世界贸易组织法视域下的美欧232钢铝协议与中国应对

U.S.-EU Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Agreement:WTO Compliance,Effects and the Response of China

2021年10月31日达成的美欧232钢铝协议包括“钢铝关税配额安排”和“全球钢铝贸易安排”两项内容,引发全球关注。该协议可能与WTO规则发生冲突:美国根据“钢铝关税配额安排”给予欧盟钢铝产品的关税配额涉嫌违反GATT核心义务,且很难根据其安全例外条款获得正当性;“全球钢铝贸易安排”预想的基于低碳强度标准的钢铝产品进口限制亦涉嫌违反GATT核心义务,很难根据其环保例外条款获得正当性,或者为了获得正当性需要满足第20条(g)项和序言施加的系列条件。钢铝关税配额安排对我国钢铝产品对美出口影响不大,但可能影响232钢铝关税相关WTO争端的解决进程,且消除了美欧结盟遏制中国的一大障碍。中国单独起诉前述钢铝关税配额的意义不大,但仍应通过不同渠道质疑其WTO合法性。全球钢铝贸易安排如全面实施,将会对我国钢铝产品出口产生显著负面影响;连接贸易与气候变化、非市场导向问题的全球钢铝贸易安排很可能只是一个“行业试点”,类似安排有可能复制到其他行业,这会对国际经贸规则演进及我国对外贸易产生深远影响。作为回应,中国应明确反对诸如全球钢铝贸易安排的“小圈子”做法,坚决反对全球钢铝贸易安排中的不合理因素,密切关注全球钢铝贸易安排的谈判和实施进展并质疑其合法性,同时应努力提高国内钢铝生产的清洁度。

U.S.-EU Section 232 steel and aluminum agreement,concluded on 31 October 2021,comprises of“steel and aluminum tariff quota arrangement”and“global steel and aluminum trade arrangement”,attracting global attention.This agreement may conflict with WTO rules.The tariff quotas imposed by the United States on EU steel and aluminum products under the “steel andaluminum tariff quota arrangement” are suspected of violating the core obligations of GATT, and itis difficult to be justified by its security exception. The import restrictions on steel and aluminumproducts based on low carbon intensity standards envisaged by the “global steel and aluminumtrade arrangement” are also suspected of violating the core obligations of GATT and also difficultto be justified by its environmental protection exceptions, or they need to meet the severalconditions imposed by item (g) and the preamble of Article XX in order to be justified. The steeland aluminum tariff quota arrangement has little impact on the export of Chinese steel andaluminum products to the United States, but it may affect the dispute settlement process of WTOcases related to Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, and eliminate a major obstacle for the U.S.and EU to form an alliance to contain China. It is of little significance for China to sue the steel andaluminum tariff quota mentioned above separately in the WTO, but its WTO legality should still bequestioned through different channels. If the global steel and aluminum trade arrangement is fullyimplemented, it will have a significant negative impact on the export of Chinese steel andaluminum products. The global steel and aluminum trade arrangement, which links trade withclimate change and non-market orientation issues, is likely to be just an “industry pilot”, andsimilar arrangements may be copied to other industries, which will have a far-reaching impact onthe evolution of international trade law and the foreign trade of China. In response, China shouldclearly oppose the “small circle” practice such as the global steel and aluminum trade arrangement,resolutely oppose the unreasonable factors in this arrangement, pay close attention to progress ofnegotiation and implementation of this arrangement and question the legality of it, and strive toimprove the cleanliness of domestic steel and aluminum production.