多哈回合农业谈判未决议题及前景展望

农业谈判是多哈回合谈判最为关键的议题之一,各成员方分歧较大,谈判过程异常艰难。2008年12月第4版农业谈判模式修正草案体现的十项未决议题至今仍无实质性进展。WTO第9次部长级会议将于2013年年底召开。目前,仅就关税配额管理、粮食安全议题纳入磋商。多哈回合谈判中利益集团的利益博弈决定了谈判的长期性,农业在成员国的重要地位决定了谈判的复杂性,贸易自由化的世界大势决定了谈判的可期性。     

论多边贸易体制中的环境保护问题及其发展趋势

在多边贸易体制中如何实现环境保护与贸易自由的协调发展 ,这是一个“国际贸易新问题” ,GATT规则及其争端解决实践对此问题基本上持回避、谨慎的态度。随着WTO的建立 ,多边贸易体制对环境保护问题的关注度则明显加强 ,特别是WTO上诉机构的争端解决实践 ,表明WTO的价值天平向环境保护倾斜的趋势似乎在逐步明显。多哈会谈及坎昆部长会议则再次显示多边贸易体制对环境问题的妥协。环境问题在多边贸易体制中的这种发展趋势将会对发展中国家的贸易安全提出严峻挑战。     

WTO框架下贸易与环境问题的新发展

如何实现环境保护与贸易自由的协调发展是多边贸易体制中的一个新问题,GATT规则及其争端解决实践对此问题基本上持回避、谨慎的态度。WTO成立后,WTO规则及其争端解决实践的价值天平呈现出向环境保护倾斜的趋势。多哈会谈及坎昆部长会议则再次显示多边贸易体制在向环境保护问题妥协。环境保护问题在多边贸易体制中的这种发展趋势将会对发展中国家的贸易安全提出严峻挑战。     

区域贸易协定“竞争性自由化”辨析

在WTO多哈回合持续停滞的现状下,RTAs(区域贸易协定)"竞争性自由化"态势持续升温。但由于制度成本的存在、主导国家力量的局限以及各国利益的殊异,各个RTA之间的融合相当困难,从而"竞争性自由化"无法最终实现全球贸易自由化,而且还存在南北国家利益不对称的明显弊端。为避免国际贸易格局的过度破碎化,各国一方面应推动RTA原产地规则的功能性整合,并促进各个RTA之间以及WTO与RTAs之间的经贸政策对话,另一方面仍应努力推动WTO多边自由化进程,促进多边化与区域化协调发展。     

从竞争法角度看反倾销法律制度

反倾销法律制度是WTO法律体系中一项重要的法律制度 ,自GATT第 6条确立反倾销法律制度以来 ,许多国家都在国内制定和适用了反倾销法 ,但是随着贸易自由化的发展 ,反倾销法的滥用就成为一个现实的问题 ,于是就提出了是否要改革现有的反倾销法 ,以及如何进行改革的问题。试图从竞争法的角度来论证反倾销的不合理性 ,并指出了我国在未来的取舍     

WTO时期新区域主义主导下的区域贸易协定

与传统的区域贸易协定相比,WTO时期新区域主义理念主导下的区域贸易协定在广度和深度方面的发展均达到了空前的程度。进入WTO多哈回合后,区域贸易协定因其与多边贸易谈判矛盾凸显而更受关注。区域贸易协定经历了一个法律规范的漏洞与缺失、制度审查的软弱与低效、司法审查的受困与突破的法律进路,在区域主义与多边主义并行推进的背景下,中国应该积极、谨慎地参与区域贸易合作,以免在全球经济一体化的过程中被边缘化。     

论WTO争端解决机制对WTO农业体制的影响

较之农业谈判的举步维艰,争端解决机制在对WTO现存规则的澄清和完善上取得一定的进展,从而成为发展中国家维护其在国际农产品市场上应有利益的有效手段。但值得注意的是,争端解决机制对农业体制的影响有限,更高层次的农业贸易自由化仍需要农业谈判的推动。     

China’s ten years in the wto: its performance and new challenges

Becoming a member of the WTO in 2001 was a historic event of great significance during the process of China’s reform and opening up. Since then, China has steadily pushed forward the reform and opening up policy, proactively seizing the opportunities of economic globalization and positively utilizing the multilateral trading system to develop economic and trade relations with other countries, all of which have contributed to the great economic and social achievements during the first decade of 21st century. However, there are different opinions on China’s futuristic role in the WTO, and those disagreements resulting from various interest preferences are not only one-sided and limited, but also triggering off the discussions on the criteria to assess China’s performance in the WTO. This article argues that China’s activities in the WTO (i.e., implementing WTO commitments, participating in the Doha Round negotiation, the dispute settlement and trade policy review) should be a kind of assessment criteria. Based on comprehensive observation of China’s performance in the WTO, it is concluded in this article that China’s participation in the WTO system and global trade governance extends the scope of world trade law, improves its effectiveness, constitutes China’s new contributions to implement treaty obligations in good faith, resolves peacefully international trade disputes, and maintains substantively the international rule of law. At the same time, it has not only caused new driving forces for international trading system, but also made China face new challenges in the WTO.     

