RCEP数据本土化的禁止性规范及其例外条款

On the Prohibition of Data Localization and Its Exception Provisions in the RCEP

通过区域性经贸协定禁止数据本土化,是解决当前WTO法律框架体系相关规范及判例缺位的重要途径。建立在CPTPP框架基础之上的RCEP,第12章第14条第2款和第15条第2款原则上禁止缔约国实行数据本土化,但也设置了排除禁止性规范适用的例外情形。数据本土化禁止性规范的例外条款是指“合法公共政策目的”条款、“平行”条款和“基本安全利益”条款。然而,当前并没有任何一个国际协定准确界定前述例外条款的含义和厘定其适用范围。WTO的相关判例主张,对它们含义的界定不能“一刀切”,而应该将其放置于缔约国的国情和制度层面进行事实性的评价和判断。“反歧视”规范和“反变相限制”规范构成的合法公共政策目的的“反规避性条款”,是防止“合法公共政策目的”条款被滥用的重要工具,对两者的评价应该回归到对相应具体措施目的的实质性分析,厘清其与“合法公共政策目的”是否存在实质性关联、是否相悖。

It is a significant solution to solve the issues of lacking of relevant specific interpretations and case-law about the prohibition provisions on data localization in the legal frameworks of WTO by setting up the aforesaid prohibition provisions in the regional free trade agreements.The RCEP,of which Articles 14.2 and 15.2 in Chapter 12 stipulate the prohibition provisions of data localization,is in fact on the basic framework of the CPTPP.Meanwhile,some other provisions in Chapter 12 indirectly contain the prohibition of data localization,and some indirectly set up the exception of data localization.In fact,the provisions on legitimate public policy,horizontal provisions and essential security interest provision are the main exceptions of data localization.So far,not any trade agreement clearly defines their mean and scope,but the WTO case-law claims that it is impractical to define their concrete meaning on“one size fits all”;they should instead be factually assessed from the aspects of the Parties’existing realities and its legal system.The anti-circumvention provisions,which include the anti-discrimination and anti-disguised restriction provisions,are quite more significant tools to prevent the abuse of the legal public policy.The WTO case-law claims that,it needs to assess the anti-discrimination and anti-disguised restriction through substantively analyzing the purpose of concrete measures of the data location,i.e.,reviewing substantial relation between the aforesaid purpose and the legal public policy,or working in the opposite.