The Principle of Proportionality in International Law

NCCR Trade Regulation Working Paper No 2012/38

34 Pages Posted: 26 Apr 2015

See all articles by Thomas Cottier

Thomas Cottier

University of Bern - Institute of European and International Economic Law

Roberto Echandi

University of Bern - World Trade Institute

Rafael Leal-Arcas

Alfaisal University

Rachel G. Liechti-McKee

Institute for European and International Law

Tetyana Payosova

WTI/NCCR Trade; IEW, University of Bern

Charlotte Sieber-Gasser

Geneva Graduate Institute, Centre for Trade and Economic Integration; University of Zurich - Faculty of Law

Date Written: December 1, 2012

Abstract

Whilst the principle of proportionality indisputably plays a crucial role in the protection of fundamental rights, it is still unclear to what extent it applies to other fields in international law. The paper therefore explores the role it plays in selected fields of public international law, beyond human rights. The examination begins in the classical domain of reprisals and in maritime boundary delimitation and continues to analyse the role played in the law of multilateral trade regulation of the World Trade Organization and in bilateral investment protection. In an attempt to explain differences in recourse to proportionality in the various fields, we develop in our conclusions a distinction between horizontal and vertical constellations of legal protection.

Keywords: proportionality, use of force, maritime boundary delimitation, WTO, GATT, GATS, investment law

JEL Classification: K33

Suggested Citation

Cottier, Thomas and Echandi, Roberto and Leal-Arcas, Rafael and Liechti-McKee, Rachel G. and Payosova, Tetyana and Sieber-Gasser, Charlotte, The Principle of Proportionality in International Law (December 1, 2012). NCCR Trade Regulation Working Paper No 2012/38, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2598410 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2598410

Thomas Cottier

University of Bern - Institute of European and International Economic Law ( email )

Hallerstrasse 6
Bern, CH-3012
Switzerland
+41 31 6313626 (Phone)

Roberto Echandi

University of Bern - World Trade Institute ( email )

Hallerstrasse 6/8
Berne, CH-3012
Switzerland

Rafael Leal-Arcas (Contact Author)

Alfaisal University ( email )

P.O. Box 50927
Riyadh, 11533
Saudi Arabia

Rachel G. Liechti-McKee

Institute for European and International Law ( email )

Gesellschaftsstrasse 49
Bern, BERN 3001
Switzerland

HOME PAGE: http://www.iew.unibe.ch/content/index_ger.html

Tetyana Payosova

WTI/NCCR Trade ( email )

Hallerstrasse 6/8
Berne, CH-3012
Switzerland

IEW, University of Bern ( email )

Hallerstrasse 6
Bern, CH-3012
Switzerland

Charlotte Sieber-Gasser

Geneva Graduate Institute, Centre for Trade and Economic Integration ( email )

Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2A
Geneva, CH-1211
Switzerland

University of Zurich - Faculty of Law ( email )

Rämistrasse 71
Zürich, CH-8006
Switzerland

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