Does Trade Liberalization Cause a Long Run Economic Growth in Turkey

Based on ‘endogenous’ growth theory, the paper examines the effect of trade liberalization on long-run income per capita and economic growth in Turkey. Although the presumption must be that free trade has a beneficial effect on long run growth, counter examples can also be found. This controversy increases the importance of empirical work in this area. Using the most recent data we employ multivariate cointegration analysis to test the long run relationship among the variables in hand. In a multivariate context, the effect of determinants such as increasing returns to scale, investment in human and physical capital are also included in both theoretical and empirical works. Our causality evidence between the long run growth and a number of indicators of trade liberalizations confirms the predictions of the ‘new growth theory’. However, the overall effect of the possible breaks and/or policy change and unsustainability in the 1990s looks contradictory and deserves further investigation.     

Distance health services under the general agreement on trade in services

This Article discusses the state of distance health with respect to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). After examining the various aspects of telemedicine and its place in international trade, the author looks at the structure and functioning of GATS and how telemedicine is regulated under this agreement. The author argues that the potential for telemedicine under this agreement has yet to be fulfilled and suggests a number of ways to realize its potential. Ultimately, however, the author concludes that the single most important international trade objective for the United States healthcare industry should be to get its own house in order with respect to cross-border provision of health services. From an international trade perspective, the problem of non-uniform state licensure requirements within the United States makes it very difficult for the United States to negotiate market access commitments for distance health services with other countries. Therefore, it is not realistic to expect significant progress in the liberalization of distance health services until the United States has in place a reasonably uniform domestic system of licensure and regulation for telemedicine practitioners.     

Smooth as Silk? A First Look at the Post MFA Textiles and Clothing Landscape

Despite the imposition of temporary safeguard measures on Chineseexports by both the United States and the European Union in2005, few countries other than China and India have increasedtheir clothing exports in markets where Multi-Fiber Arrangementquotas had been removed, e.g. the European Union, the UnitesStates, and Canada. This article argues that the eliminationof import quotas has exposed the vulnerability of fragmentedsupply chains and favoured countries able to display an integratedsupply chain, i.e. domestic production of high quality textileand clothing products. In terms of trade policy implications,the elimination of quotas has reduced the attractiveness ofoutward processing programmes and, conversely, increased theattractiveness of other preferential trade arrangements, suchas regional trade arrangements and the Generalized System ofPreferences. The July 2006 postponement of the Doha Round negotiationsrepresents a setback for WTO Members and, with respect to thetextile and clothing issues, widespread anxiety among supplyingcountries due to the competitive strength of China acts againsta package of significant tariff reduction applied on a most-favoured-nationbasis. To move the Doha negotiations forward, political willis required in agricultural negotiations, including a development-friendlyresolution of the problem of cotton subsidies.     

WTO视野下我国境外就业的相关问题与对策

随着经济全球化的深入和国际分工的演进,我国境外就业规模不断扩大.在"自然人流动"纳入WTO的管辖以后,GATS在"自然人流动"规则谈判中踌躇不前,使我国的境外就业面临特殊困境.因此,我国应以世界服务贸易的自由化为契机,积极推动"自然人流动"规则的调整,以扩大海外投资,提升境外就业人员素质,完善境外就业立法为抓手,促进我国境外就业事业持续、健康发展.     

Reconciling Trade and Culture: A Global Law Perspective

This article provides an overview of the most essential issues in the trade and culture discourse from a global law perspective. It looks into the intensified disconnect between trade and culture and exposes its flaws and the considerable drawbacks that it brings with it. It is argued that these drawbacks become especially pronounced in the digital media environment, which has strongly affected both the conditions of trade with cultural products and services and cultural diversity in local and global contexts. In this modified setting, there could have been a number of feasible “trade and culture” solutions—i.e., regulatory designs that while enhancing trade liberalization are also conducive to cultural policy. Yet, the realization of any of these options becomes chimerical as the line between trade and culture matters is drawn in a clear and resolute manner.     

