The EU–ACP development cooperation – governance challenges for non‐state actors: the case of Malawi

The European Development Consensus 2005 contains a broad policy re‐statement of the EU’s world view vis‐à‐vis its internal and external relations. It places poverty eradication and sustainable development at the heart of its policy. The context within which poverty eradication is pursued is an increasingly globalised and interdependent world that constantly creates new opportunities and challenges. Combating global poverty is seen by both parties not only as a moral obligation; rather as a building block for a more stable, peaceful, prosperous and equitable world, reflecting the interdependency of its richer and poorer countries. The EU has in its relations with the African, Pacific and Caribbean countries, past and present, pursued a development agenda via successive aid and development cooperation arrangements starting with the Yaoundé I convention, through Lomé to the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA). In this article I reflect on the CPA, based on a corpus of shared objectives, principles and the Lomé ‘acquis’ in relation to Malawi non‐state actors (NSAs). I reflect on the opportunities and challenges it presents and how contemplated social dialogue between government and NSAs on the one hand and the EU can translate into poverty reduction, sustainable development and integration of the local economy to the global economy. I conclude that unlike its predecessors, Yaoundé and Lomé conventions, the CPA acknowledges the complementary role of NSAs in the development process, however NSAs in Malawi face constraints in terms of organisation and capacity building that affects their participation. What I do not do is to offer a discussion of the CPA as a whole, for that is outside the scope of this article, but rather have focused on the governance aspect vis‐à‐vis NSAs.     

Three Principles of Transnational Corporate Bankruptcy Law: A Review

Abstract: After having discussed the weaknesses of the universalist and territorialist approaches to transnational corporate bankruptcy law, this article argues that a free‐choice régime could combine the advantage of ex post value maximisation of the firm's assets with a comparatively higher degree of ex ante predictability to investors. In addition, it could lead to a better alignment between corporate ownership structures and corporate bankruptcy régimes. Moreover, a free‐choice régime could potentially open the door for regulatory competition in corporate bankruptcy law. However, EC Regulation 1346/00 on insolvency proceedings implements a system of modified universalism, which allows for strategic ex post forum shopping by debtors while keeping the national legislatures’ monopoly in the field of corporate bankruptcy in place. It is suggested that even though it cannot be predicted that a free‐choice régime will pressure state lawmakers to improve their corporate bankruptcy laws, a system of free choice could redirect the law‐making agenda in the EU by focusing the coordination efforts of lawmakers on those issues—such as security interests in property and statutory priority rights—which could negatively affect the proper functioning of the Internal Market, while enabling Member States to customise corporate bankruptcy laws to local preferences and needs.     

Escaping the Regulatory Net: Why Regulatory Reform Can Fail Consumers*

This paper considers the impact of recent reforms to the UK food safety régime and considers whether the reforms have been able to deliver their promised benefits and if not, why not. Empirically, the paper examines the UK Food Standards Agency's (FSA) reforms to the régime managing food allergen risks, and the extent to which those reforms have reflected the FSA's guiding principle of “putting consumers first”. The paper finds that the operationalization of that guiding principle was mitigated by a number of factors, including: interpretative flexibility in representing consumer interests; the institutional structure and character of the régime; the political and cultural environment in which the régime operated; and normative uncertainties about the allocation of rights and responsibilities in managing risks. The paper concludes that risk regulation reforms are likely to fail in prioritizing consumer interests unless such factors are taken into account.     

WTO对中国行政法治建设的影响

WTO的规则和原则体系确立了国际贸易的管理框架和一整套法律和纪律。WTO的绝大部分规则是以政府的行为为内容并以政府的管理活动为对象。由此 ,WTO与我国的行政法治建设密切相关。文章分析了WTO与我国的宪法性制度 ,行政权作用方式的转变 ,行政行为的公开 ,政府对公民、法人和其他组织合法权益的保障 ,行政行为的司法审查以及行政法学研究的创新和公务员制度改革等七方面的关系 ,初步揭示了WTO对我国行政法治建设的影响。     

Engaging the Private Sector: EU–China Trade Disputes Under the Shadow of WTO Law?

Abstract:  This article intends to reflect a new tendency of China's new trade policy to utilise more effectively the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules with the support of emerging public–private networks, at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. Based on legal pluralism and network theory, this article argues that although still far from an active user of the dispute-settlement mechanism, China is gradually building up its legal capacity for challenging foreign trade barriers, by actively engaging the private sector and mobilising resources of domestic industries. It particularly focuses on how this new trend has been reflected on three recent high-profile disputes: textile, footwear and car parts, and concludes that the pattern of China's trade policy indicates that both China and its trading partners have realised that their trade relations are developing under the shadow of WTO law.     

