从GATT第21条看美国“汇率关税”问题

On the Issue of"Exchange-Rate Tariff"in America:From the Perspective of GATT XXI

2005年4月6日,美国参议院通过一项人民币汇率修正案,要求中国政府在6个月内提高人民币汇率水平,否则将对所有来自中国的进口产品征收27.5%的从价关税。该修正案认为,对中国产品征收'汇率关税'的合法性来源于GATT第21条'安全例外'。然而,依据GATT第21条(b)款的审查标准,这种'汇率关税'并不具备合法性。对此,中国可以通过向WTO提出'违约之诉'获得救济。同时,鉴于GATT第21条在实践中易受非法律因素的影响,'非违约之诉'亦是一项可行的救济方式。

On April 6th 2005,the US Senate approved an amendment bill regarding the RMB exchange rate problems.It requires the Chinese government to increase the RMB exchange rate.Otherwise,27.5%price-tariff will be imposed on China-exported goods.The amendment bill considers GATT XXI as the legal basis of the bill of the"exchange-rate tariff".However,according to the review criteria of GATT XXI(b),the bill of"exchange-rate tariff"can not prove its legitimacy.China can seek remedy by making a"violation claim"to WTO.Meanwhile,considering the non-legal factors in the practice of GATT XXI,"Nonviolation claim"is also a possible choice for China.