Global Network: (Cui Fan) How the WTO can get out of its unprecedented predicament
(Source: Global Network2020-5-16）
Geneva time5month14Sunday afternoon4At that time, WTO Director General Azevedo announced that he would move forward one year this year8month31Leave office on the same day. He said that this decision was made in the hope that members could select his successor in the next few months, thereby avoiding the distraction of preparations for the selection of the Director General20216667_6716WTOBrings more uncertainty.
As we all know, since the Trump administration came to power in the United States, regardless of other mattersWTOStubborn refusal to extend the terms of existing judges or appoint new ones despite calls from members. last year12month10Day, with two peopleWTORetirement of Appellate Body member, originally7humanWTO"Supreme Court”Because there is only one left1People lose the ability and power to hear cases and fall into a state of paralysis. After the suspension of the appeal mechanism, some members have proposed some temporary solutions, such as voluntarily accepting the expert panel's ruling as the final award, voluntarily establishing an arbitration mechanism among relevant members to replace the appeal mechanism, etc., hoping to maintainWTO's operation. in3month27Japan, China, EU, etc.16numberWTOMembers’ joint statement establishing a multi-party interim appeals arbitration arrangement to partially replaceWTOFunctions of the Appellate Body. However,WTOTo truly get out of the predicament and regain vitality, it depends on all members being able to reach an agreement at the 12th Ministerial Conference“Systemic reform”A consensus has been reached, which is why Azevedo has such high expectations for the 12th Ministerial Conference.
However, Azevedo’s good intentions are not easy to realize, and the current situation makes the selection of the new Director General more complicated. In previous selections, it often took nearly half a year from the formal nomination to the announcement of the final results. There are only three and a half months left until Azevedo leaves office. In addition, the suspension of the appeals mechanism has madeWTOWeak and uncertain about the epidemic, w88 protectionism sentiments have risen in some countries. What's more, the upcoming general election in the United States has caused some politicians toWTO’s future is a bet, and a U.S. senator recently issued a letter calling for its cancellationWTO. In such an atmosphere, it would not be surprising if the United States boycotts the selection of the WTO Director-General, or if members are unable to reach an agreement on the candidate and it is difficult to choose a new Director-General.
forWTOThe current difficulties we are facing should certainly not be underestimated, but there is no need to be too pessimistic. Although some people believe that the COVID-19 epidemic and the anti-globalization trend it triggered have caused global w88 to encounter the biggest challenge since the Cold War, and the multilateral trading system has entered an era of greater uncertainty. But as Azevedo said in his resignation note:“The WTO may not be perfect, but it is indispensable.”From the current point of view, mostWTOMembers don’t want to see itWTODeath, returning to the international w88 order of the jungle era is dangerous, and small and medium-sized economies may be unable to bear the costs of w88 wars. If other economies are unwilling to letWTODisappear completely, the United States may not withdraw easilyWTO, but stay inWTOTo disrupt the situation. If that is the case, WTO members willing to uphold the multilateral trading system will use mechanisms such as multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangements, making the cost of cheating on the United States higher and higher until it returnsWTO's rules.
The author Cui Fan is the dean of the Hainan Research Institute of the w88 casino and the director of the research department of the China World w88 Organization Research Association
Original link:
