WTO银联案法律解读(英文)

LegalIssueNTRODUCTIONDisputeIntroductionOn15September2010,USrequestedconsultationswithChinawithrespectto“certainrestrictionsandrequirementsmaintainedbyChinapertainingtoelectronicpaymentservicesforpaymentcardtransactionsandthesuppliersofthoseservices”.USallegedthatChinaappearstobeactinginconsistentlywithitsobligationsunderArticlesXVIandXVIIoftheGATS.On11February2011,USrequestedtheestablishmentofapanel.Atitsmeetingon25March2011,theDSBestablishedapanel.On16July2012,thepanelreportwascirculatedtoMembers.PreliminaryRulingOn5July2011,ChinasubmittedtothePanelarequestforapreliminaryrulingwithrespecttotheconsistencyofcertainaspectsoftheUSpanelrequestwithArticle6.2oftheDSU.“USpanelrequestfailstoprovideabriefsummaryofthelegalbasisofthecomplaintsufficienttopresenttheproblemclearly.”ThePanelfoundthatUSpanelrequestmakesitclearthateachoftherequirementsallegedlyimposedbyChinaisconsideredtobeinbreachofArticlesXVI:1&2andArticleXVIIoftheGATS,andconcludedthatChinahadfailedtoestablishitsclaims.PaymentCardTransactionsEntities:issuinginstitutions(orissuers),acquiringinstitutions(oracquirers),paymentcardcompanies,settlementbanks.Apaymentcardcompany:acompanywhichownstrademarksofpaymentcardsandmayalsoprovideanumberofmarketing,processingorotherservicestoinstitutionsissuingitscards.”US:“EPSsuppliers”CN:“networkoperators”TwoBusinessModelsCardHolderIssuerAcquirerMerchantFourPartyModelPaymentcardcompaniesownandoperatethenetworksthatconnectissuersandacquirers,andprocesstransactionsmadeinconnectionwithpaymentcards.Iftheacquirerandtheissuerareoneandthesame,atransactionisreferredtoasanon-ustransaction.TwoBusinessModelsCardHolderPaymentcardcompany(Issuer/Acquirer)MerchantThreePartyModelThepaymentcardcompanyitselfisresponsibleforissuingcards,handlingtheacquisitionoftransactions,andprocessingthetransactions.TheProcessingofTransactionsFront-endprocessing:authenticateandauthorizetransactionsBack-endprocessing:clearandsettletransactionsVideoHESERVICESATISSUEScopeoftheServicesatIssueIssueCNUSPanelDotheservicesatissuecoverthe“three-partymodel”inadditiontothe“four-partymodel”?NoYesYesDotheservicesatissueincludetheservicessuppliedbythird-partyprocessorswhoprovideservicesonbehalfofissuersoracquirers?NoYesYesAretheservicesatissuesingle/integratedservices?NoYesYesTheServicesatIssueElectronicpaymentservices(“EPS”)foralltypesofRenminbi(“RMB”)paymentcardtransactionsinvolvingbankcardsissuedand/orusedinChina.HINA’SSPECIFICCOMMITMENTSCONCERNINGTHESERVICESATISSUESubsectorsidentifiedbythepartiesUS:insector7.B,undertheheadingBankingandOtherFinancialServicesofChina’sGATSSchedule,Chinaundertookmarketaccessandnationaltreatmentcommitmentswithrespecttosubsector(d),whichincludestheEPSsuppliedinconnectionwith“credit,chargeanddebitcards”,andotherpaymentcardtransactions.China:theUShasfailedtoprovethatanyoftheservicesatissue,muchlessallofthem,fallwithinsubsector(d)ofitsSchedule.Theclearingandsettlementservicesatissuefallunderparagraph5(a),subsector(xiv),oftheGATSAnnexonFinancialServices.China’sGATSScheduleVS.GATSAnnexSubsector(xiv)inparagraph5(a)oftheAnnex,undertheheadingBankingandotherfinancialservices(excludinginsurance):Settlementandclearingservicesforfinancialassets,includingsecurities,derivativeproducts,andothernegotiableinstruments.ThePanel’sConclusionSubsector(d)ofChina‘sScheduleencompassestheservicesthatareessentialtotheprocessingandcompletionoftransactionsusingpaymentcards.Clearingandsettlementofpaymentcardtransactionsshouldaprioribeclassifiedundersubsector(d),becausetheyareessentialservicestocompleteapaymentcardtransaction.Transactionsbasedonthepaymentinstrumentslistedinsubsector(d),includingpaymentcards,arenotclearedandsettledundersubsector(xiv).Theservicesatissuefallswithinsector7.B,subsector(d)ofChina'sSchedule.EASURESATISSUEMeasuresatIssueAseriesofrequirementsimposedbyChinaandallegedbyUStoconstituteimpermissiblemarketaccessrestrictionsornationaltreatmentlimitationsonforeignsuppliersoftheservicesatissue.1.RequirementsonissuersthatpaymentcardsissuedinChinabearthe(ChinaUnionPay)CUPlogo(issuerrequirements)2.RequirementsthatallATM,andPOSterminalsinChinaacceptCUPcards(terminalequipmentrequirements“)3.RequirementsonacquiringinstitutionstoposttheCUPlogoandbecapableofacceptingallpaymentcardsbearingtheCUPlogo(acquirerrequirements)4.RequirementspertainingtoRMBtransactionsinvolvingpaymentcardsissuedinChinaandusedinHongKongorMacao,andpaymentcardsissuedinHongKongorMacaoandusedinChina.(HongKong/Macaorequirements“)5.RequirementsthatmandatetheuseofCUPand/orestablishCUPasthesolesupplierofEPSforalldomesticRMBpaymentcardtransactions(solesupplierrequirement“)6.Prohibitionsontheuseofnon-CUPcardsforcross-regionorinterbanktransactions(cross-region/inter-bankprohibitions“)ExistenceoftheMeasuresatIssueRequirementsExistornot?IssuerRequirementsYesTerminalEquipmentRequirementsYesAcquirerRequirementsYesHongKong/MacaoRequirementsYesSoleSupplierRequirementNoCross-Region/Inter-BankProhibitionsNoHEUNITEDSTATES'CLAIMSUNDERART.XVIOFTHEGATSClaimsofthePartiesUS:Chinamade