Investing in Trade and Investment Law Capacity: The Contrasting Models of India and China

Professor James Nedumpara, a visitor of Gabrielle Appleby and Weihuan Zhou, presented a lecture titled ‘Investing in Trade and Investment Law Capacity: The Contrasting Models of India and China’

Abstract: The presentation addressed how India and China, two leading economies with contrasting development models and priorities, have organized themselves to  shape international trade law, and in particular the law of the World Trade Organization. The presentation addressed three questions: (i) how India and China have invested in trade-related legal capacity to take on their trading partners in the WTO to assert their rights and defend their interests (ii) in doing so, how did they change domestically; and (iii) in consequence of their engagement and successes, how these countries could assume leadership in repairing an international trade order which is in disarray.

Bio: Dr. James J. Nedumpara is Professor and Head of Centre for International Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) established by the Government of India at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT). In this capacity he advises the Government on various aspects relating to international trade and investment law. He is currently on leave from Jindal Global Law School where he joined as a founding faculty. James has several years of experience in the field of international trade and economic law and has worked with leading law firms, corporate firms and also UNCTAD's India programme before joining academia.  He was also part of the Indian delegation that appeared in the proceedings on India- Agricultural Products (Avian Influenza dispute) before the WTO Appellate Body. James has taught as a visiting faculty at FGV Law School, São Paolo, Brazil, ITAM Mexico City, NUJS Kolkata, NLSIU Bangalore, Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum and the CWS-WTI Joint Summer Academy. He has also served visiting fellowships in several leading law schools.

James received his Ph.D. in Law from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore and received his first Masters degree in Law from the University of Cambridge, UK as a Cambridge Commonwealth Scholar. He also holds LL.M degrees from the New York University School of Law, USA and the National University of Singapore. He took his Bachelor of Laws degree from Mahatma Gandhi University, India. He is the Co-Chair of the South Asia International Economic Law Network (SAIELN).