non-profit interactions with legislative bodies.

NEGOTIATION SKILLS
CD22
Focuses on coordinating the various elements of a negotiating strategy. This module addresses questions such as:

• What goes into a negotiating strategy?

• What are the factors that have to be considered in designing a strategy?

• How do you approach a zero-sum type of negotiation as opposed to an interest-based or mutual-gains negotiation?

• What is different about rule-making negotiations?

• This module will also address how different countries negotiate and how cultural hurdles can be overcome.

NEGOTIATION SIMULATIONS

NEGOTIATION SIMULATIONS I, II, III
CD41
Expands on basic negotiation strategy, skills, and techniques taught in Negotiation Skills, with emphasis on individual and team negotiations on international trade issues. Scenarios include bilateral and multilateral negotiation and mediation using case studies and hypothetical exercises.

Session II incorporates multilingual simulations in cooperation with the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation to carry out negotiations involving different cultures, governments, and businesses.

ADVANCED ECONOMICS

INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION
CD24
Examines the organization of firms and industries. Explores government policies towards business, their impact on society, and the role of theory in current policy debates. This course is an extension and application of microeconomics, so students will be expected to thoroughly understand basic microeconomics.

Economic Growth & Trade
CD33   
(to be provided)

Advanced  Quantitative Methods
CD32  
 (to be provided)

GLOBAL TRADING SYSTEM

DISPUTE SETTLEMENT IN TRADE
CD29
Examines in depth recent cases that have been litigated either at the GATT/WTO or under the FTA/NAFTA.  The class will consider both the rules involved in these disputes, such as the application of international law,  and the concepts and procedures used to try to resolve each dispute.

TRADE REMEDIES
CD28
Considers a number of specific antidumping, countervailing duty and escape clause cases, tracing the origins of athe problem such remedies are meant  to address, the nature of the complaints and defenses, the very detailed procedures and information pursued, and the extent to which the procedures did or did not address the problem.

OPERATION OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
CD34
Examines the day-to-day operation of the World Trade Organization, its functional structure and its evolution. Areas to be explored include the accession process, the role of working parties, the trade policy review mechanism and the arrangement of trade negotiations.

ADVANCED TOPICS IN TRADE POLICY

CUTTING EDGE ISSUES
CD30
Reviews economic studies of such issues as strategic trade policy, intellectual property rights,  competition policy, labor standards, environmental issues, etc.  Students will learn how to apply economic theories and analytic tools to examine current issues and critically evaluate the economic impact of alternative policy options.

TRADE AND COMPETITION
CD35
Considers a number of specific antidumping, countervailing duty and escape clause cases, tracing the origins of the problem such remedies are meant to address, the nature of the complaints and defenses, the very detailed procedures and information pursued, and the extent to which the procedures did or did not address the problem.

TRADE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
CD36
Examines the relationship between trade policy and social issues such as environmental quality, labor standards and human rights.  The course will analyze the potential use of trade instruments to promote social goals, the relationship between existing international agreements on these issues and the trading system, and the potential for the inclusion of such social issues in future trade agreements.

PROMOTION OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT

TRADE PROMOTION
CD31
Provides an overview of trade promotion programs, such as the support offered to exporting firms by the United States, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong and others. Case materials will focus on the actual experiences of private companies that use this assistance.  

TRADE FINANCE
CD31
Examines how trade is financed, including the official support provided by governments for export credits.

INVESTMENT PROMOTION PROGRAMS
CD38
Examines how governments at various levels in different regions of the world seek to attract foreign investment. The course will identify the characteristics of successful programs and will explore the challenges faced by local and state economic development agencies as they try to attract foreign investment.

GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
CD40
To be provided.

MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES & GOVERNMENT POLICY

FUNCTIONAL OPERATIONS
CD41
The goal of this module is to educate students in the functional operations of multinational corporations(MNC's) in global markets. It will provide them with the ability to communicate with corporate executives and government officials in an informed manner regarding these activities and their relationship to international trade and commercial diplomacy. This goal will be accomplished by explaining in detail the capabilities, resources and the management control of these corporate functional departments.

STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
CD42
The goal of this module is to educate students in how multinational enterprises define international business strategies, particularly with regard to the use of alliances and cooperative efforts. These approaches although employed primarily in the private sector, are also evident in a number of government sectors. Strategies involving the extensive use of joint efforts and organizations, is especially prevalent in the global marketplace where foreign, domestic, and third country businesses may cooperate in virtually every operational function.

COMPARATIVE  MARKET SYSTEMS
CD43
Studies the interaction of economies and politics in the formation of public policy, especially as it applies to international economic relations. The course will focus on the political economy of trade and investment issues. The module covers the three leading paradigms -liberal, realist, and populist-which provide a conceptual framework for understanding the intersections of politics and economics in policy formation.

OTHER

PROFESSIONAL WRITING
CD44
This course is designed both to provide an overview of current trade policy issues and to help students develop writing skills appropriate for professional settings.