publications

research in progress

Research Handbook on Unilateral Measures in Trade, Investment and Economic Law, Edward Elgar (forthcoming, 2026)

Commentary to the WTO ASCM Agreement (with Bernard Hoekman), Oxford Commentaries of International Law, Oxford University Press (forthcoming, 2026)

“The law and policy of cross-border and foreign subsidies in the EU, US and beyond” (provisional title), journal article

“Open strategic autonomy”, entry to the Elgar Encyclopedia of EU law (forthcoming, 2026)

“Competitiveness in the internal market”, entry to the Elgar Encyclopedia of EU law (forthcoming, 2026)

A contemporary introduction to the regulation of international trade (textbook project)

books

2016. (edited, with Jennifer Hawkins) What Shapes the Law? Reflections on the History, Law, Politics and Economics of International and European Subsidy Disciplines (Florence: Global Governance Program, European University Institute) 142 + xviii

“What makes this four-part work especially valuable is that many of the commentators played key roles over previous decades in conceptualizing and negotiating subsidy disciplines. The creation of this permanent record of participant views is a gift to practitioners, teachers, and policymakers. As the late Julio Lacarte Muró, a founder of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its predecessor institutions, explains in a Foreword to the volume, this electronic volume ‘sets out objectively and fully the multiple sides of a question that is due to exercise the world trading community now and in the future”, Steve Charnovitz, World Trade Review (2020) 488-491

2016. (edited, with Graham Gee and Martin Trybus) Leaving the EU? The Legal Impact of Brexit on the United Kingdom, Institute of European Law, University of Birmingham , also published as special issue in (2016) European Public Law, March issue, 51-170

2012. (edited, with Martin Trybus) The Treaty of Lisbon and The Future of the European Union (Cheltenham, UK/Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar) 528 + xlvii

2010. (edited) Microsoft on Trial: Legal and Economic Analysis of a Transatlantic Antitrust Case, Northampton (Cheltenham, UK/Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar) 552 + xxviii

“The editor … provides an invaluable multi-disciplinary approach …”, Anthony Dawes, European Law Review (2012) 518-520

“… these fourteen chapters contain some of the best descriptions of the facts and markets accompanied by economic analysis.” Valentine Korah, World Competition (2011) 721-723

“Rubini has managed to assemble an impressive group of authors.” Tjarda van der Vijver, Common Market Law Review (2012) 837-838

2010. (edited, with Francesco Bestagno) Challenges of Development: Asian Perspectives (Milan: Vita e Pensiero, 2010) 190 + xxi

2010. The Definition of Subsidy and State Aid: WTO and EC Law in Comparative Perspective (Oxford: Oxford University Press) 496 + xlvi

“Luca Rubini does a masterful job at breaking his subject down and building it back up again, skillfully placing the constituent elements of subsidy and state aid in the legal, economic, and policy contexts in which they operate.” Todd Friedbacher, World Trade Review (2010) 682-684

“Rubini’s volume promises to have a long shelf life. It is an essential reference for policy officials, jurists and practitioners alike.” Gary Hufbauer, Journal of International Economic Law (2010) 1145-1147

 “… an impressive and masterful study … Many of the findings of Rubini’s book present valuable signposts on the road to better, more consistent and more effective international rules and control mechanisms …”. Jan A. Winter, Common Market Law Review (2014) 1039-1042

“In the last decade or so …  the research literature has reached a level of prominence and sophistication to match other areas of EU law (let alone competition law). Consider, for instance, Rubini’s monograph on the definition of subsidy in State aid and WTO law. This is not the kind of literature that one keeps in an office only to be consulted for immediate application when the need arises: it is the kind of book that can be read outside office hours, and without being ashamed of doing so…” Francesco De Cecco, European State Aid Quarterly (2013) 429

journal articles and chapters

2024. “Article VI of the GATT”, entry to Max Planck Encyclopedia of World Trade Law – in press

2024. “The Concept Design of International Rules on State Intervention in the Economy” in Kathleen Claussen, Manfred Elsig and Rodrigo Polanco (eds), The Concept Design of a 21 Century Preferential Trade Agreement (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)

2023. “Transcending territoriality: Expanding EU State aid control through consensus and coercion” in Leigh Hancher, Juan-Jorge Piernaz-Lopez, Luca RubinI (eds.)The future of EU State aid law – Consolidation and Expansion (Madrid: EU Law Live Press) 119-134

2022. “The virtue of moderation: the Opinions of Advocate General Jacobs in Oscar Bronner and PreussenElektra” in Graham Butler and Adam Lazowski (eds) Shaping EU Law the British Way – UK Advocates General at the Court of Justice of the European Union (Oxford: Hart Publishing) 359-374

