Centre for International Trade and Business Laws (CITBL)

About

The Centre for International Trade and Business Laws (CITBL) was established in September 2022 under the patronage of former Supreme Court Judge, Hon’ble Mr. Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy. The Centre was founded with the vision of creating a vibrant academic and policy-oriented platform dedicated to the study and advancement of international trade law, commercial law, and global business regulation. CITBL aims to promote high-quality research, education, and dialogue on the legal frameworks that govern international commerce and economic cooperation. In an era characterized by rapidly evolving global markets, trade agreements, and regulatory regimes, the Centre seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the legal and institutional structures that shape international trade and investment.

Our Philosophy

The Centre for International Trade and Business Laws (CITBL) is guided by a commitment to bridging the gap between academic scholarship and practical policymaking in the field of international economic law. The Centre believes that rigorous legal research must not remain confined to theoretical discourse but should actively contribute to shaping policy, informing governance, and addressing real-world challenges in global trade and commerce.

CITBL adopts an interdisciplinary and forward-looking approach, recognising that international trade law operates at the intersection of economics, politics, and global development. It seeks to cultivate critical thinking, analytical rigour, and policy-oriented research among students and scholars. By fostering an environment of intellectual engagement and collaborative inquiry, the Centre aims to prepare the next generation of legal professionals to navigate complex global regulatory systems and contribute meaningfully to international economic governance.

Research and Collaborations

The Centre has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Trade and Investment Law, established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The Academic Collaboration Arrangement (ACA) is for fostering enhanced cooperation in the fields of international trade, investment, economic integration, international economic law, and related areas, with a focus on the developmental needs of India and other developing nations.

In addition, CITBL has signed an MoU with the World Trade Institute, which is an interdisciplinary Centre at the University of Bern, Switzerland to facilitate collaborative academic engagements, including conferences, short courses, and other joint programmes

Project

CITBL is engaged with a project regarding Comprehensive Assessment of Existing Trade in Services Measures at the State/ Local Government Level in India with the Services Division, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India commenced on March 3, 2025.

Outreach and Engagement

CITBL actively engages with governmental bodies, international organisations, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders to expand its impact beyond the university. The Centre regularly organises conferences, panel discussions, workshops, and guest lectures featuring leading experts in international trade and business law. These initiatives aim to create platforms for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and capacity building among students, practitioners, and policymakers.

In furtherance of its commitment to policy-relevant research, the Centre has undertaken collaborative projects with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. Through these engagements, CITBL contributes to research and policy inputs on contemporary issues in international trade, thereby strengthening its role as a bridge between academia and government.

The Centre also encourages student participation in outreach activities, including research projects, internships, and collaborative initiatives with national and international institutions. Through these efforts, CITBL strives to build a dynamic ecosystem that promotes informed discourse and meaningful contributions to the evolving landscape of global trade law.

