摘要: | 世界貿易組織(World Trade Organization,簡稱WTO)爭端解決機制是對關稅暨貿易總協定(General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade,簡稱GATT)制度的延續和改進,是WTO多邊貿易體系穩定運行多年的核心,被譽為「皇冠上的明珠」。WTO文件中,有關爭端解決的主要規範是爭端解決規則與程序瞭解書(Understanding in Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Dispute,簡稱DSU)。WTO爭端解決方式的重大轉變在於將爭端解決機制由權力導向轉變為規則導向,使各會員不因整體經濟環境差異而得到有所偏頗的對待。DSU設計多種經貿爭端解決方式,包括諮商、調解程序、小組程序、上訴機構、監督機制以及報復機制。在這其中,小組程序及上訴機構是WTO爭端解決程序準司法性的體現。然而,隨著WTO新一輪談判陷入僵局,各會員紛紛以簽訂區域貿易協定(Regional Trade Agreement,簡稱RTA)的方式加速區域經貿整合。在絕大多數區域貿易協定中都不乏爭端解決機制的出現,爭端解決機制已經成為RTA不可或缺的部份。兩岸分別於2001年底與2002年初成為WTO成員,隨著兩岸經貿交往的深入以及區域經濟整合的需要。兩岸於2010年正式簽署生效海峽兩岸經濟合作架構協議(Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement,簡稱ECFA),在ECFA中規定兩岸將於協議生效後6個月內,就爭端解決協議展開協商工作。但是,ECFA中並未對爭端解決進行詳細規定。因此,ECFA架構下爭端解決機制的該如何建立就成為值得探討的問題。文本以此為出發點,通過對WTO及ECFA爭端解決條款進行分析對比,輔以兩岸投資保障和促進協議中的爭端解決條款,最後著重描述兩岸於WTO框架下經貿交流過程。以此得出兩岸經貿爭端的解決是應該回歸WTO機制,還是應該建立自身的爭端解決機制。抑或是在大陸對台灣採取讓利政策的現狀下是否還有需要建立爭端解決機制。分析上述問題之後,本文將對ECFA爭端解決機制的建立提出建議,以期望能對ECFA爭端解決機制的建立有所貢獻。
World Trade Organization (hereinafter referred to as the WTO) dispute settlement mechanism is the continuation and improvement of the system of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (hereinafter referred to as the GATT), and it is also the stable operation core of WTO multilateral trading system for ages, which is honored as “crown jewel”. The major specification of WTO document concerned to dispute settlement is Understanding in Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Dispute (hereinafter referred to as the DSU). The significant change of the way of WTO dispute settlement is to transform dispute settlement mechanism from power-oriented to rule-oriented, which makes each member will not be treated biased because of the difference of the macro-economic environment. DSU designs a variety of economic and trade dispute solutions, including Consultations, Good Offices, Conciliation and Mediation proceedings, panel procedure, appeal body, supervisory mechanism and retaliation system. Among which, panel procedure and appeal body are the quasi-judicial embodiment of WTO dispute settlement procedures. However, along with a new round negotiation of WTO stalled, each member has sped up the regional economic integration with the way of signing Regional Trade Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the RTA). There is dispute settlement mechanism in most regional trade agreements, and the dispute settlement mechanism has become an integral part of RTA. In late 2001 and early 2002, Taiwan and Mainland respectively became the member of WTO. With the deepening of economic and trade exchange of Taiwan and Mainland and the demand of the regional economic integration, Taiwan and Mainland had formally signed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the ECFA) in 2010, which goes into effect. ECFA regulates that Taiwan and Mainland 5shall carry out negotiation on dispute settlement agreement within six months after the agreement gone into effect. However, ECFA does not provide detailed stipulation of dispute settlement. Therefore, it is a question which is worth discussing for how to establish dispute settlement mechanism under the ECFA framework. Taking it as a starting point, through the analysis and comparison of the dispute settlement clauses of WTO and ECFA, and with the investment protection of Taiwan and Mainland and the promotion of the dispute settlement clauses of agreement, at last, this paper emphatically describes the economic and trade communication process of Taiwan and Mainland under the WTO framework. Therefore, it works out that whether the settlement of the economic and trade dispute of Taiwan and Mainland should return to WTO mechanism or should it establish its own dispute settlement mechanism, or should it establish a dispute settlement mechanism under the current situation of Mainland taking the policy of surrendering part of the profits to Taiwan or not. After analyzed the above questions, this paper puts forward the suggestions to the establishment of ECFA dispute settlement mechanism, and hoping to make contribution to the establishment. |