2022. “Between sovereignty and complexity: the settlement of tax disputes by the World Trade Organization” in Asia Pacific Law Review 204-218

2021. “Gli accordi di nuova generazione dell’Unione europea e le innovazioni in materia di aiuti di Stato e imprese pubbliche” in Giovanna Adinolfi (ed.) Gli accordi preferenziali di nuova generazione dell’Unione Europea (Turin: Giappichelli) 181-210

2021. “About knowledge and Rulemaking: Reforming WTO Rules on Subsidies” (with Siqi, Li) in Bernard Hoekman, Tu Xinquan, Wand Dong (eds) Rebooting Multilateral Trade Cooperation: Perspectives from China and Europe, London: CEPR, 127-148

2021. (with Cristina Herghelegiou) ‘Where have all the distortions gone?’ Appellate Body Report, Ukraine –Ammonium Nitrate (WT/DS493/AB), World Trade Review, 566-581

2021. “State Aid and International Trade Law” in Leigh Hancher, Juan-Jorge Piernaz-Lopez, (eds.), Research Handbook on European State Aid Law (Cheltenham, UK/Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar) 103-133

2020. ‘I segni dei tempi. Brevi note su alcuni recenti sviluppi nella politica commerciale dell’Unione Europea’, Eurojus.it, November 11

2020. (with Pramila Crivelli) ‘Flying High in a Plane’ Appellate Body Report, European Communities and Certain Member States – Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft (WT/DS316/AB/RW), World Trade Review, 316-340

2020. ‘The regulation of subsidies in Preferential Trade Agreements’, in Aidityia Mattoo, Nadia Rocha and Michele Ruta (eds.), World Bank Handbook of Deep Integration Trade Agreements (Washington DC: World Bank Publishing)

2020. (with Tiffany Wang) ‘The regulation of state enterprises in Preferential Trade Agreements’, Aiditya Mattoo, Nadia Rocha and Michele Ruta (eds.), World Bank Handbook of Deep Integration Trade Agreements (Washington DC: World Bank Publishing)

2017. ‘The Age of Innocence. The evolution of the case-law of the WTO dispute settlement. Subsidies as case-study’ in Joe Francois, Manfred Elsig, Bernard Hoekman, and Joost Pauwelyn (eds) The World Trade Organization. Past Performance and Ongoing Challenges. The World Trade Forum 2015 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), 276-317

2017. ‘ASCM disciplines and recent WTO case law developments: what space for “green” subsidies?’ in Thomas Cottier and Ilaria Espa (eds) International Trade in Electricity and the Decarbonisation of the Economy. The World Trade Forum 2014 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), 311-355

2017. ‘Subsidies’, entry to Thomas Cottier and Krista Nadakavukaren Schefer (eds.) Encyclopedia of International Economic Law, (Northampton: Edward Elgar)

2017. ‘Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft’, entry to Thomas Cottier and Krista Nadakavukaren Schefer (eds.) Encyclopedia of International Economic Law, (Cheltenham, UK/Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar)

2017. “Chapter 4 – International Agreements” in Kelyn Bacon (ed) The European Union Law of State Aid (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 3^rd edition)

2016. ‘WTO Subsidy Laws: the International Regulation of State Aid’, in Herwig Hoffman and Claire Micheau (eds) State Aid Law of the European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 471-509

2016. “EU Microsoft Competition Case”, entry in J.G. Backhaus (ed.) Encyclopedia of Law and Economics (Berlin: Springer)

2015. ‘The Wide and the Narrow Gate. Benchmarking in the SCM Agreement after the Canada – Renewable Energy/FIT Ruling’, World Trade Review, 211-237

2014. ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Lessons on Methodology in Legal Analysis from the Recent WTO Litigation on Renewable Energy Subsidies’ (2014) Journal of World Trade, 895-938. Reprinted in: Deok Young Park, Legal Issues on Climate Change and International Trade Law (Berlin: Springer) 153-194

2013. (with Tom Prusa) “United States – Use of Zeroing in Anti-Dumping Measures Involving Products from Korea. It’s déjà vu all over again”, World Trade Review, 409-425

2013. ‘Subsidies for Emissions Migations in WTO Law’ in Geert Van Calster and Denise Prévost (eds) Research Handbook on Environment, Health, and the WTO (Cheltenham, UK/Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar) 563-637

2013. “Chapter 4 – International Agreements” in Kelyn Bacon (ed) The European Union Law of State Aid (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2^nd edition), 129-152

2012. ‘Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More. Subsidies for Renewable Energy, the SCM Agreement, Policy Space and Law Reform’, Journal of International Economic Law, 525-579

