Author
Dr Vesna Lukovic
Organisation/Institution
Independent Researcher
Country
GREECE
Panel
International Regulation of Trade
Title
What can the World Trade Organization (WTO) do with regard to geopoliticisation of trade for security reasons vis-à-vis the “good old” trade protectionism?
Abstract
The new reality of foreign investment screenings, increased tariffs and other trade protection measures indicate that the world has moved away from integrative globalisation in previous decades. A new era of increased economic nationalism is accompanied with the geopolitical issues such as trade sanctions and other measures in response to the war in Ukraine and other conflicts. Trade protectionism has a negative effect on business, even more if it is not clear what is allowed to import or export to other contries. There has been a rise of companies from Asia that have been moving their cheap products around the world easily in the last decade. This paper looks at the problem of products that are typically not likely to be a security threat, including those products that are considered dual-use goods that can be used in both, consumer-type and military-type of use. The paper explores the legal rules of international trade as set by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the relevant line between economic nationalism (trade protectionism) vis-à-vis politicization of trade measures that are allegedly imposed for security reasons. The focus of the paper is on relations between the European Union and China. The methodology applied is the content analysis of relevant legal and other sources for the period 2014-2024 that are available online, including data from the European Union’ statistical office, the Eurostat. The finding is that despite the fact that the WTO is the key international body dealing with the rules of trade between countries, this organization cannot do much with regard to geopoliticisation of trade in cases when “security” arguments are applied by countries. That is so because in practice there is a very thin line between geopoliticisation of trade for economic reasons and geopoliticisation of trade for security reasons.
Biography
Career history: 2018-present Independent Researcher, Thessaloniki, Greece 2008-2017 Bank of Slovenia, Senior Analyst, Analysis & Research Department, Ljubljana, Slovenia 2006-2007 Research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and CASE partner at the University of Sheffield, UK 2005-2006 Luton Borough Council, Environment and Regeneration Unit, New Deal for Communities' Assistant, Luton, United Kingdom 2004-2005 Work and study within the postgraduate Learn and Earn Award for MSc. in Computing and Information Technology, University of Bedfordshire, UK, cofunded by the European Social Fund through the British Government 2003-2004 Study for postgraduate Diploma in Applied Economics and Data Analysis at the University of Essex, Department of Economics, UK 2002 USAID (United States Agency for International Development), Senior Macroeconomist, Mission in Kosovo, Kosovo 2000 Ministry of Finance, Government of Slovenia, Senior Advisor to the Government, Ljubljana, Slovenia 1993-2000 Ministry of Economic Relations and Development, Government of Slovenia, Advisor to the Government, Ljubljana, Slovenia 1992-1993 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department for International Relations,Ljubljana, Slovenia Professional qualifications: 2017 PhD, EU law, European Faculty of Law, Nova Gorica, Slovenia 2005 MSc., Computing and Information Technology, University of Bedfordshire, Department of Computing and Information Systems, Luton, UK 2004 PgDip (Post-graduate diploma), Applied Economics & Data Analysis, University of Essex, Department of Economics, Colchester, UK 2000 Master's degree (MIA, Economic Policy Management), Columbia University, New York City, USA (World Bank scholarship) 1997 BSc. Economics, University of Maribor, Economics & Business School, Slovenia