维护自由贸易与保护知识产权权利的内在冲突和司法考量之进路

世贸组织的根本宗旨是推动全球贸易的自由化,逐步减少和消除阻碍贸易发展的壁垒。保护附加于商品上的知识产权(特别是商标权、专利权)在一定条件下会阻碍自由贸易发展。针对如何看待和协调WTO一系列框架文本中消除贸易壁垒和保护与贸易有关的知识产权协定的关系,从世贸组织的相关法律文本出发,通过我国法律和欧盟的典型判例来实证分析研究上述问题,并总结欧盟司法经验,揭示在保护知识产权的基本原则下,运用比例关系测试法就具体个案衡平考量解决两者冲突的司法进路。     

WTO协定对欧盟法的影响及启示--从欧盟法院的角度

WTO协定在欧共体被视为法律渊源之一,但是在欧共体并不具有直接效力;欧共体法被假定为与WTO协定相一致,但是欧盟法院在具体案件中不以WTO协定作为评价欧共体法合法性的依据。欧盟法院在其判决中对二者之间关系之精心设计,对于刚加入世贸组织的我国来说,不乏借鉴意义。     

论加入WTO后我国行业协会的制度完善——纺织品贸易争端引发的思考

加入WTO后急需我国行业协会在行业利益协调,避免和解决贸易争端等方面发挥积极作用。然而,制度上的障碍造成我国行业协会功能缺失,2005年纺织品贸易争端的爆发即突出反映出这一问题。因而,必须加紧健全我国行业协会发展的外部法律环境,制定《行业协会法》,并完善其内部管理机制。     

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.     

State Transformation and the Role of Lawyers: The WTO,India, and Transnational Legal Ordering

This article explains the impact of India's engagement with the law of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on both the Indian state and on the WTO itself. In each case, it explains the role of Indian lawyers within the larger transnational context. In engaging with globalization and the WTO, India has transformed itself. The Indian state has moved toward a new developmental state model involving a stronger emphasis on trade, greater government transparency, and the development of public‐private coordination mechanisms in which the government plays a steering role. The analysis shows that it has done so not as an autonomous policy choice, but rather in light of the global context in which the WTO and WTO law form an integral part. Reciprocally, the article displays the ways that India has built legal capacity to attempt to shape the construction, interpretation, and practice of the trade legal order. Indian private lawyers play increasing roles, although they remain on tap, not on top.     

试论中国区域贸易安排战略

Regional Trade Arrangements (RTAs) have proliferated after the birth of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In these years, as the members of RTAs increased considerably, the instruments and formalities of RTAs have been varied, and the scope of RTAs has been expanded. With regards to China, it has changed its traditional view and has been engaged positively in the building its own RTAs. Facing the competition from neighboring countries, China should construct an appropriate strategy on RTAs as soon as possible. Without the derogation of multilateral trade agreement, the RTA strategy should be led by national strategic interest, contain the involvement of various levels of trade agreements, enlarge the scope of regional trade agreements, and expand the potential realm of partners for cooperation, etc. Chen Bin was a joint doctoral student of Wuhan University (China) and l’Université Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III (France). Now, he is an editor of International Law Review of Wuhan University, a visiting scholar under the scholarship programme of UK foundation for Uniform Law of l’Institut International pour l’Unification du Droit Privé (Unidroit), a researcher under the doctoral scholarship programme of the Hague Academy of International Law, a research fellow of Heidelberg Max Plank Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, a research fellow under the Asser Research Fellowships Programme of T.M.C. Asser Instituut, a visiting fellow under the scholarship program for visiting fellows of Hamburg Max Plank Institute for Comparative and International Private Law. Mr. Chen is a member of the Society of International Economic Law (SIEL), the Association for International Arbitration (AIA) and the Asian Competition Forum (ACF), and a researcher of the Arbitration Institute of Guangzhou Arbitration Court. Currently, his research interests focus on international trade law and public international law.     

文化产品、版权保护与贸易规则

Cultural products are commodities with cultural contents, which are neither equivalent to cultural relics nor ordinary articles. Such dual natures bring forth divergences in trade policy, mandating the generality and particularity of trade rules. The WTO rules lay more emphases on free trade while the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization put more stress on the free exchange and diversity of cultures. Nations enjoy cultural sovereignty over their cultural policies and administrative measures. The rules of intellectual property rights also influence trade in cultural products. To develop trade in cultural products, science and technologies shall be employed to create diversified and competitive products of distinct cultural values. Han Liyu, Ph.D, is an associate professor of law, and director of International Law Teaching and Research at Renmin University of China, Vice Secretary-General of WTO Section in China Law Society, and member of China’s International Economic Law Society. Mr. Han teaches and does research on international economic law and WTO law, publishing several monographs and articles on the US trade law and the WTO law. For many times, Mr. Han did research as visiting scholar in American universities and UNIDROIT. Mr. Han got a post-graduate diploma in Common Law from Hong Kong University.     

