This is actually an interesting tweet, because it makes an important point about practitioners and because it shows a common misconception about WTO law. (Thread)
1) As an academic I clearly value practical experience. But you need to know in what. If you have sold beef abroad, I might be interested in your take on the barriers these traders face. It does not make you an expert in WTO law.
In the Brexit debate I have seen people intervene on both sides of the debate who claimed practical experience, but argued on points that well outside of that experience. So: ask yourself what expertise the experience gives them.
2) And the tweet shows a misconception of WTO law that will come back to haunt us. WTO law applies between states (technically: WTO Members). Individual traders can, as a rule, not rely on it before national administrations and courts (that’s called dualism).
