Actors in the International Economic Law System: Sub-National Governments

Conventionally, Subnational Governments (SNGs), viewed through the prism of the Westphalian state system, have limited recognition and no direct legal personality in international law. This view relegates them to peripheral roles within the IEL system. However, recent evidence indicates that globalisation dynamics have propelled SNGs into a more prominent position within the IEL framework through disruptive and constructive means. Highlighting their evolving status across the traditional pillars of IEL—trade, Investment, and Finance, this paper explores the increasingly significant role of SNGs in the International Economic Law (IEL) system.