Medical Trade, Public Health, and the Law Reforming the International Trade System Post-Covid

Faced with evolving trade and health dynamics, this book presents a historical, conceptual, and empirical examination of public health and medical procurement in international trade law at a time of emergency. The work argues that the current trade framework is outdated and must be redesigned to suit the new needs of the 21st century. It identifies critical problems within the current international trade system that prevents it from effectively responding to pandemics, as well as to the emerging digital economy. Based on the analysis, the study puts forward specific suggestions to upgrade the current trade rules framework to prepare for future international public health emergencies and further digitalization of health services. The book will be a valuable resource for academics, researchers and policy-makers working in the areas of International Trade Law, Public Health Law and Medical Law.

Introduction 1. Rise of the medical trade dilemma: pleading the trade system guilty 2. Public health under the GATT/WTO system I: product-borne health risks 3. Public health under the GATT/WTO system II: expanding the concept 4. Medical trade and public health I: existing rules 5. Medical trade and public health II: new challenges 6. Empirical evidence on the association between medical trade and public health Conclusion Bibliography Index ANNEX 1: List of medical products ANNEX 2: Medical products related to COVID-19

Nayung Kim researches in the areas of International Commerce and Law. She received her PhD from Seoul National University, South Korea.