数字贸易规制的免责例外

The Exemption Exceptions to Digital Trade Regulation

数字贸易规制具有多元目标,一国基于公共道德和公共秩序、隐私保护、国家安全等方面的考虑对数字贸易采取的限制措施需要从例外条款中寻求免责理由。与数字贸易规制有关的一般例外条款主要是GATS第14条,最相关的情形是公共道德和公共秩序例外以及保护隐私例外,这些条款能为规制措施提供一定抗辩余地。网络安全可以构成安全例外中的国家安全,与数字贸易规制相关的安全例外条款是GATS第14条之二。根据GATS第14条之二第1款(b)项(i)目和(ii)目为网络安全措施抗辩的情形,仅限于与保护成员的军事设施或核设施免遭网络安全威胁有关的情况。与网络攻击最相关的安全例外条款是GATS第14条之二第1款(b)项(iii)目的"战时或国际关系中的其他紧急情况"。安全例外条款能够为网络安全措施提供的抗辩非常有限。为协调数字贸易自由化和国家安全,各国可以通过WTO争端解决机制之外的途径来消解在网络安全治理中的分歧。

Digital trade regulation has multiple goals.A country’s restrictions on digital trade based on considerations of public morals and public order,privacy protection,and national security need to seek exemption from the exception clauses.The general exception clauses related to digital trade regulation are mainly article 14 of GATS,of which the most relevant cases are exceptions to public morals and public order,and privacy.The clauses can provide some defense for regulatory measures.Cybersecurity can constitute national security in WTO security exception clauses,and the provisions related to digital trade regulations are article 14 bis of GATS.The defense of cybersecurity measures under subparagraphs(i)and(ii),paragraph 1(b)of article 14 bis is limited to situations in which members’military or nuclear facilities are protected from cybersecurity threats.The most relevant security exception to cyberattacks is about"in time of war or other emergency in international relations",under paragraph 1(b)(iii)of article 14 bis of GATS.Security exceptions provide very limited defenses to cybersecurity measures.In order to coordinate digital trade liberalization and national security,it is possible to resolve divergences between countries in cybersecurity governance through routes outside of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.