The Global Trade Academy (GTA) has its roots in the 1980s when the late Professor John H. Jackson, an architect of the World Trade Organization and former Director of the Institute, created a forum to take an in-depth look into the legal underpinnings of international trade.
Today, the GTA continues to be an indispensable boot camp in a seminar-like atmosphere, offering participants an unparalleled deep dive into the most salient and complex legal and policy issues in trade today.
Trade law and policy is front and center in today’s business climate, on the news, and in political debates around the globe. The GTA both examines the legal foundations and constitutional underpinnings of the global trading system and offers insight into the most cutting-edge issues of the day with leading global experts.
The Institute will be hosting a special edition of the Global Trade Academy, spotlighting the changing U.S. trade landscape on November 5-7 at the law offices of King & Spalding.
The Global Trade Academy offers CLE credits in Pennsylvania and New York, and additional states via reciprocity and self-filing. Additional states can be added upon request.
While the Academy has previously examined the legal obligations and policy underpinnings, it has been thoughtfully redesigned to prepare participants to navigate the increasingly complex and rapidly changing U.S. trade landscape. The curriculum reflects emerging trends, geopolitical shifts, and new challenges at the intersection of innovation and regulation.
The first day provides insights into the foundation of trade law and policy (i.e. workshops and lectures on trade in services, dispute settlement, trade in goods, trade remedies, and intellectual property protections). The following days will spotlight emerging challenges at the intersection of trade, technology, security, and governance.
EXPERT FACULTY
Academy Faculty hail from diverse backgrounds, including academia, government, law firms, the diplomatic corps, the corporate world, NGOs, and former senior trade negotiators. Past presenters include former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Maria Pagan; former WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo; former IMF Chief Economist Simon Johnson, former ITC Chair and Commissioner Rhonda Schmidtlein; and esteemed Georgetown Law faculty including Professors Jennifer Hillman, Katrin Kuhlmann, Alvaro Santos, and Greg Shaffer.
This IIEL Executive Education program is designed to build knowledge and networks to facilitate engagement in the international economic legal system, by training legal professionals; public policy officials; members of the international business, IGO, and NGO communities; academics; and others – including those from developing countries and transitioning economies. By design, this Executive Education program is open to experienced leaders and younger professionals alike. One need not be an attorney to attend.
In order to enhance each participant’s learning experience, space may be limited. Therefore, we recommend early registration. Reach out to lawiiel@georgetown.edu for more info.
Former Deputy US Trade Representative Maria Pagan delivers keynote at 2025 Global Trade Academy
Former World Bank President Robert Zoellick talks to a GTA participant
Former IMF General Counsel Sean Hagan lectures at the GTA
A Key Feature of the Trade Academy is Networking
GTA Participants brainstorm for a group activity
GTA Participants brainstorm for a group activity
