多边贸易体制中过渡期条款的内涵与法理基础探析

An Analysis of the Connotation and Jurisprudence Basis of the Transitional Clauses in the Multilateral Trading System

多边贸易体制中的过渡期条款是基于成员方参与规则建设能力的差异,在平等适用规则的前提下,成员方通过谈判,在特殊时间段内对成员权利义务实行差异化配置的规则类型。这类条款来源于多边贸易体制在发展进程中逐步体现出的包容性,在根本上来源于发达成员与发展中成员间的重大差异,也体现了发展中成员维护自身国家经济安全的迫切需求。基于功能主义视角,过渡期条款产生和存续的法理基础主要体现为,这类条款在维护国家经济主权、修正制度缺陷、呼应发展中成员的特殊与差别待遇以及促进多边贸易体制内的公平互利等方面具有重要作用。世界贸易组织成员鲜明的二元结构特征决定了过渡期条款在未来尚有继续存续的空间。

The transitional clauses in the multilateral trading system is a category of clauses that are based on the differences of WTO members’ability to participate in the construction of rules and implement differentiated rules for members’rights and obligations within a special period of time.Such clauses originate from the inclusiveness of the multilateral trading system in the development process,and are fundamentally derived from the major differences between developed members and developing members,and also reflect the urgent needs of developing members to maintain their own national economic security.From the perspective of functionalism,the legal basis for the emergence and survival of transitional clauses is mainly reflected in the aspects of such clauses in safeguarding national economic sovereignty,correcting institutional defects of the multilateral trading system,responding to the special and differential treatment of developing members,and promoting fairness and mutual benefit within the system.The distinctive dual structure of WTO members determines that there is still room for the continuation of transitional provisions in the future.