珍惜WTO爭端解決機制的“憲法時刻”

Taking the Constitutional Moment of WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism Seriously

美國執意反對啟動WTO上訴機構候選人的甄選程序，造成上訴機構的“空椅危機”。悲觀的估計是上訴機構名存實亡，專家組報告的通過取決於被訴方的同意，WTO爭端解決機制在無奈中重返總協定時代。從歷史上看，WTO爭端解決機制誕生於烏拉圭回合“單一承諾”通過的“憲法時刻”。就現實而言，美國對上訴機構態度的轉變，是其近年來對外關係的一個例證，彰顯了其損人不利己的單邊主義本質。WTO奉行協商一致，是為了在盡可能取得廣泛共識的基礎上，促進WTO目的和宗旨的實現。為了使上訴機構實現WTO爭端解決機制的宗旨和職能，WTO以其他方式啟動甄選程序，完全符合其隱含權力。由此，可以提出兩種解決上訴機構危機的方案。除了建設性地參與WTO的革故鼎新之外，中國需要認真考慮和應對一個WTO作用弱化的世界貿易秩序。期待WTO全體成員珍惜WTO爭端解決機制新的“憲法時刻”，解決當前的上訴機構危機，完成多邊貿易體制的又一次涅槃。

The United States is determined to oppose the initiation of the selection process of candidates for the WTO's Appellate Body( AB), resulting in the “empty chair crisis” of the AB. The pessimistic estimate is that the AB exists in name only, while the adoption of the Panel Report depends on the consent of the Respondent, and the WTO dispute settlement mechanism (DSM) returns to the era of GATT in desperation. Historically, the DSM was born in the “constitutional moment” when “the single undertaking” was adopted in the Uruguay Round. As far as reality is concerned, the United States's changing attitude towards the AB is an example of its foreign relations in recent years, demonstrating its unilateralism at the cost of others. The WTO's pursuit of the consensus aims at promoting the realization of WTO's objectives and purposes. In order to enable the AB to fulfil the purposes and functions of the DSM, the WTO's alternative initiation of the selection process is consistent with its implied powers. Thus, two solutions to the crisis of the AB can be proposed. Besides constructively participating in the reform and innovation of the WTO, China needs to consider and confront a world trade order without WTO. All WTO members need to take the new “ constitutional moment” of the DSM seriously, resolving the current crisis of the AB and completing another nirvana of the Multilateral Trading System.