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1、UnitTwelveSettlingDisputesAuniquecontributionDisputesettlementisthecentralpillarofthemultilateraltradingsystem,andtheWTO’suniquecontributiontothestabilityoftheglobaleconomy.Withoutameansofsettlingdisputes,therules-basedsystemwouldbelesseffectivebecausetherulescouldnotbeenforced.T
2、heWTO’sprocedureunderscorestheruleoflaw,anditmakesthetradingsystemmoresecureandpredictable.Thesystemisbasedonclearly-definedrules,withtimetablesforcompletingacase.Firstrulingsaremadebyapanelandendorsed(orrejected)bytheWTO’sfullmembership.Appealsbasedonpointsoflawarepossible.Howev
3、er,thepointisnottopassjudgement.Thepriorityistosettledisputes,throughconsultationsifpossible.ByJanuary2008,onlyabout136ofthenearly369caseshadreachedthefullpanelprocess.Mostoftheresthaveeitherbeennotifiedassettled“outofcourt”orremaininaprolongedconsultationphase—somesince1995.Prin
4、ciples:equitable,fast,effective,mutuallyacceptableDisputesintheWTOareessentiallyaboutbrokenpromises.WTOmembershaveagreedthatiftheybelievefellow-membersareviolatingtraderules,theywillusethemultilateralsystemofsettlingdisputesinsteadoftakingactionunilaterally.Thatmeansabidingbythea
5、greedprocedures,andrespectingjudgements.Adisputeariseswhenonecountryadoptsatradepolicymeasureortakessomeactionthatoneormorefellow-WTOmembersconsiderstobebreakingtheWTOagreements,ortobeafailuretoliveuptoobligations.Athirdgroupofcountriescandeclarethattheyhaveaninterestinthecaseand
6、enjoysomerights.AprocedureforsettlingdisputesexistedundertheoldGATT,butithadnofixedtimetables,rulingswereeasiertoblock,andmanycasesdraggedonforalongtimeinconclusively.TheUruguayRoundagreementintroducedamorestructuredprocesswithmoreclearlydefinedstagesintheprocedure.Itintroducedgr
7、eaterdisciplineforthelengthoftimeacaseshouldtaketobesettled,withflexibledeadlinessetinvariousstagesoftheprocedure.TheagreementemphasizesthatpromptsettlementisessentialiftheWTOistofunctioneffectively.Itsetsoutinconsiderabledetailtheproceduresandthetimetabletobefollowedinresolvingd
8、isputes.Ifacaserunsitsfullcoursetoafirst
