HNLU Raipur is organising a three-day International Trade Law Summit in October 2026.
About the Organisation
Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur is a national law university engaged in advanced legal education, interdisciplinary research, and policy-focused academic initiatives. The university conducts specialised academic programmes through its research centres, including the Centre for WTO and WIPO Studies under the School of Law and Technology.
The summit is being organised in collaboration with the WTO Young Trade Leaders Programme and the Centre for Trade and Investment Law at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade under the WTO Chairs Programme framework. These collaborations support academic engagement in international trade law and multilateral economic governance.
About the Summit
The International Trade Law Summit is being organised to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the World Trade Organization. The summit aims to promote academic engagement, global trade awareness, and professional dialogue on developments in international trade law and multilateral trading systems.
The event provides a platform for students, researchers, practitioners, academicians, and policymakers to critically examine institutional challenges affecting the WTO and explore pathways for strengthening global trade cooperation.
Structure of the Summit
The summit consists of two flagship components.
Module I: International Conference
This component includes research paper presentations and expert-led thematic panel discussions addressing contemporary developments in international trade law.
Module II: Mock WTO Exercise
The Mock WTO Exercise is a student-exclusive simulation of WTO negotiations where participants represent country delegations and engage in drafting negotiated outcomes and resolutions within committee structures.
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Theme of the Summit
The theme of the summit is:
The WTO at 30: Reimagining Multilateralism in International Trade Law
Indicative sub-themes include:
- Digital trade and the data-driven economy
- Trade and sustainability
- Climate-linked trade regulation
- Emerging goods, services, and hybrid trade frameworks
- Reform of dispute settlement mechanisms
- Services liberalisation under the GATS framework
- Investment facilitation and trade governance
Call for Papers
Research papers are invited from academicians, professionals, research scholars, practitioners, and students.
Abstract submissions must not exceed 500 words and should include five keywords along with a short bio-note. Selected authors will be notified separately regarding submission of full papers.
Full papers may be submitted up to 10,000 words and must follow the OSCOLA citation style. Co-authorship of up to two authors is permitted.
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Mock WTO Exercise
The Mock WTO Exercise is designed to provide structured exposure to multilateral trade diplomacy through simulation of negotiation procedures followed within WTO institutional frameworks.
Participants will represent WTO member delegations and engage with committees such as:
- Council for Trade in Services
- Negotiating Group on Market Access
- TRIPS Council
- Trade and Competition committees
Delegates are required to submit position papers as part of participation requirements.
Eligibility
Undergraduate and postgraduate students from law, economics, business, and allied disciplines are eligible to participate.
Participation is open to both domestic and international applicants.
Registration Fees
Conference participation fees are structured separately for students, professionals, and international participants. Separate registration categories are available for participation in the conference, Mock WTO Exercise, or both components together.
Accommodation
University hostel accommodation is available for participants on request, subject to availability. Accommodation charges apply separately.
Important Dates
Opening of registration for Mock WTO delegates: 6 February 2026
Last date for abstract submission: 20 April 2026
Notification of acceptance of abstracts: 26 April 2026
Opening of conference registration: 27 April 2026
Last date for registration and fee payment: 20 July 2026
Last date for submission of research papers: 6 September 2026
Dates of the summit: 2–4 October 2026
Contact Information
Email: itls@hnlu.ac.in
