Fair Trade and justice: a comment on Walton and Deneulin

In this article we first point out that the different conceptualisations of Fair Trade, which are sometimes analytically contradictory, actually form a coordinated set. Understanding the Fair Trade project is impossible without taking these interlinked conceptualisations into consideration. Second, this set basically forms a mechanism of structural, institutional and moral reforms that guide actions. In this way Fair Trade sets out to produce less injustice than is usually the case with the structures and institutions that govern conventional trade. Nevertheless, it does not try to define what a just society is or even to perfectly define ‘fair trade’. This implies the adoption of a comparative justice angle. It is precisely by linking comparative individual situations with the structures that produce these situations that relative justice can find its strength and purpose.     

Paving the way for farm animal welfare in international relations: an EU–Brazil case study

As a sensitive area in international trade, animal welfare measures have encountered resistance in negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Consequently, alternative avenues have been pursued to reach international trade policy convergence. To further understand the contemporary trade politics of animal welfare, an empirical investigation was conducted on the interplay between European and Brazilian actors in the context of livestock production. By drawing upon diplomatic studies and the global governance literature, this study identifies and analyses initiatives that parallel the WTO approach and through which the development and implementation of mutually acceptable farm animal welfare measures have been pursued. Research findings indicate that a constellation of international non-diplomatic actors are currently engaged in influencing the future development of farm animal welfare measures. Among the initiatives that enable the alignment of European and Brazilian animal welfare policies and practices, there are soft instruments such as knowledge sharing and private standards. The rise of new actors and the use of soft instruments have been, to a certain extent, able to mitigate the tardiness of a WTO consensus regarding the use of animal welfare measures. However, there are concerns that the use of private standards has become a shortcut to circumvent the rigours of the multilateral trading system. This concern deserves a closer look because instead of paving the way, private standards may hamper trade relations which in turn hamper progress in animal welfare matters.     

海洋话语与国际秩序转变

国际关系的演进表明,海洋话语转变是国际秩序转变的重要风向标。文章对海洋话语进行了概念分析,并将其细分成海洋硬话语与海洋软话语,明确其包涵因素和互动关系。战争、谈判、国际会议、条约及协定等是国家争取战略主导权、在国际权力格局中占据优势的重要手段,可作为海洋话语与国际秩序之间的互动机理。海洋话语与国际秩序转变主要经历了欧洲主导时期和美国主导时期,且美国主导时期延续至今。在“百年未有之大变局”时代,海洋世界多极化趋势显著,海陆联动明显,“泛海洋时代”到来;海洋话语的话语主体、结构设计、海缘范畴及议题领域等均在经历多维嬗变,国际海洋新秩序建构的可能性和必要性在不断提升。中国需把握好角色定位与策略选择,优化中国海洋战略,树立新海洋安全观,踏实构建海洋话语,在国际海洋新秩序的构建中发挥积极引领作用。     

国际服务贸易紧急保障措施制度的建构及中国的应对析论

服务贸易领域保障措施立法是近年来引起国内外普遍关注的一个新领域.在国际上,围绕着服务贸易总协定ESM的建构引发了发达国家与发展中国家的激烈争论,反映了发达国家与发展中国家不同的利益和立场.提出我国在国际服务贸易紧急保障措施建构中所应采取的立场,分析我国服务贸易保障措施立法的成就与不足,并在此基础上提出完善我国服务贸易保障措施立法的一些建议.     

我国资本系相关法学问题初探

资本系是我国资本市场中新出现的现象。它具有五大法律特征。其法学概念可以概括为:在资本市场中以资本为核心或联系纽带形成的,具有关联或潜在关联关系的上市公司群体。资本系对我国资本市场的影响越来越大,而且对现行公法、私法制度产生强烈冲击,因此,资本系问题具有重要的法学研究价值。     

我国西南民族地区参与中国-东盟自贸区对外贸易分析——以贵州参与中国-东盟自贸区对外贸易为例

民族地区加快对外开放,发展与世界的对外贸易,推动经济发展是我国对外开放战略及民族地区经济发展战略的重要内容。中国—东盟自由贸易区的建立以及《中国-东盟全面经济合作框架协议货物贸易协议》的实施,不仅使中国企业在东盟的市场空间进一步扩展,更为具有区位优势的西南民族地区提供了发展外贸的巨大机遇。通过对贵州—东盟外贸案例的分析,证明这种机遇是现实的,且具很大的发展空间与前景。     

判例:一种法律解释的方法--兼论我国国际私法判例制度的构建

判例法和成文法分别是普通法系和大陆法系的主要法律渊源.然而,作为一种创制法律、解释法律的技术方法而言,判例法与成文法并不是相互排斥、相互对立的.来自法官个案司法经验总结的判例法,由于其独特的直观性、灵活性,可以弥补大陆法系成文法适用与解释之不足.成文法亦是我国的传统,借鉴和移植判例制度,有助于克服我国司法解释中存在的种种缺陷,增强法律适用的确定性、灵活性和公正性.尤其在国际私法领域,立法的严重滞后,使得判例制度的引进和重构成为完善我国国际私法的一个重要路径.     

WTO体制下的贸易与环境若干问题评析--基于GATS与环境服务贸易的视角

环境服务谈判纳入GATS之中以及由此带来的法律适用上的冲突,从一个侧面折射出多边贸易体制下贸易与环境问题的复杂性.平衡与协调贸易与环境问题的难度与多边谈判的曲折,使许多问题已超出WTO体制的承载,通过对环境服务贸易在GATS协定中的法律适用的分析,反映出在WTO体制下处理好贸易与环境议题,尚需在理论与实践上作出进一步的探讨与努力.     

"废统论"可以休矣

台湾当局在历史上从未要求独立建国,而坚持主张其是中国的合法代表,因此并不存在"国家承认"问题.即使台湾当局宣布"废统",也由于不符合国际法的要求而无法有效建立新国家.历史和现实都表明,台湾地区因不具备国际上曾经发生的国家分离实践的客观条件而不可能真正从祖国分离出去.台湾地区和大陆的和平统一既是两岸人民的意愿,也符合国际法的要求.     

论我国商业秘密保护中的竞业禁止

商业秘密保护中的竞业禁止是指对与特定营业具有特定关系的特定人的行为予以禁止的制度。我国关于竞业禁止制度的立法颇为零乱且不具操作性,应从竞业禁止合同的有效要件诸方面进行完善。