International Trade

Lesson Plan and Readings: International Trade

Lesson Plan: International Trade

Topic: International Trade

Week #: 6

Estimated Time: 150-180 Minutes

 

Lecture Slides: Available

Required Readings:

  1. “International Trade”, Adapted by Josh Franco, Ph.D. from Steve Suranovic’s International Trade: Theory and Policy - CC BY-NC-SA
  2. Gathii, James Thuo. 2017. “Introduction to the Symposium on Africa and the Future of International Trade Regimes.” AJIL Unbound 111: 369–71. https://doi.org/10.1017/aju.2017.94. CC BY
  3. Santos, Álvaro. 2019. “Reimagining Trade Agreements for Workers: Lessons from the USMCA.” AJIL Unbound 113: 407–12. https://doi.org/10.1017/aju.2019.74. CC BY

Total Page Count: 42

Optional Resources:

  1. Rodrik, Dani. 2018. “What Do Trade Agreements Really Do?” The Journal of Economic Perspectives: A Journal of the American Economic Association 32 (2): 73–90. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.32.2.73.
  2. “The Winners and Losers from International Trade.” n.d. IISS. Accessed November 15, 2019. https://www.iiss.org/blogs/survival-blog/2019/01/winners-losers-trade. - 3 pages
  3. “Trade and the Environment - OECD.” n.d. Accessed November 15, 2019. https://www.oecd.org/trade/topics/trade-and-the-environment/.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this lesson plan, students will be able to:

  1. Remember what international trade is
  2. Recall the responsibilities of US trade entities and the WTO
  3. Understand what trade agreements do
  4. Analyze “winners” and “losers” of international trade

Misconceptions of Topic:

  1. International trade has no effect on my daily life
  2. International trade only results in winners or losers
  3. International trade has no connection with economics

 

 

Lesson Component

Ancillary(ies)

Lecture: Review learning objectives

Lecture slides

In-Class Activity: US Exports

Lecture Slides

In-Class Activity: Chinese Imports

Lecture Slides

In-Class Activity: Winners and Losers

Lecture Slides

 

“The Winners and Losers from International Trade.” n.d. IISS. Accessed November 15, 2019. https://www.iiss.org/blogs/survival-blog/2019/01/winners-losers-trade.

In-Class Activity: Trade and the Environment

Lecture Slides

 

“The Winners and Losers from International Trade.” n.d. IISS. Accessed November 15, 2019. https://www.iiss.org/blogs/survival-blog/2019/01/winners-losers-trade.

In-Class Activity: Measure Free Trade and Free Trade Agreements

Lecture Slides

 

Rodrik, Dani. 2018. “What Do Trade Agreements Really Do?” The Journal of Economic Perspectives: A Journal of the American Economic Association 32 (2): 73–90. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.32.2.73.

In-Class Activity: Measuring Interests

Lecture Slides

 

Rodrik, Dani. 2018. “What Do Trade Agreements Really Do?” The Journal of Economic Perspectives: A Journal of the American Economic Association 32 (2): 73–90. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.32.2.73.

 

Required Readings: International Trade

Required Readings:

  1. “International Trade”, Adapted by Josh Franco, Ph.D. from Steve Suranovic’s International Trade: Theory and Policy - CC BY-NC-SA
  2. Gathii, James Thuo. 2017. “Introduction to the Symposium on Africa and the Future of International Trade Regimes.” AJIL Unbound 111: 369–71. https://doi.org/10.1017/aju.2017.94. CC BY
  3. Santos, Álvaro. 2019. “Reimagining Trade Agreements for Workers: Lessons from the USMCA.” AJIL Unbound 113: 407–12. https://doi.org/10.1017/aju.2019.74. CC BY

Introducing the readings:

Josh Franco adapted Steve Suranovic's chapter on International Trade to focus on comparative advantage, factory mobility, factor proportions models, domestic policies and international trade, and political economy and international trade. These concepts of important for students in an introductory-level international relations course.

Gathii's article introduces readers to a symposium (meeting) that was held on Africa and the future of international trade regimes. International trade is practiced by most countries around the world. However, less attention is given to trade in Africa, but as a robust continent and community of nations, it is an increasingly important area of the world for students to understand.

Santos' article describes the tension between labor and capital in international trade. International trade, at its heart, is about the flow of capital and work of labor in producing raw materials, goods, and services. Santos explores how trade agreements can be reimagined to place working men and women at the core of agreements, instead of secondary consideration after capital.