区域贸易协定条约冲突的解决途径探究——以RCEP和CPTPP的条约冲突为视角

Exploring Solutions to Conflict of Laws in Regional Trade Agreements-Taking the Conflict of Laws Between RCEP and CPTPP as Example

随着区域贸易协定数量与日俱增,同一主体可能与多个主体间签订数个适用范围存在交叉的协定,“意大利面碗”现象日趋复杂,潜在的条约冲突增多。中国过去以双边贸易协定为主,该问题并不突出。然而,随着中国加入RCEP,并申请加入CPTPP,未来可能面临较多冲突情形。对此,文章识别了RCEP与CPTPP的潜在冲突条款和冲突类型,分析了使用《维也纳条约法公约》规定、WTO冲突解决规范、冲突条款及国际实践方法解决冲突的适用性及其不足。在此基础上,提出区分真实冲突和虚假冲突进行应对。针对虚假冲突,以适用国际法冲突规则为基础,突出有效解释和目的—宗旨解释方法并结合运用多种解释方法的解决路径;针对真实冲突,则坚持在人类命运共同体理念指引下,借鉴菜单式(àla carte)方法等行之有效的实践方法,补充冲突条款具体规定并进一步发展磋商机制。

As the number of regional trade agreements continues to rise,a state/regional body might sign several agreements with other states or regional bodies that overlap in scope,which result in an increasingly intricate“spaghetti bowl”phenomenon and potential conflicts in application of rules.Previously,China mainly signed bilateral trade agreements,which rarely cause concern in this regard.However,with Chinas accession to the RCEP and its application to join the CPTPP,it might encounter more conflict scenarios in the future.To address this issue,this paper identifies potential conflicting clauses and conflict types between the RCEP and CPTPP,and analyzes the applicability and limitations of applying Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties,WTO conflict resolution norms,conflict clauses,and international practices to resolve such conflicts.Based on such analysis,this paper proposes a distinction made between real and false conflicts.For false conflicts,it suggests using international law conflict rules as a foundation,and employing a combination of interpretive strategies with emphasis on effective interpretation and purpose-driven interpretation methods.For real conflicts,it advocates adhering to the nation of Community of Shared Future for Mankind,drawing experience from some effective practical methods such asla carte approach,supplementing the specific provisions of conflict clauses,and developing the consultation mechanism in negotiating trade agreements.