Chapter-3--Most-Favored-NationTreatment-(MFN)

Chapter3MostFavoredNationTreatment(MFN)最惠国待遇XingYaoInternationalBusinessSchoolContentTheconceptofMFNThefeaturesofMFNTheapplicationsphere范围andconditionsofMFNTheexceptions免责条款ofMFNSomeissuesneededtobenoticedinthepracticeofMFN1.what’sMFN?ThedefinitionofMFNisthat,insuchmattersascustomsduties关税andcharges,themethodoflevying征收suchdutiesandcharges,allrulesandformalities手续,internaltaxesorotherinternalchargesandalllaws,regulationsandrequirements,anyadvantage,favor,privilegeorimmunity豁免grantedbyanymembertoanyproductoriginatinginordestinedfor运往anyothercountryshallbeaccordedimmediatelyandunconditionallytothelikeproduct类似originatedinordestinedfortheterritories地区ofallothermembers.1.what’sMFN?MFN,inshort,ismembersgenerallymaynotdiscriminate区别amongitstradingpartners.MFNtreatmentistogiveequaltreatmenttoallWTOtradingpartners,ratherthaninsomecountriesspecialtreatment.Therefore,itmeanstocarryoutdiscriminatorytreatmentthatmembersdon’tgrantMFNstatus.Question1：ChinaandRussia(non-WTOmembers)havesignedanagreement,Chinaagreedtogivea10%tarifftaxfavorforthefurcoatsfromRussia.WhetherChinashouldgrantsuchconcessions折让tootherWTOmembers?Why?Question2:ChinaandtheUnitedStateshavesignedanagreement,Chinaagreedtograntcustomsclearancefee报关费exemptionforvehiclesfromtheUnitedStates.WhetherChinashouldgrantsuchconcessionstoCanada?HowaboutRussia?Someonesays:TheMFNmeansthat:Anyprivilegeorfavorbothhavebeengivenandwillbegivenbyamembertoanycountry,whetheritisamemberofWTOornot,willbeaccordedimmediatelyandunconditionedtothelikeproductofanyothermembersofWTO.AttentionIt’sdifferentinthespecificcontentsoftheMFNobligationsinthefieldsofgoods、servicesandintellectualpropertyrights知识产权.TheroleofMFNinthemultilateraltradingsystemMFNisanimportantbasicprinciplesandobligations义务inthemultilateraltradingsystemofWTO,isalsothecornerstone基础ofthemultilateraltradingsystem.SincetheprincipleisoperatedsuccessfullyundertheframeworkofGATT,itisappliedforthefieldsoftradeinservicesandtrade-relatedintellectualpropertyrights.Undertheframeworkof《GATT1947》,theMFNisthefirstpartofArticle1.AccordingtotheProvisionalApplicationProtocol临时应用协议,Article1(MFN)andArticle2(tariffconcession)aregenerallyapplicabletoallparties,whiletheotherobligationsareapplicableinthemaximumextentofthedomesticlegislation立法.Inotherwords,MFNisauniversalobligationtobeobservedin《GATT1947》.TheroleofMFNinthemultilateraltradingsystemSomerulesaboutMFNinWTO《关税与贸易总协定》（GATT）第1条《服务贸易总协定》（GATS）第2条第1款《与贸易有关的知识产权协定》（TRIPS）第4条ReviewAccordingtotheWTOrules,therequirementsofvotestowardsdifferentitemdecisionsaredifferent.Somemattersrequiretwo-thirdsofallmembersagreetocomeintoforth.However,what’stherequirementoftheamendment修正案ofMFNintheabovethreeprovisions?（ALL）2.ThefeaturesofMFNUnconditionalityMultilateralityTheUnconditionalityofMFNAccordingtotherulesofMFN,theobligationofamembergrantstheMFNtoanyothermemberisunconditional,itisnotsubjectto受制于thebeneficiarycountrygrantssomesortofinterestsortheequalones.Aparticularinterest,aslongasbegiventoamember,isunconditionallygiventoanyothermemberinthecaseofthesamesituation.TheMultilateralityofMFNSincethebeginningoftheGATT,thescopeofMFNisthefirsttimeextendedfrombilaterally双边tomultilaterally.Othermembershavethesamerighttoenjoythebenefitswhichonememberhaseverenjoyed.Thereisatypicalexample.Inthenegotiationoftariffconcession,amemberwhodidnotparticipatethenegotiationswiththeothermemberalsoenjoyedthebenefits.(Takeafree-rider!)哎！清政府的懦弱！在关税与贸易总协定制度建立之前，最惠国待遇原则的适用于双边关系中，双方同时既是是给惠者又是受惠者。历史上，也有许多最惠国待遇的规定是单方面的，只有一方享有最惠国待遇。比如，我国清朝政府签订的不平等条约就是这样的例子，只有外国政府享有最惠国待遇，是单纯的受惠方，而中国清朝政府是单纯的给惠方。有条件的最惠国待遇是啥？以某种减让、好处或者约定去换一个国家已经给予其他国家的优惠，称为有条件的最惠国待遇。中国在加入WTO以前，美国每年都要对中国的最惠国待遇进行年审。有人因此而误以为美国给予中国的最惠国待遇是有条件的最惠国待遇，实质上这是美国国内法与国际条约的关系问题。中美贸易协定受制于美国1974年贸易法瓦尼克修正案的约束。《2000年美中贸易关系法》规定，在中国加入世界贸易组织后，该修正案不再对中国适用。小案例在欧共体香蕉案中，在香蕉进口、销售等方面，欧共体给予了非（洲）、加（勒比海）、太（平洋）地区国家其他国家没有享有的待遇。危地马拉、美国等指控欧共体违反了最惠国待遇义务。欧共体以这些待遇是得到洛美协定授权为自己辩护，而洛美协定规定的特殊待遇由WTO豁免了最惠国待遇义务。专家组和上诉机构裁定，欧共体给予非加太国家的优惠待遇，没有给予其他国家，待遇的范围和程度超出了豁免决定中规定的限度，违反了最惠国待遇义务。3.TheapplicationsphereandconditionsofMFNAlthoughMFNappliesfortradeingoods、servicesandtrade-relatedintellectualpropertyrights,whichhavecommoncharacteristics,therearestillsomedifferencesbetweenthesethreerules.ThissectorfocusesontheMFNinGATT.ThatistheArticle1,paragraph1,AnnexI.MFNtreatmentappliestothefiveaspects.FiveaspectsAnytariffandfeerelatedtoexportandimport(includinginternationalpaymenttransfersinimportandexportproducts);Theleviedmethodofimportandexporttariffsandfees;Therelevantrulesandproceduresofimportandexport;Theinternaltaxesorotherinternalcosts;Allthelaws,regulationsandrequirementsaffectingdomesticsales,marketing,purchase,transportation,distributionanduseoftheproduct.TheconditionsapplicabletoMFNAccordingtheArticle1ofGATT,MFNappliesforexportsandimports.Thatisapplicablefortheproductsimportedfromothermembersandexporteditsproducts.Actually,MFNmainlyreferstotheimportproducts,andrequiresalot.SomedetailsTheimplementationofthetreatment/measures/benefitsmustbewithinthescopeoftheaboverequir