The State of International Trade Law: A Time Traveller's Perspective *

Abstract

The majority of those in the field of international trade law feel that the field, especially its, multilateral side, is in a time of crisis, even of decline. While there may be many reasons for such a perspective, such a widespread pessimistic view may be harmful to the field's vitality and development. Yet, those negative impressions may not be reflective of the reality of the field today, for they may be too heavily influenced by recent, if seemingly ongoing, negative experiences within the field. Rather, a longer term broader sense of perspective might suggest a more nuanced, maybe even a positive view of the health of the field. But, such a perspective may be elusive. This article solves that problem through using a constructed perspective, creating an imaginary time traveller from the field, whose impressions and insights provide the much-needed longer term perspective. The article first constructs the "Time Traveller", providing its character, background and experiences based on what might have been typical of a member of the field in 1947 (a pivotal year in the field's birth). Those constructed impressions and insights on the contexts surrounding the field today are then explored in comparison to those that would have been present in 1947. That comparative exercise provides critical insights and comparisons which in turn suggest that there is a strong case for optimism about the field, even as there is recognition of the challenges it faces. The article is thus a useful antidote to the current depression running through the field.