试论WTO争端解决机构的法律解释权

On the Power of Legal Interpretation of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body

根据WTO的规定,部长会议和总理事会拥有对WTO协定和多边贸易协议进行解释的专有权力;而专家组与上诉机构也可以在解决具体争端过程对WTO涵盖协议进行解释。作为争端解决报告的一部分,专家组与上诉机构的法律解释对争端当事方具有约束力。但由于WTO不存在严格的"遵循先例"原则,因此争端解决机构在特定案件中作出的法律解释在法律上也不具有先例效力;然而却具有事实上的先例效果。由于争端解决报告在事实上的先例效力,引发了关于争端解决机构"造法"的问题,有必要采取措施防止争端解决机构超越权限进行法律解释。

According to the provisions of the WTO law, the ministerial conference and general council have exclusive power to adopt interpretations on the WTO Agreement and covered agreements, but the panel and the appellate body can also make interpretations of the covered agreements in resolving of specific disputes. The interpretations by the panel/appellate body contained in the dispute settlement reports are binding upon the parties to the dispute. However, because there does not exist a rule of precedent in WTO system, the legal interpretations made by the DSB has no effect of precedents in law, but has such effect in fact. This effect of precedent in fact gives rise to issues of 'law-making' by the DSB. Therefore, it's necessary to take measures to prevent the DSB from exceeding its power when making legal interpretations.