Een onderzoek naar cultuur en handel in het internationale handelsrecht: Navigeren over nieuwe grenzen in de regelgeving in het digitale tijdperk en vrijhandelsovereenkomsten

This PhD thesis examines the regulatory framework governing global cultural trade within international trade law, focusing on the paradoxical nature of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) as both cultural and economic entities. The study analyses regulatory challenges at the World Trade Organization (WTO), UNESCO, and in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), revealing two primary issues: fragmentation of the international regulatory landscape and inadequacy of trade law in addressing digital trends in the cultural sector. The research highlights the limited liberalisation of cultural trade, the discrepancies between WTO law and the 2005 UNESCO Convention, and the challenges in classifying digital cultural products. It addresses gaps in current research by exploring the legal implications of digital trends and culture-trade provisions in Asian countries' FTAs. This thesis argues that there is no quick fix for reconciling the cultural-trade dichotomy within international trade law but suggests pragmatic, sector-specific reforms to update WTO and FTA rules. The thesis concludes with recommendations for key stakeholders: the WTO should clarify digital product classifications. UNESCO should reinforce the 2005 Convention's principles of sustainable development and cultural cooperation. Nation-states should move beyond a rigid `culture or trade' perspective, integrating sustainable development principles into cultural and trade policies, especially in the digital age. This approach is particularly crucial for developing countries to effectively pursue cultural sector policy objectives within the framework of international trade agreements.