Trade wars have been a recurring feature in the history of international trade, with significant implications for global economic and legal systems. The impact of war on trade between major economies during the first wave of globalization (1830–1913) has been a subject of scholarly inquiry (Karlsson & Hedberg, 2021). Conflict between countries can be disruptive to economic activity, especially international trade (Glick & Taylor, 2010). The ongoing trade war between the United States and China represents one of the most severe deteriorations of trade cooperation in modern times (Schweinberger, 2022). Furthermore, the consequences of trade wars are inherent in the international trading system (Karakostas, 2022).

The legal ramifications of trade wars are of particular interest, especially in the context of international trade law. The relevance of international trade law in the face of trade wars is underscored by the examination of the impact of interstate wars on bilateral trade flows during the first wave of globalization (Karlsson & Hedberg, 2021). Additionally, the study of the Russia-Ukraine war and its implications for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) national security exception highlights the legal provisions that come into play during trade conflicts (Ranjan, 2022). Moreover, the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the development of international trade law has been a subject of scholarly investigation, emphasizing the significance of international trade law in addressing trade disputes (Abuseridze, n.d.).

The economic and legal implications of trade wars extend beyond the warring parties to impact global trade and economic systems. The potential impact of trade wars initiated by a change in US trade policies has been a subject of scholarly inquiry, emphasizing the broader implications of trade conflicts (Bouët & Laborde, 2018). Furthermore, the impact of the China-US trade war on Chinese industries has been explored, shedding light on the sector-specific consequences of trade conflicts (Miao & Yang, 2022). Additionally, the disarray in the global trading system due to trade wars has implications for various countries, as evidenced by the study on the implications for the Philippines (Abrenica et al., 2019).

The legal dimensions of trade wars also intersect with broader issues such as human rights and public health. The poorly regulated annual trade in conventional arms, which is fueled by conflict, has devastating effects on global health, highlighting the intersection of trade, law, and public health (Valenti et al., 2013). Moreover, the impact of digitization on international economic law and human rights underscores the evolving nature of legal considerations in the context of digital trade (Burri, 2023).

References

• Abrenica, M., Guzman, R., & Gochoco-Bautista, M. (2019). Trade wars and the disarray in the global trading system: implications for the philippines. Asian Economic Papers, 18(3), 59-75. https://doi.org/10.1162/asep_a_00718
• Abuseridze, G. The role of the wto in the development of international trade: history, problems and perspectives of international trade law. doctoral thesis.. https://doi.org/10.25143/prom-rsu_2021-15_dt
• Bouët, A. and Laborde, D. (2018). Us trade wars in the twenty‐first century with emerging countries: make america and its partners lose again. World Economy, 41(9), 2276-2319. https://doi.org/10.1111/twec.12719
• Burri, M. (2023). Digital trade law and human rights. Ajil Unbound, 117, 110-115. https://doi.org/10.1017/aju.2023.16
• Glick, R. and Taylor, A. (2010). Collateral damage: trade disruption and the economic impact of war. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 92(1), 102-127. https://doi.org/10.1162/rest.2009.12023
• Karakostas, E. (2022). An analytical review of the us-china trade “war”. European Journal of Economics, 1(2), 30-38. https://doi.org/10.33422/eje.v1i2.79
• Karlsson, L. and Hedberg, P. (2021). War and trade in the peaceful century: the impact of interstate wars on bilateral trade flows during the first wave of globalization, 1830–1913†. The Economic History Review, 74(3), 809-830. https://doi.org/10.1111/ehr.13053
• Miao, M. and Yang, L. (2022). The impacts of china-us trade war on chinese industry. Highlights in Business Economics and Management, 2, 366-3