论WTO后过渡期中国对外贸易法律制度的梳理和完善

论述主要分为三部分:一是分析我国加入WTO,在"后过渡期"内,我国在对外贸易领域的发展特征,该部分主要着眼于国内的角度;二是论述在国际贸易中,诸多因素的冲突、互动及对我国的影响,该部分主要着眼于国际视野;三是阐述在面临国内外新形式下,我国对外贸易法律制度需要进一步梳理和完善,以有利于我国对外贸易的进一步发展.     

试论跨国公司的社会责任

As for international direct investment, the transnational corporations are playing a leading role in the fields of international trade, international investment and international intellectual property. In theory and reality, this authors analyze the rationale of the social responsibilities taken by transnational corporations, the main problems in the social responsibilities of transnational corporations and the legislative status, and put forward the functions of the social responsibilities of transnational corporations in promotion of the legal construction of socialist market economy, the reform of the corporate governance and the development of transnational corporations in China. Wang Chuanli, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of China University of Political Science and Law, Vice-chairman of China Society of International Economic Law, and Vice-chairman of Research Institute of WTO Law (China Law Society), also Arbitrator of China International Economic & Trade Arbitration Commission and Beijing Arbitration Commission. Her main publications are “The Legal Effectiveness of Foreign Economic Contracts”, “International Trade Law of Sales of Goods”, “International Protection of Intellectual Property Rights” and “International Trade Law Government Control on Business”. Moreover, she has published over ten influential discourses on international economic law. In addition, her ongoing research projects include WTO Agriculture Agreement and the Rules of International Agri-products Trade, WTO and International Core labor Standards, and the Role of Judicial Independence of European Court of Justice to Promote the Integration of Europe.     

WTO与中国环境标志法律对策

随着世界经济一体化的深入和各国对环境保护问题的日益重视,环境标志成为发达国家新的一种"绿色贸易壁垒",对环境和国际贸易产生重大影响,加入WTO后,中国环境标志面临新的机遇与挑战。我们应大力发展和完善我国的环境标志制度,充分利用WTO的现行规则,在WTO的法律框架内寻求相应的法律对策。     

论WTO后过渡期中国企业的反倾销法律对策

WTO后过渡期是一个具有特别含义的法律概念.WTO后过渡期中国的外贸出口面临着三大制度性障碍,在此期间引起贸易摩擦是历史的必然,中国开始成为后过渡期贸易争端的最大受害国.后过渡期的中国企业必须树立新的营销理念和机制,充分利用WTO规则应对欧美的贸易反倾销,并在反倾销道路上学会博弈;国家要抓紧修订和完善适应WTO规则需要的法律规范.     

WTO原产地规则协议与反倾销措施

原产地规则渗透到国际贸易的很多领域,在国际贸易中的作用日益显著,已经成为各国对外贸易政策的重要组成部分。为了创造公平的贸易环境,应将反倾销等非优惠贸易措施统一纳入WTO原产地规则协议的适用范围,WTO原产地规则协议的统一和普遍适用,有利于国际和国内贸易的发展,有利于促进我国外贸法律政策的完善,所以我国制定和运用原产地规则以抵御贸易保护主义迫在眉睫。     

WTO协定下美国贸易权利论——以美国对中国实施“双轨制反补贴措施”为视角

美国一方面对中国适用反补贴税法，另一方面通过WTO争端解决机制控告中国的禁止性补贴措施之做法，说明美国正在积极行使WTO协定下的贸易权利。应当从美国联邦宪法与国际法之双重视角把握贸易权利之性质并将其分成实体性市场准入权利与程序性贸易救济权利两大类，唯此才能理解美国对中国实施“双轨制反补贴措施”之实质。对美国正在推行的以贸易权利为导向的对华贸易政策，中国必须用自己的贸易救济权利加以对抗。     

Language and Law in Multiethnic Societies: The Case of Transylvania

International Journal for the Semiotics of Law - Revue internationale de Sémiotique juridique - Transylvania is a multiethnic society that was part of the Hungarian legal space for centuries....     

Effective Global Economic Governance by the World Trade Organization

The World Trade Organization (‘WTO’) is the principalinternational institution for the management and regulationof the process of economic globalization. Its effectivenessin fulfilling this important task, however, leaves much to bedesired. On 4 and 5 February 2005, the Faculty of Law of MaastrichtUniversity organized an international research conference entitled‘In Search of Effective Global Economic Governance: TheCase of the World Trade Organization’. This conferencebrought together academics, WTO officials, government diplomats,national trade officials, representatives of business associationsand NGOs to discuss a wide range of issues, including: possibleimprovements to and alternatives for consensus decision-makingin the WTO; issues of transparency, democratic legitimacy andthe participation of civil society in WTO decision-making; secondarylaw-making by WTO bodies; and an expanded role for the WTO Secretariat.It is important that legal and political science scholars focustheir research efforts on the reforms needed to transform theWTO into an instrument of effective global economic governance.The main objective of the conference was, therefore, to definea comprehensive agenda for research into the institutional reformof the WTO. This article is, above all, a report of the conferenceand summarizes the main arguments made by the participants.