Customs and Trade Laws of the European Community

This text offers a detailed and practical overview of the market of the European Communities (EC) and the main instruments of the EC's commercial policy and trade agreements. The main focus is on the practical aspects and application of those laws with regard to the EC's major trading partners. The book makes full reference to the rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and also to the legislation regulating market access conditions. As a result, it provides a basic picture of EC trade policy together with the necessary tools and knowledge for entering into or improving bilateral or multilateral trade relations with the EC. The book is divided into six chapters. Chapter One contains an overview of the determinants of EC trade policy and its constitutional framework. Chapter Two examines the EC's various preferential and non-preferential trade regimes for third countries. Chapter Three is devoted to customs laws, with special emphasis on preferential rules of origin. Chapter Four discusses specific trade laws such as the anti-subsidy law and the "commercial policy instrument". Chapter Five covers the EC's most important trade protection law, the anti-dumping law. Finally, Chapter Six contains an overview of judicial remedies available to private parties.