Quick Summary: International trade law has never been more relevant — shaped by Brexit, US-China trade tensions, WTO reform, and the UK’s post-EU trade policy. This guide covers every essential book for advanced trade law study in the UK.
International trade law — governing the rules under which countries trade goods, services, and investment across borders — has moved from a relatively specialised academic field to one of the most politically and economically significant areas of law. Post-Brexit, the UK has had to negotiate its own free trade agreements, reform its domestic trade remedies regime, and define its relationship with both the WTO and the EU’s Single Market.
For law students, this creates an unusually dynamic and career-relevant field. Trade law skills — WTO dispute settlement, customs compliance, export controls, trade remedies — are in demand in government, international organisations, and commercial practice.
In This Guide
Foundation Texts for LLM Students
International Trade Law (5th ed.) — Carr & Stone (Routledge)
The most accessible introduction to international trade law for advanced students. Clearly structured around WTO architecture, GATT principles, GATS, TRIPS, trade remedies, and dispute settlement. Stronger on practical accessibility than academic depth. The fifth edition incorporates recent WTO Appellate Body developments and post-Brexit UK trade policy. Frequently assigned as the primary text on international trade LLM modules in the UK.
- ✓ Most readable introduction to WTO law
- ✓ Good coverage of UK post-Brexit trade law
- ✓ Well-structured for module-by-module study
- ✗ Less depth than Matsushita et al on WTO doctrine
International Trade Law (5th ed.) — Trebilcock, Howse & Eliason (Routledge)
A more academically rigorous alternative to Carr & Stone. Trebilcock, Howse & Eliason integrates economic analysis with legal doctrine throughout — essential reading for students who want to understand the policy rationale behind WTO rules as well as the rules themselves. Strong on the political economy of trade policy and on the debate about WTO reform. Preferred by students at LSE where the law-economics intersection is emphasised.
Price: ~£50–£65 | Buy from Routledge →
WTO Law — Advanced Texts
For serious WTO law study — particularly for dissertation research or students planning careers in international trade bodies — the following texts are essential.
The Law of the World Trade Organization (WTO) — Matsushita, Schoenbaum, Mavroidis & Hahn (OUP)
The authoritative academic treatise on WTO law. Comprehensive, deeply referenced, and extensively used for LLM dissertation research. More demanding than Carr & Stone but indispensable for serious WTO scholarship. Covers all major WTO agreements including GATT, GATS, TRIPS, Anti-Dumping Agreement, Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Safeguards, and the Dispute Settlement Understanding in full analytical depth.
Price: ~£70–£90 | View on Amazon UK →
WTO Dispute Settlement: One-Page Case Summaries — WTO Secretariat (WTO Publications)
Not a textbook but an invaluable reference: the WTO Secretariat’s official one-page summaries of all WTO dispute settlement cases. Essential for understanding how WTO rules have been interpreted in practice. Available free online at wto.org — download the current edition before starting your modules.
Free download: WTO.org →
A Handbook on the WTO Dispute Settlement System — WTO Secretariat (Cambridge University Press)
The official guide to WTO dispute settlement procedure — written by the WTO Legal Affairs Division. Clear, authoritative, and practical. The second edition covers the full dispute settlement process from consultations through panel proceedings to the Appellate Body and implementation. Essential reading for any student focusing on WTO dispute resolution.
Price: ~£35–£50 | View on Amazon UK →
UK Trade Law Post-Brexit
Since January 2021, the UK has operated as an independent trading nation within the WTO framework, negotiating its own free trade agreements, running its own trade remedies system, and managing a complex relationship with the EU Single Market. This makes UK-specific trade law study more relevant than at any time in the past 50 years.
Brexit and International Trade Law — Armour, Eidenmuller et al (Cambridge University Press)
An excellent academic collection examining the legal consequences of Brexit for UK trade law. Covers the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Northern Ireland Protocol (now Windsor Framework), UK FTA policy, and trade remedies. Highly recommended for students writing dissertations on post-Brexit trade law or planning careers in UK government trade roles.
Price: ~£35–£55 | View on Amazon UK →
Key Journals
International trade law moves quickly — WTO Appellate Body decisions, new FTAs, and evolving trade policy require engagement with current scholarship. The following journals are the most important for ongoing study.
Journal of World Trade (Kluwer Law International)
The leading scholarly journal in international trade law. Published by Kluwer Law International, the Journal of World Trade sets the agenda for both scholarship and policy in international trade. Covers WTO law, regional trade agreements, trade and development, trade remedies, and emerging issues including digital trade and environmental measures. Essential for dissertation research and for staying current with the field. Most UK university libraries subscribe — check before purchasing individual access.
Journal access: View on Wolters Kluwer →
Global Trade and Customs Journal (Kluwer Law International)
A practitioner-focused journal covering customs law, import/export controls, trade compliance, and sanctions. Published by Kluwer Law International, it provides practical guidance on the compliance aspects of international trade — particularly relevant for students interested in the commercial practice of trade law rather than purely the WTO treaty framework.
Journal access: View on Wolters Kluwer →
Journal of International Economic Law (OUP)
The other major academic journal in international trade and economic law — broader than Journal of World Trade in covering investment law, trade in services, and the interface between trade and other regulatory concerns. Published by Oxford University Press. Available via most UK law library subscriptions.
Journal access: View on Amazon UK →
Which UK university is best for international trade law?
LSE has the strongest reputation for trade law and trade policy — its connections to government, international organisations, and the economics of trade policy are unmatched. UCL and Edinburgh are also strong, and King’s has developed particular strength in UK post-Brexit trade law. The WTO itself has several staff with LSE and UCL LLM backgrounds.
Is the WTO Appellate Body still functioning?
The WTO Appellate Body has been in crisis since December 2019, when its membership fell below the quorum needed to hear appeals. The US has blocked new appointments since 2017. In practice, many WTO members use the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) as a temporary alternative. This institutional crisis is itself one of the most important issues in current international trade law scholarship and is covered in detail in the Journal of World Trade.
What careers can I pursue with an LLM in international trade law?
WTO and government advisory roles (UKTPO, DBT, WTO Secretariat), City law firms with international trade practices, customs and trade compliance in multinational companies, and academia. Trade law skills are also increasingly in demand in energy, agriculture, and digital economy sectors as those industries navigate export controls, trade remedies, and FTA provisions.