Trade, Law and Development (TL&D), Special Issue Vol. XVIII No. 1

Trade, Law and Development (TL&D), the flagship trade law journal run by students of National Law University, Jodhpur, has opened submissions for its Special Issue, Volume XVIII, No. 1. The theme for this issue is Reimagining Global Trade: Industrial Policy and Strategic Autonomy in a Changing Global Order. If you research international trade law, international economic law, or the changing role of the state in the global trading system, this is one of the most respected platforms in the country to place your work.

The Journal invites original, unpublished manuscripts as Articles, Notes, Comments, and Book Reviews. There is no submission or publication fee, and every manuscript goes through a double-blind peer review. The last date to submit is September 30, 2026.

Founded in 2009, TL&D was created to generate and sustain a constructive, democratic debate on emerging issues in international economic law and to serve as a forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas. It is published biannually and is run by students with the support of National Law University, Jodhpur.

The Journal has published work by leading scholars in the field, including former WTO Deputy Director-General Yonov F. Agah, Prof. Ernst Ulrich Petersmann, Prof. Petros Mavroidis, Prof. Mitsuo Matsushita, Prof. Raj Bhala, Prof. Gabrielle Marceau, Prof. Bryan Mercurio, and Prof. M. Sornarajah, among others. TL&D has been ranked the best journal in India across all fields of law for seven consecutive years by Washington and Lee University, School of Law. The issue is overseen by a named Board of Editors under Patron Prof. (Dr.) Harpreet Kaur and Faculty-in-Charge Dr. Bipin Kumar, with an advisory board that includes Raj Bhala, Jagdish Bhagwati, B.S. Chimni, Vaughan Lowe, and W. Michael Reisman.

Over the past decade the foundations of the global trading system have shifted from trade liberalisation and minimal state intervention towards a renewed emphasis on industrial policy, strategic autonomy, and economic security. Governments are deploying subsidies, domestic content requirements, export controls, investment screening, and preferential procurement to strengthen domestic industries and secure supply chains. This Special Issue invites scholarship that examines what these changes mean for international economic law.

The theme is deliberately broad. An indicative, non-exhaustive list of areas you may write on includes:

• Industrial policy and the future of WTO subsidy disciplines
• National security exceptions and strategic autonomy in trade
• Critical minerals and resource governance
• Green industrial policy, climate measures, and trade
• Digital trade, digital industrial policy, and technological sovereignty
• Artificial intelligence, data governance, and trade
• Developing economies and the future of global trade
• Industrial policy and the transformation of global value chains
• Investment screening and economic security
• Export controls and technology transfer restrictions
• Plurilateralism and the transformation of trade governance

The Journal is open to submissions on any aspect of the theme relating to industrial policy and strategic autonomy and their impact on the international trade regime and the global trading system.

You may submit your manuscript in one of the following categories, with the indicated word limits (exclusive of footnotes):

• Articles: 10,000 to 20,000 words. The Journal considers exceptions to the upper limit on a case-by-case basis.
• Notes and Comments: under 10,000 words.
• Book Reviews: no specific word limit is stated.

An abstract is required for all submissions except book reviews. Every manuscript must be original and unpublished, and must not be under consideration elsewhere.

The call is open to academics, practitioners, researchers, and students working on international trade and economic law. There is no restriction on nationality or affiliation. As the Journal follows a double-blind peer review, submissions are assessed on merit, so early-career scholars and students are welcome to submit alongside established authors.

Please prepare your manuscript carefully before submitting:

• The manuscript must be in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx) with minimal macros.
• Citations must follow The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (20th Edition).
• The manuscript must be written in British English.
• An abstract must accompany all submissions other than book reviews.
• All work must be original and unpublished. The Board reserves the right to reject any manuscript if plagiarism is detected.

Submissions are evaluated through a double-blind peer review process. The Journal does not charge any submission or publication fee. Manuscripts are accepted on a rolling basis, but to be considered for the Special Issue Vol. XVIII, No. 1, your manuscript must reach the Journal by September 30, 2026.

You can submit your manuscript by e-mail to tradelawdevelopmentnluj@gmail.com or through the submission page on the Journal website. Use the subject line Manuscript Submission followed by the category in brackets, for example Manuscript Submission [ARTICLE], Manuscript Submission [NOTE], or Manuscript Submission [BOOK REVIEW].

If you are a first-time submitter, attach an updated CV containing your name, affiliation, qualifications, and contact details, along with a cover letter and the manuscript. For any queries, write to the editorial team at the same e-mail address.

• Manuscript on the theme of industrial policy and strategic autonomy in global trade
• Category chosen: Article (10,000 to 20,000 words), Note or Comment (under 10,000 words), or Book Review
• Abstract included (not required for book reviews)
• Original, unpublished work that is not under review elsewhere
• Bluebook 20th Edition citations and British English throughout
• Saved as a Microsoft Word file (.doc or .docx) with minimal macros
• CV and cover letter attached if you are a first-time submitter
• Correct subject line, for example Manuscript Submission [ARTICLE]
• Submitted by September 30, 2026