As part of various teaching and academic collaborations the professionals from Trade Law Chambers are involved in, we also teach a post-graduate course on international trade law and the WTO at the University of the Western Cape.

In the first semester of 2009, one of the assessment assignments given to students was to write a short essay on two questions, the first being the recent rise in protectionism and what can or should be done about it and the second being whether the international trading system is doing enough to service the interests of developing countries.

Students were given one week to prepare and submit their responses following a lecture on the same topics presented by Mr. Simon Lacey at the Cape Town chapter of the South African Institute of International Affairs on 15 April 2009.

It was agreed that the best assignment would be posted on the Trade Law Chambers website. This prize went to Ms Marilize Ackermann who wrote a well-balanced and soundly researched response to these questions. We are happy to provide visitors to our website the chance to read Ms Ackermann's essay firsthand. To read Ms Ackermann's essay, please click here.