Events

About the Event

This public roundtable event, hosted by the GLOBE and sponsored by the British Academy, brings together an interdisciplinary panel of experts to explore the overlooked role of intellectual property (IP) law within trade, tariffs, and industrial policy debates, particularly in light of recent global disruptions.

As nations face growing economic nationalism, geopolitical tensions (especially between the U.S. and China), and the urgent climate crisis, the event revisits how IP law both shapes and is shaped by these industrial and political shifts. The roundtable will examine how IP law operates as a legal field and as a strategic tool within national and international economic policies—particularly under the changing dynamics of Trump's second presidency and the legacy of COVID-19.

Speakers Include:

Dr Melissa Barber (Yale University / Médecins Sans Frontières)

Prof Kathy BowreyLink opens in a new window (University of New South Wales, Sydney)

Dr Vitor Ido Link opens in a new window(University of São Paulo)

Dr Svitlana LebedenkoLink opens in a new window (University of Warwick)

Dr Caoimhe RingLink opens in a new window(University of Bristol)

Dr Tim SahayLink opens in a new window (The Polycrisis; Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab, Johns Hopkins University)

Moderator:Dr Hyo-Yoon KangLink opens in a new window (University of Warwick)

How to Join

Prior registration is necessary. Please email @hyo-yoon.kang@warwick.ac.uk to register in-person or online attendance. The Zoom link for online participants will be sent one day in advance.

Please note that in-person space is limited.

Download the event poster hereLink opens in a new window

About the Event

This roundtable is part of this year's Law School Conference and represents just one of several engaging sessions taking place throughout the day. We warmly encourage attendees to explore the full programme and attend other panels across the conference.

In March 2025, the United States announced sweeping new tariffs at levels not seen since the 1930s, along with an implicit threat to de-dollarise the global economy. These developments may amount to the most profound shock to the international economic order since President Nixon’s actions in the early 1970s. They form part of a wider transformation in US foreign policy under the Trump administration, which includes withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the dismantling of USAID, and a marked shift away from multilateral cooperation.

This roundtable will explore the legal implications of these shifts, drawing on expertise from a range of legal subfields. Discussions will cover international trade law, international investment law, law and development, financial regulation, and broader themes in international economic law.

The Speakers

Panellists will reflect on the situation from their own areas of research. Confirmed speakers include, but are not limited to: Stephen Connelly, James Harrison, Jeremmy Okonjo, Celine Tan, and Velimir Živković.

All are welcome to attend and join the discussion.