《关于争端解决规则和程序的谅解书》(英文)

1《关于争端解决规则和程序的谅解书》ANNEX2UNDERSTANDINGONRULESANDPROCEDURESGOVERNINGTHESETTLEMENTOFDISPUTESMembersherebyagreeasfollows:Article1CoverageandApplication1.TherulesandproceduresofthisUnderstandingshallapplytodisputesbroughtpursuanttotheconsultationanddisputesettlementprovisionsoftheagreementslistedinAppendix1tothisUnderstanding(referredtointhisUnderstandingasthecoveredagreements).TherulesandproceduresofthisUnderstandingshallalsoapplytoconsultationsandthesettlementofdisputesbetweenMembersconcerningtheirrightsandobligationsundertheprovisionsoftheAgreementEstablishingtheWorldTradeOrganization(referredtointhisUnderstandingastheWTOAgreement)andofthisUnderstandingtakeninisolationorincombinationwithanyothercoveredagreement.2.TherulesandproceduresofthisUnderstandingshallapplysubjecttosuchspecialoradditionalrulesandproceduresondisputesettlementcontainedinthecoveredagreementsasareidentifiedinAppendix2tothisUnderstanding.TotheextentthatthereisadifferencebetweentherulesandproceduresofthisUnderstandingandthespecialoradditionalrulesandproceduressetforthinAppendix2,thespecialoradditionalrulesandproceduresinAppendix2shallprevail.Indisputesinvolvingrulesandproceduresundermorethanonecoveredagreement,ifthereisaconflictbetweenspecialoradditionalrulesandproceduresofsuchagreementsunderreview,andwherethepartiestothedisputecannotagreeonrulesandprocedureswithin20daysoftheestablishmentofthepanel,theChairmanoftheDisputeSettlementBodyprovidedforinparagraph1ofArticle2(referredtointhisUnderstandingastheDSB),inconsultationwiththepartiestothedispute,shalldeterminetherulesandprocedurestobefollowedwithin10daysafterarequestbyeitherMember.TheChairmanshallbeguidedbytheprinciplethatspecialoradditionalrulesandproceduresshouldbeusedwherepossible,andtherulesandproceduressetoutinthisUnderstandingshouldbeusedtotheextentnecessarytoavoidconflict.Article2Administration1.TheDisputeSettlementBodyisherebyestablishedtoadministertheserulesandproceduresand,exceptasotherwiseprovidedinacoveredagreement,theconsultationanddisputesettlementprovisionsofthecoveredagreements.Accordingly,theDSBshallhavetheauthoritytoestablishpanels,adoptpanelandAppellateBodyreports,maintainsurveillanceof2《关于争端解决规则和程序的谅解书》implementationofrulingsandrecommendations,andauthorizesuspensionofconcessionsandotherobligationsunderthecoveredagreements.WithrespecttodisputesarisingunderacoveredagreementwhichisaPlurilateralTradeAgreement,thetermMemberasusedhereinshallreferonlytothoseMembersthatarepartiestotherelevantPlurilateralTradeAgreement.WheretheDSBadministersthedisputesettlementprovisionsofaPlurilateralTradeAgreement,onlythoseMembersthatarepartiestothatAgreementmayparticipateindecisionsoractionstakenbytheDSBwithrespecttothatdispute.2.TheDSBshallinformtherelevantWTOCouncilsandCommitteesofanydevelopmentsindisputesrelatedtoprovisionsoftherespectivecoveredagreements.3.TheDSBshallmeetasoftenasnecessarytocarryoutitsfunctionswithinthetime-framesprovidedinthisUnderstanding.4.WheretherulesandproceduresofthisUnderstandingprovidefortheDSBtotakeadecision,itshalldosobyconsensus.Article3GeneralProvisions1.MembersaffirmtheiradherencetotheprinciplesforthemanagementofdisputesheretoforeappliedunderArticlesXXIIandXXIIIofGATT1947,andtherulesandproceduresasfurtherelaboratedandmodifiedherein.2.ThedisputesettlementsystemoftheWTOisacentralelementinprovidingsecurityandpredictabilitytothemultilateraltradingsystem.TheMembersrecognizethatitservestopreservetherightsandobligationsofMembersunderthecoveredagreements,andtoclarifytheexistingprovisionsofthoseagreementsinaccordancewithcustomaryrulesofinterpretationofpublicinternationallaw.RecommendationsandrulingsoftheDSBcannotaddtoordiminishtherightsandobligationsprovidedinthecoveredagreements.3.ThepromptsettlementofsituationsinwhichaMemberconsidersthatanybenefitsaccruingtoitdirectlyorindirectlyunderthecoveredagreementsarebeingimpairedbymeasurestakenbyanotherMemberisessentialtotheeffectivefunctioningoftheWTOandthemaintenanceofaproperbalancebetweentherightsandobligationsofMembers.4.RecommendationsorrulingsmadebytheDSBshallbeaimedatachievingasatisfactorysettlementofthematterinaccordancewiththerightsandobligationsunderthisUnderstandingandunderthecoveredagreements.5.Allsolutionstomattersformallyraisedundertheconsultationanddisputesettlementprovisionsofthecoveredagreements,includingarbitrationawards,shallbeconsistentwith3《关于争端解决规则和程序的谅解书》thoseagreementsandshallnotnullifyorimpairbenefitsaccruingtoanyMemberunderthoseagreements,norimpedetheattainmentofanyobjectiveofthoseagreements.6.MutuallyagreedsolutionstomattersformallyraisedundertheconsultationanddisputesettlementprovisionsofthecoveredagreementsshallbenotifiedtotheDSBandtherelevantCouncilsandCommittees,whereanyMembermayraiseanypointrelatingthereto.7.Beforebringingacase,aMembershallexerciseitsjudgementastowhetheractionundertheseprocedureswouldbefruitful.Theaimofthedisputesettlementmechanismistosecureapositivesolutiontoadispute.Asolutionmutuallyacceptabletothepartiestoadisputeandconsistentwiththecoveredagreementsisclearlytobepreferred.Int