RCEP背景下国际贸易争端解决机制的创新与完善

Renovation and Perfection of International Trade Dispute Settlement System in the Context of RECP

2022年1月1日,《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》(RCEP)生效实施,这标志着世界上人口数量最多、成员结构最多元、发展潜力最大的自由贸易区就此诞生。除了在实体规则方面超越现有多边及区域性自由贸易协定外,RCEP第19章还创设了专门的国际贸易争端解决机制,其出台背景主要是为了突破当前WTO争端解决机制所面临的现实困境,为全球贸易治理注入新的活力。鉴于国际经贸领域存在大量相互重叠和交织的自由贸易协定网络,RCEP专门规定了场所选择条款,旨在打破“意大利面碗效应”,增强争端解决管辖权的确定性和可预见性。相较于世界贸易组织,RCEP争端解决机制更加重视磋商的作用,充分彰显自治性和高效性,同时在争端解决各项程序的运行方面注重协调。RCEP争端解决机制虽然在区域性合作的框架内展开,但其与多边自由贸易体制相辅相成,共同促进世界经济朝着开放、合作、共赢的方向发展。

On January 1,2022,the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP)came into force,marking the birth of a free trade area with the largest population,the most diverse membership structure and the greatest development potential in the world.In addition to surpassing existing multilateral and regional free trade agreements in terms of substantive rules,Chapter 19 of RCEP also creates a special international trade dispute settlement mechanism,which is mainly aimed at breaking through the current difficulties faced by the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and injecting new vitality into global trade governance.In view of the large network of overlapping and intertwined free trade agreements in the international economic and trade field,RCEP specifically provides for the choice of venue clause,aiming to break the“spaghetti bowl effect”and enhance the certainty and predictability of dispute settlement jurisdiction.Compared with the WTO,the RCEP dispute settlement mechanism attaches more importance to the role of consultation,fully demonstrates its autonomy and efficiency,and emphasizes coordination in the operation of various dispute settlement procedures.The RCEP dispute settlement mechanism is implemented within the framework of regional cooperation,but it is complementary to the multilateral free trade system and contributes to the development of the world economy in the direction of openness,cooperation and win-win outcomes.