The course begins with a discussion of the ideational factors that have shaped and continue to shape trade policy, before introducing some of the core analytical models that assist understanding of the political economy of trade. The course then proceeds to discuss the nature of trade and investment in the 21st century, including among other things the impact of the growth of global supply chains on the political economy of trade and investment. The domestic and international institutional frameworks within which trade and investment policy are conducted are discussed. The course then considers some of the underlying trends in trade towards the use of preferential and plurilateral rather than multilateral approaches. Finally, after a discussion of the links between trade and development, the course covers some of the main topics in current negotiations including in particular agriculture and food security, trade in manufactures, services and investment as well as the inter-relationship between trade and sustainable development.