Our Initiatives and Events

1. Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) a Government of India initiative course on the topic “WTO Law and the Climate Crisis” from January 12 to 16, 2025. Prof. Dr. Peter Van den Bossche a former Appellate Body member and former Director and studies World Trade Institute, University of Bern was the instructor for the course. The course was designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the relationship between international trade law and climate change policies. Against the backdrop of global geopolitical and economic shifts, this course explores how WTO law can contribute to addressing the climate crisis.
2. One credit course on “The core of World Trade Law, research developments and key challenges facing the WTO” from 29th September – 4th October 2024. Prof. Werner Zdouc, director of the Knowledge and Information Management, Academic Outreach and WTO Chairs Programme Division of the WTO and former Director of the WTO Appellate Body Secretariat from 2006 to 2020 was the instructor.
3. One Credit Course-Trade in Services from 10 to15 August, 2024 by Shri Sumanta Chaudhuri IAS (Rtd). The course covered international legal framework for services trade and the resultant consequences for liberalisation of services sectors, development of domestic regulatory frameworks including substantially independent regulators, services trade negotiation dynamics in both the WTO and regional/bilateral trade agreements.
4. On October 4, 2024, Prof. James J. Nedumpara, Professor and Head of the Centre for Trade and Investment Laws at IIFT, New Delhi, delivered a lecture on the topic “Pillars of Global Economic Governance.”
5. On October 2, 2024, Prof. Dr. Werner Zdouc, Director of the Knowledge and Information Management, Academic Outreach, and WTO Chairs Programme Division at the WTO, delivered a lecture on the “WTO Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA).”
6. On July 19, 2024 Ambassador Dr. V. S. Seshadri, IFS (Retd) delivered a lecture on the topic Free Trade Agreements: India and the World”.
7. On February 21, 2024, Amb. Ujal Singh Bhatia delivered a lecture on the topic India’s Role in the Negotiation of Different Trade Agreements.
8. Panel Discussion on the World Trade Report 2024: Trade and Inclusiveness How to Make Trade Work for All on 7th October 2024. Prof. Werner Zdouc, Amb. Ujal Singh Bhatia, Prof. Ravi Srinivas, Ms. Sunanda Tewari, were the panelists. Dr. Kapil Sharma moderated the discussion.
9. One-week offline In-Service Training Programme in International Trade and Investment Law for All India Service Officers from January 6, 2025 to January 10, 2025. Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao presided the inaugural and valedictory sessions. Amb. Manpreet Vohra, Former High Commissioner of India to Australia (2021-23), Prof. Dr. TVSN Prasad, Former Chief Secretary of Haryana & Distinguished Professor and Director of Centre for Business, Economics, Law and Technology at NALSAR, Prof. Dr. P. S. Rao, Director of the Centre for International Trade and Business Laws, NALSAR, Mr. Sumanta Chaudhuri, IAS (Rtd), Amb. Dr. V. S. Seshadri, IFS (Rtd), Prof. James J. Nedumpara, Professor and Head, Centre for Trade and Investment Law, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, Prof. Dr. Krishna Ravi Srinivas, Adjunct Professor at NALSAR, Prof. Mukesh Bhatnagar, Former Professor at the Centre for WTO Studies IIFT, Mr. Kamal Malhotra, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Global Development Policy Centre, Boston University, USA and Former UN Resident Coordinator and Representative of the UN Secretary General Malaysia, Turkiye, Vietnam, Dr Rosmy Joan, Dr. Kapil Sharma and Dr. Eluckiaa A were the speakers/resource persons.
10. International conference on “Navigating the Future: Industrial Policy and Global Competitiveness” in collaboration with the CTIL, IIFT, New Delhi, WTO Chairs Programme India and the World Trade Institute, University of Bern Switzerland. The event took place from January 17 to January 19, 2025, and brought together leading experts, policymakers, and academics to discuss the evolving role of industrial policy in addressing contemporary global economic challenges, with a particular focus on trade regulations, sustainability, and global competitiveness. Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao presided the inaugural and valedictory sessions. Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Amb. Ujal Singh Bhatia, Prof. Peter Van den Bossche, Prof. James Nedumpara, Prof. Isabella Van Damme, Shri Dammu Ravi, Ms. R.V. Anuradha, Dr. Fernando Martin, Dr. TVSN Prasad, Dr. Pronab Sen, Prof. Abhijit Das, Prof. Pritam Banerjee, Prof. Simon Lester, Shir Sumanta Chaudhuri, Prof. Henry Gao, Prof. Sheela Rai, Ms. Sangeeta Godbole, Prof. Shailja Singh, Dr. Alicia Gracia Herrero, Prof Trinh Huong, Prof Poppy Winanti, Ms. Prachi Priya, Mr. Ashutosh Kashyap, Ms. Sai Sumana Chamarty, Ms. Aparana Bhattacharya, Ms. Sparsha Janardhan, Ms. Teesta Lahiri and Ms. Vishaka Srivastava were the invited speakers.
11. International conference on “Crises and Solutions to Dispute Settlement System under the WTO” in collaboration with CWS, IIFT, New Delhi in April 2024. The conference was divided into 3 panel discussions, 2 plenary sessions and 9 technical sessions in which more than 60 papers were presented. The inauguration ceremony was presided by the Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao. Prof Dr. Peter Van den Bossche, Prof. Dr. P. S .Rao, Amb. Ujal Singh Bhatia, Prof. Dr.Werner Zdouc, Prof. Pritam Banerjee, Prof. Dr. James Nedumpara, Mr. Atul Kaushik, Prof Dr. Sheela Rai, Prof. Shailja Singh, Prof. Dr. Leila Choukroune, Amb. Jayant Dasgupta, Prof. Abhijit Das, and Prof. Sai Ramani Garimella were the invited speakers of the conference.