上诉机构“停摆”之后的WTO争端解决机制何去何从

WTO争端解决机制自生效以来,以其高效的纠纷解决和具有约束力的裁决一直被认为是维护多边贸易体制的重要力量。尤其是争端解决中设立上诉机制,开创了国际争端解决两审终审的先例,这使得WTO体制下的争端解决与其他国际体制下的争端解决相比,更加凸显其公正性与有效性。然而,由于个别成员的阻挠,上诉机构于2019年12月10日因到期离任的成员不能够及时得到增补而陷于"停摆",无法继续受理上诉案件。上诉机构停止运作会给WTO的争端解决机制走向带来很大的不确定性,但是世贸组织争端解决机构不会停止工作,多边贸易体制也不会因此陷入崩溃。

How will the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism Evolve after the Appellate Body Ceases to Function

Since its inception,the WTO dispute settlement mechanism has been considered as the most important element to safeguard the multilateral trade system in regard to its efficient dispute settlement and the binding decisions,especially the appealing system which has set an example of two-trial system in international litigation.This also demonstrates the fairness and effectiveness of WTO dispute settlement mechanism compared with others.However,because of a certain Member’s obstruction in selecting new members,the Appellate Body will cease to function after December 10,2019 due to the lack of sufficient members.This will bring a huge uncertainty to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.Nevertheless,the WTO Dispute Settlement Body will not stop working and the multilateral trade system will not collapse.