2012. (with Ingrid Jegou) ‘Who’ll Stop the Rain? The Allocation of Emission Allowances Free of Charge: Economics, Environmental Policy, Political Choices and WTO Subsidy Law”, Transnational Environmental Law 325-354

2010. (with other authors) “Climate Change and International Law: Exploring the Linkages between Human Rights, Environment, Trade and Investment” , German Yearbook of International Law, Volume 53, 139-188

2009. ‘The Elusive Frontier: Regulation under State Aid Rules’, European State Aid Law Quarterly 277-298

2007. ‘L’impatto del GATS sulla regolazione domestica dei servizi pubblici’, Diritto del Commercio Internazionale 293-332

2006. Comments on the US –Cotton dispute in Federico Ortino and Michael Ripinsky (eds) WTO Law and Process (London: British Institute of International and Comparative Law) 133-137

2005. “Aims, Effects and Justifications: EC State Aid Law and its Impact on National Social Policies” (with Andrea Biondi), in Michael Dougan and Eleanor Spaventa (eds) Social Welfare and EU Law (Oxford: Hart Publishing) 79-103

2004. “The International Context of EC State Aid Law and Policy: The Regulation of Subsidies in the WTO”, in Andrea Biondi, Piet Eeckhout and James Flynn (eds.) The Law of State Aid in the European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press) 149-188

2002. “Is the Siege to Fortress Europe Really Over? The Exhaustion of Trademarks in the EC, Competition and International trade – Case note on Joined Cases C-414/99 to C-416/99 Zino Davidoff”, Legal Issues of Economic Integration 205-218

2001. “Brevi note a margine del caso PreussenElektra, ovvero come «prendere seriamente» le norme sugli aiuti di Stato e la tutela dell’ambiente nel diritto comunitario” Diritto Comunitario e degli Scambi Internazionali, 473-501

2000. ”Le stranezze della giurisprudenza della Corte di Giustizia tra importazioni parallele da Paesi terzi, esaurimento del marchio e norme sulla concorrenza (i casi Silhouette, Sebago e Javico). Diritto Comunitario e degli Scambi Internazionali, 67-84

book reviews

2017. Piernas-Lopez, The Concept of State aid Under EU Law – From Internal Market to Competition and Beyond [Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015] (2017) European State Aid Law Quarterly

2015. Dominic Coppens, WTO Disciplines on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. Balancing Policy Space and Legal Constraints [Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014] (2015) World Trade Review 736-741

2013. Christian Joerges and Ernst-Ullrich Petersmann, Constitutionalism, Multilevel Trade Governance and Social Regulation [2nd paperback edition, Oxford: Hart, 2011] (2013) Common Market Law Review 1180-1182

2013. Erika Szyszczak (ed) Research Handbook on European State Aid Law [Northampton: Elgar, 2011] (2013) Yearbook of European Law, 500-514

2011. Francis Snyder, The European Union, the WTO and China, Global Legal Pluralism and International Trade Regulation [Hart Publishing, Oxford] (2011) Manchester Journal of International Economic Law, 102-106

2011. Alan Sykes, The WTO Agreement on Safeguards: A Commentary [OUP, 2006] (2011) International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 568-569

2011. Peter Vesterdorf and Mogens Uhd Nielsen, The Law of State Aid [Sweet and Maxwell, 2008] (2011) European Law Journal, 142-145

2011. EC State Aid Law – Le Droit des Aides d’Etat dans la CE, Liber Amicorum Fancisco Santaolla [Kluwer, 2008] (2011) European Law Review, 448-451

2009. Michael Sanchez Rydelski, The EC State Aid Regime. Distortive Effects of State Aid on Competition [London: Cameron May, 2006] and A Santa Maria, Competition and State Aid: An Analysis of EC Practice [London: Kluwer, 2007] (2009) Common Market Law Review 1358-1361

2008. Leigh Hancher, Tom Ottervanger and Piet Jan Slot, EC State Aids [3rd ed, London: Thomson-Sweet and Maxwell] (2008) European Law Review 606-610

2008. Martin Taylor, International Competition Law – A New Dimension for the WTO? [Cambridge: CUP, 2006] (2008) European Law Review 448-452

2008. Gustavo Luengo, Regulation of Subsidies and State Aids in WTO and EC Law – Conflicts in International Trade [Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer, 2007] (2008) European Law Review 283-285

2007. Christian Joerges and Ernst-Ullrich Petersmann, Constitutionalism, Multilevel Trade Governance and Social Regulation [Oxford: Hart, 2006] (2007) Common Market Law Review 1537-1540