Call for Papers: International Trade Law Summit 2026 by Hidayatullah National Law University [Oct 2–4; Offline; WTO@30 Theme]: Submit by April 20, 2026!

Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur invites abstracts for the International Trade Law Summit 2026 commemorating 30 years of the World Trade Organization.

About Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur

Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), established in 2003, is one of India’s leading National Law Universities committed to excellence in legal education, interdisciplinary research, and public service. Over the past two decades, the university has built a strong academic reputation through specialised research centres, policy engagement initiatives, and international collaborations in emerging areas of law.

The university houses the School for Law and Technology, which focuses on advanced research in trade law, intellectual property, artificial intelligence regulation, data protection, and digital governance. It also hosts the Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies, a recognised research hub working on international trade law and intellectual property policy under the WTO Chairs Programme supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

Through these initiatives, HNLU has contributed significantly to academic discourse on global trade governance and regulatory transformation in international economic law.

About the International Trade Law Summit 2026

HNLU, through its Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies and School of Law and Technology, in collaboration with the WTO Young Trade Leaders Programme and Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, is organising the International Trade Law Summit 2026 under the WTO Chairs Programme of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

The summit is scheduled to be held from October 2 to October 4, 2026, in offline mode at HNLU, Raipur.

Organised to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the summit aims to promote scholarly engagement with contemporary developments in multilateral trade governance and create meaningful academic and professional opportunities for students, researchers, and practitioners interested in international economic law.

The event is structured as a major academic platform combining a research paper conference with a first-of-its-kind Mock WTO negotiation exercise in India.

Structure of the Summit

The International Trade Law Summit consists of two parallel flagship components designed to combine academic scholarship with experiential learning in global trade governance.

Module I: International Paper Presentation Conference

This component includes technical paper presentation sessions and expert-led thematic panel discussions addressing emerging challenges in international trade law. Selected authors will present their research before subject experts, policymakers, and scholars working in the field of global trade regulation.

Module II: Mock WTO Exercise

The summit also features a student-exclusive simulation exercise replicating WTO negotiation processes. Participants will represent member states in structured committees and engage in drafting negotiated resolutions on contemporary trade governance challenges.

This simulation provides practical exposure to consensus-building mechanisms, negotiation strategy, and institutional functioning within the multilateral trade system.

Theme of the Paper Conference

The WTO@30: Reimagining Multilateralism in International Trade Law

Indicative Sub-Themes

Digital trade and the data-driven economy
Trade, sustainability, and climate action
Emerging goods, services, and hybrid trade forms
Power asymmetries in global trade governance
Reforming the dispute settlement system
Services liberalisation and the GATS agenda
Investment facilitation and trade governance

The listed themes are indicative and non-exhaustive. Authors may submit papers addressing any relevant issue within international trade law aligned with the broader summit theme.

Eligibility Criteria

Research papers are invited from:

Academicians
Legal practitioners
Policy professionals
Research scholars
Students from law, economics, business, and allied disciplines

Participants from India and abroad are eligible to submit abstracts for consideration under the paper presentation conference.

Submission Guidelines for Paper Conference

Abstract submissions must comply with the following requirements:

Maximum 500 words including five keywords
Bio-note of approximately 50 words
MS Word format
Times New Roman font
Font size 12
Line spacing 1.5
Justified alignment

Full paper submissions must comply with the following requirements:

Maximum 10,000 words inclusive of abstract and footnotes
OSCOLA (4th Edition) citation style
Times New Roman font
Font size 12
Line spacing 1.5
Justified alignment

Co-authorship is permitted for a maximum of two authors.

Authors whose abstracts are accepted will receive separate communication containing instructions for full paper submission, registration, and fee payment.

Registration fees for paper presentation become applicable only after acceptance of abstracts.

Mock WTO Exercise Details

Theme:

The Intersection between Trade and the Digital Economy

Participants will be assigned country delegations representing WTO members and will participate in negotiations across committees such as:

Council for Trade in Services
Negotiating Group on Market Access
TRIPS Council
Trade and Competition Committee

Delegates are required to submit position papers as part of the simulation exercise.

Registration Fees

For Paper Presentation Conference:

Indian academicians, professionals, and research scholars: ₹2500
Indian students: ₹1500
Foreign participants: USD 20

For Mock WTO Exercise:

Indian delegates: ₹1200
Foreign delegates: USD 15

Combined participation (Conference and Mock WTO):

Indian students: ₹2700
Foreign students: USD 35

Registration fees are payable only after notification of abstract acceptance.

Important Dates

Opening of Mock WTO registration: February 6, 2026

Abstract submission deadline: April 20, 2026

Notification of abstract acceptance: April 26, 2026

Opening of registration and fee payment (conference): April 27, 2026

Registration deadline for summit participation: July 20, 2026

Full paper submission deadline: September 6, 2026

Summit dates: October 2–4, 2026

Who Should Apply

This summit is particularly suitable for:

Students interested in international trade law careers
Researchers working on WTO law and dispute settlement
Policy professionals engaged in trade negotiations
Academicians specialising in international economic law
Participants interested in digital trade governance
Scholars analysing sustainability and trade intersections

Participation provides opportunities for academic presentation, negotiation training, publication exposure, and interaction with experts working in global trade governance frameworks.

Click here for brochure

Click here to submit abstracts

Click here to register for Mock WTO

Applicants are advised to carefully review the official notification and brochure before submitting abstracts. Only submissions complying with the prescribed formatting requirements will be considered for evaluation.