With the advancing globalization of the world economy, domestic economic regulations are becoming more and more subject to efforts at international harmonization. This book presents an analysis of this worldwide phenomenon from both a legal and a politico-economic perspective by focusing on (1) the backgrounds and objectives of international harmonization, (2) the negotiating processes involved, and (3) the impact of harmonization on domestic laws and their administration. International harmonization is discussed in a wide range of cases including trade-related regulations, technical standards and food safety standards, intellectual property rights, labor standards, competition law and policy, financial regulations, and regulations concerning transnational economic crime. Drawing on a wide range of materials and applying a unified analytical framework based on theoretical as well as practical observations, the book surveys this much debated topic in a comprehensive and accessible way. It thus contributes to a better understanding of both the chances and the challenges of globalization and global governance today.

Junji Nakagawa is a Professor of International Economic Law at the University of Tokyo's Institute of Social Science (ISS). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Law and Politics in 1988 and joined the faculty of the ISS as an Associate Professor in 1995. He has been a Professor at the ISS since 2000. He has also taught at the University of Denver, University of Georgia, City University of Hong Kong, Tufts University and Shantou University. He is the author or co-author of eight books in Japanese, and the editor or co-editor of fifteen further books.