International law governs a diverse mixture of economic and commercial matters, such as trade, monetary policy, development, intellectual propertyIntellectual property refers to the creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary or artistic works, and the symbols, names, and designs used in commerce. rights, and investment. This area of international law reaches broadly enough to encompass topics ranging from international transactions by private parties to agreements between states to regulate their trade activities. The General Agreement on Tariffs and TradeAt the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATTAt the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATT to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATT were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990. to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATTAt the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATT to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATT were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990. were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990. (GATTAt the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATT to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATT were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990.) that governs international trade, is the most important treaty in this area; it is administered by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations. Others include the treaty on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual PropertyIntellectual property refers to the creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary or artistic works, and the symbols, names, and designs used in commerce. (TRIPS) and the General Agreements on Trade in Services (GATS).

Next: International Human Rights Law