非WTO国际法规范适用于WTO文化贸易的可行性——以中美文化产品案的法律适用问题为视角

The Feasibility of Non-WTO Norms Applicable to the Cultural Trade of WTO: An Analysis from the View of Law Application to Sino-US Cultural Product Cases

WTO法律体系不是一个封闭的法律怪圈,非WTO国际法规范在理论上具有适用于WTO案件的可能性与必要性,在实践中WTO争端解决机构也曾适用非WTO国际法规范解决成员方的贸易争端。适用的渊源包括一般法律原则和国际条约,适用的方式包括直接适用和"作为解释的证据和材料"。而中国在中美文化产品案中的败诉凸显出WTO的文化贸易立法不具自足性,无法保证成员有效维护本国文化主权。在WTO现有文化贸易立法之外,存在适用《文化多样性公约》等非WTO国际法规范的可行性。认识到这一点,对于处于国际文化贸易弱势地位的中国具有另辟蹊径的现实意义。

WTO legal system is not a closed circle, non-WTO norms of intemational law are applicable to WTO cases in theory, and in practice, WTO Dispute Settlement Body also applies to resolve trade disputes among WTO members. The specific ways of application include direct application and ＂as the evidence and material of interpretation＂. China＇ s losing of lawsuit in cases of Sino-US cultural products highlights the insufficiency of cultural trade legislation, which can not ensure that member states effectively safeguard their cultural sovereignty. Besides the existing cultural legislation, there exists the feasibility of non-WTO norms as ＂cultural diversity＂. Recognizing this is of practical significance for China to change its weak position in international cultural trade.