国际金融服务贸易的多边法律框架——WTO与金融服务贸易有关的协议评析

就国际金融服务贸易而言 ,WTO的重要性在于将金融服务贸易首次纳入多边贸易体制 ,并制定了一系列与金融服务有关的协议 :GATS、《金融服务附件》、《关于金融服务承诺的谅解》、《金融服务协议》 ,从而构建了国际金融服务贸易的多边法律框架。其主要内容包括 :国际金融服务贸易自由化的规则和纪律 ,影响国际金融服务贸易的国内法规的协调、承认和实施 ,国际金融服务贸易争议的解决。此框架是2 0世纪以来国际金融法领域最重要的制度创新 ,它是具有约束力的国际协议 ,以效率为其基本价值取向。     

WTO框架下竞争政策与多边贸易体制的协调问题述评

由于私方反竞争行为日益成为国际贸易自由化的障碍,国际社会正在积极努力以协调竞争政策与多边贸易体制之间的关系。然而,由于竞争问题的复杂性,对于应由什么机构、采用什么方法协调两者之问的关系,国际社会还存在激烈的论争。考虑到WTO能力的有限性和各国竞争政策、经济发展水平以及利益需求的差异性等因素,将竞争政策问题全面纳入WTO调整范畴尚为时过早。竞争政策的国际协调与立法工作可通过两个途径同时展开:逐步将那些与贸易有密切关联关系的竞争政策纳入WTO调整范围;竞争政策的其它问题可在WTO之外进行讨论与协调。     

世界贸易体制中的发展权

发展权在现代世界逐渐受到了重视,并被国际法所接受。世界贸易体制是实现发展权的关键领域。从世界贸易体制的主要代表GATT/WTO来看,从1947年关税与贸易总协定到2005年年底的香港部长会议,发展问题一直不同程度的得以体现。但是贸易与投资的自由化、知识产权的高标准保护以及对于发展中国家优惠的不落实都是发展权实现的障碍。这有待于通过世界贸易规范的民主化实现更为公正合理的国际经济秩序。     

WTO体系中的双边主义路径评析

世界贸易的自由化,一直存在着多边主义和双边主义路径的争论。WTO作为全球最大和最重要的国际贸易组织,一直以来被认为是典型的多边性合作机制。但作为国际合作的高级形式,WTO体系仍然保留了双边主义合作的特性。区域性贸易协定、互惠性原则、相互认可制度以及争端解决机制等制度都充分说明了在推进全球贸易自由化的进程中,作为多边主义合作组织的WTO并不排斥双边主义的路径,甚至在一定程度上对双边主义存在着强烈的路径依赖。因此,就目前陷于僵局的多边贸易谈判而言,问题的关键不在于多边主义和双边主义的相互替代或位序选择,而在于如何促进二者在WTO体系内外的协调与统一。     

WTO框架下的环境标志问题与我国环境标志制度的完善

环境标志问题是WTO环境与贸易委员会的讨论议题之一,因此,环境标志的使用不能视为GATT1994第20(b)(g)条下的例外,应遵守WTO非歧视原则且不能构成变相的贸易限制手段。在多边贸易体制中,环境标志问题的实质就是通过环境标志间接将PPM问题合法化,尽管大多数成员的环境标志制度是建立在自愿的基础上,但环境标志对于贸易自由化的消极影响还是十分明显的。作为WTO的成员方,我国应大力加强环境标志制度建设,推动环境标志认证的新发展,同时,在多边贸易体制中极力维护国家的贸易安全,积极防止和应对环境标志成为新的贸易壁垒。     

内国综合自由贸易区的构建与立法指导原则考

在全球经济自由化和区域经济一体化的浪潮下，冲破经济的藩篱，推动现有形式各异的自由贸易区向着综合性自由贸易区方向发展已成当今世界各国或地区发展经济与自由贸易的重要思路与途径。结合我国“长三角”、“珠三角”、“环渤海经济区”和“台海经济圈”等区域经济的发展，中部的崛起、西部的大开发和东北老工业基地的振兴等问题，对内国综合自由贸易区的构建与立法原则展开了探讨。     

From unilateral liberalization to regional free trade agreements: a Latin America perspective

This paper provides an overview of changes in Latin American trade regime. The inward-looking import substitution industrialization (ISI) approach to development was replaced in the 1990s by an outward-looking strategy. The protectionist policies of the ISI strategy generated an anti-export bias, but unilateral trade liberalization (UTL) reduced this bias considerably. An issue discussed is why the pro-ISI consensus of the 1960s was replaced by the pro-export consensus of the 1990s? There has been a surprising proliferation of (bilateral) free trade agreements (FTAs) during the 1990s. In the paper it is argued that UTL and FTAs are complementary strategies. Latin America has comparative advantages in natural resources. A new debate over the development strategy has emerged. Information and communication technologies (ICT) are seen as crucial to a country’s growth in the twenty-first century. So, how can Latin American countries incorporate such technologies into their economies. Is it possible to make the leap from producing natural resources to producing ICT? In today’s globalized world, it is essential for Latin American countries to increase its exports. This paper reviews actions on different fronts; some that should be carried at the domestic level, and also, measures at the external level which require that the developed countries provide better market access to Latin American exports.