Key Terms
Definition
Agreements that promote international commerce by reducing trade barriers among geographically proximate member nations.
Sovereign State
A political entity that governs its own territory without being subject to any outside authority. Nations are sovereign
Sovereign Immunity
Courts of one nation lack jurisdiction to hear cases against foreign governments.
Problem
No overarching power sits above sovereign parties to a treaty.
Solution
Treaties include provisions requiring parties to submit to:
Another enforcement challenge
International laws only bind nations that VOLUNTARILY choose to participate. A sovereign nation cannot generally be comp
CONTRAST with domestic law
Everyone within the US is subject to state and federal courts whether they choose to submit or not. Criminals who flee c
Two main sources
(1) Customary International Law and (2) Treaties
Custom
A widely accepted way of doing something.
Customary International Law
Rules that have become binding through a pattern of consistent, long-standing behavior combined with a sense of legal ob
Historical note
Before the 1900s, custom was the PRIMARY source of international law. After WWII, many areas of customary law became the
Treaty
An agreement between two or more nations governed by international law. Functionally: a contract between sovereign natio
Export
To transport products to another nation.
Export Controls
Prohibit or restrict certain products from leaving a nation.
Dumping
A foreign producer sells products for LESS than the cost of manufacturing.