国际公法在WTO争端解决中的作用与应用

WTO法是在国际公法的大背景中创制的,WTO协定不是存在于一个不受一般国际法影响的制度中。WTO法从来就不是一个封闭的、自给自足的法律制度,WTO规则是更广泛的国际公法内容的一部分,它在国际公法的框架内运作,并不是脱离国际公法的法律子系统。至少在解释的层面,它们总是会有某种程度的互动。国际公法可为WTO规则提供规范背景,有助于WTO无具体规定的某些方面的运作或提供解释性指导。在解释WTO协定的必要范围内,专家组和上诉机构有权使用或考虑其他条约、习惯和一般法律原则。但是,它们并非作为法律适用。在WTO争端解决中,其他国际法规则的作用是有限的、辅助的。

The Role and Application of Public International Law in WTO Dispute Settlement

WTO law is framed in the context of public international law and WTO agreements are by no means in a regime not influenced by international law.WTO law has never been held within a close or self-sufficient framework.On the other hand,WTO rules are deemed a part of the public international law in a broad sense,functioning within the context but not isolated from the subsystems of public international law.Some degree of their interaction does exist at least at the level of interpretation.Apart from serving as an arsenal of norms to help settle disputes which have not yet been specified by WTO rules,international public law may also render some interpretative guidelines.If necessary,while interpreting the WTO agreements,the panels and appellate body are entitled to adopt or take into account other treaties,customs or general law principles though they are not applied as laws.Other rules of international law only play a limited and subsidiary role in WTO dispute settlement.