Goals
The goal of this module is to prepare students
for the task of framing trade-related business/interest group issues for
government action. The framework constructs must translate business and
interest group problem perspectives into issues that may be fashioned in
a way that they may be effectively addressed by trade officials who
negotiate with other governments. The final objective of this course is
to develop the students ability to prepare an options paper (alternative
trade problem solutions) that will allow government negotiators to act
not only within the international principles and procedures, but also
within the limits and goals of domestic policy.
Topics
Covered
The topics covered in this module will include
both broad concepts and specific techniques and practices. The concepts
will include those based on economic theory, viz. the trade framework
principles of market forces, reciprocity, non‑discriminatory
action, legitimacy of domestic regulation, national treatment and
orderly adjustments; and the procedural principles including
transparency, consultation, and dispute settlement. All of these areas
are particularly germane to government trade officials.
From the standpoint of the private sector
however, the basic concepts to be covered are those directly related to
the industry affected by trade issues. The subject industry's structure,
conduct, and performance is affected by trade problems and therefore the
framing of issues must be concerned with the
"structure‑conduct‑performance" paradigm.
Other aspects of the framework include the
involvement of intermediate organizations interest groups, institutions,
unions, etc., that are affected by trade actions.
Consequently the topics will address the four
major elements of a framework i.e., 1) the trade principles related to
government actions in trade; 2) the procedural principles related to
government negotiations; 3) the industry structure paradigm; 4) and the
parallel interests of intermediate groups that are not directly part of
the industry structure.
The topics will be integrated into the course
so that statement of the possible problem solutions can be proposed as
an options paper.
Key
Books and Articles
The text and readings for this module Will
be
developed from current event sources and will be assigned by the
syllabus for each module term. In essence, the instructor's notes and
published readings will comprise the formal materials.
Case
Materials
The cases to be provided for analysis in this
course will include those from the semiconductor, auto, and consumer
goods industries.
In addition, student teams will be required to
prepare a researched case (i.e., actually research and write a case),
for which questions will be devised for total class participation. The
case must utilize the development of a framework for problem resolution.
Criteria
for Evaluating Teaching and Student Performance
The student should be able to develop an
options paper based on an assessment of the overall industry/trade
situation with which he/she may be faced. This assessment will require a
construct of the appropriate framework.
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