International Trade Law: How Global Rules Shape Business with Sonia Rolland

US tariffs 2025: How international trade law actually works—and why the WTO isn't dead. Nixon's 10% tariff and Reagan's Section 301 both triggered major multilateral negotiations. History suggests today's trade chaos may catalyze global cooperation.

International trade law expert explains why the US accounts for only 13% of world trade—limiting unilateral tariff power. Learn how regional trade agreements (4,000+ globally), carbon border adjustment mechanisms, and China's surprising pivot toward multilateralism are reshaping global commerce. Real examples from automotive supply chains reveal how swift Chinese retaliation affects American businesses.

In the latest episode of International Business Today, host Paula Caligiuri sits down with Sonia Rolland, Professor of Law and Business at Northeastern University and winner of Northeastern's Excellence in Research award, to explore:

• Why current US tariffs violate WTO rules—and what historical precedent suggests happens next • How Section 301 and unilateral trade actions have historically sparked multilateral negotiations • The rise of 4,000+ regional trade agreements filling the WTO negotiation gap • EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) forcing global climate compliance • China's recent pivot toward supporting multilateralism and international law • Trade facilitation reforms cutting customs processing from 150 hours to 12 • New WTO fisheries subsidies agreement that just came into force

Whether you're a supply chain executive navigating tariff uncertainty, an international business professional tracking trade policy shifts, or a student studying global governance, this episode reveals how international law actually works behind the scenes—and why 2025's trade tensions may ultimately strengthen global cooperation.

About the guest: Sonia Rolland is Professor of Law and Business at Northeastern University School of Law and the D'Amore-McKim School of Business. Her research focuses on international economic law, sustainable development, and global governance, earning her Northeastern University's award for Excellence in Research and Creative Innovation. She is the author of three books, including "Development at the WTO" (Oxford University Press) and "Emerging Powers in the International Economic Order" (Cambridge University Press), and serves as editor of ASIL Insights for the American Society of International Law.

Learn more about Sonia Rolland: https://law.northeastern.edu/faculty/rolland/ Sonia Rolland's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Powers-International-Economic-Cambridge/dp/1107569753 International Law: 100 Ways It Shapes Our Lives (ASIL): https://www.asil.org/resources/100Ways

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