谁在葬送世贸组织？| Who's killing the WTO?

Now, some BODY is brain dead – I mean the appellate body of the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Mechanism, sometimes dubbed the "supreme court" of world trade.

如今，世贸组织上诉机构已陷入瘫痪。这一机构是世贸组织争端解决机制中的上诉机构，有时被称作世界贸易问题的“最高法院”。

At first, it was a story of reason and success. Decades ago, some 20 economies reached an agreement to reduce trade barriers. It proved effective, so more economies joined in and set up a rule-based organ. They designated a panel of judges to rule on disputes if arbitration failed to settle them.

起初，一切都顺理成章，顺风顺水。几十年前，约20个经济体达成了降低关税壁垒的协议。由于协议行之有效，更多经济体纷纷加入，逐步建立了一个基于规则的国际组织。对于无法通过仲裁解决的争端，便由该组织指定的法官团做出定夺。

In a consensus-based organization, the rulings of the judges are legally binding, thus effectively obligating parties to change course if necessary. That’s why the Appellate Body is widely seen as the WTO's crown jewel. In my six years as a correspondent based in Geneva, the appellate body was busy. Economies filed complaints about each other, and accepted final rulings by the well-respected judges, whether they liked it or not. China did the same.

在基于共识的组织中，法官的裁决具有法律约束力，进而能够有效迫使相关各方做出改变。因此，上诉机构普遍被视作世贸组织的皇冠明珠。在我作为驻外记者在日内瓦工作的六年间，上诉机构异常繁忙。经济体之间相互投诉，但对于由那些广受尊敬的法官做出的判决，无论满意与否，他们总会接受。中国也是如此。

But that crown jewel has lost its shine, through the efforts of no other but a leading member and main architect of the WTO. Yes, I'm talking about the United States. Because of its non-cooperation in appointing new judges after sitting ones retire, as of December 11th this year, there is only one judge left to handle any case if possible.

但这颗皇冠明珠已然失去了光泽，始作俑者不是别人，正是世贸组织的主要成员和创立者。没错，我说的就是美国。上诉机构的现任法官退休后，需要任命新法官。但美国一直横加阻挠，这使得自今年12月11日起，该机构仅剩一名法官处理案件。

The current U.S. administration claimed the U.S. has lost almost all lawsuits within the framework. Fact is the U.S. has won nearly all the cases it brought before the panel, more than any other country. It did lose the majority of cases where they have been a defendant. But that's a fact of life for major WTO members.

本届美国政府称，在世贸组织现有框架下，美国几乎输掉了所有的官司。而事实是，美国赢了几乎所有自己提出的诉讼。没有任何一个国家可与其比肩。作为被告，美国的确输掉了大部分官司。但是，世贸组织的主要成员皆是如此。

What now? Arbitration may work, but it may not. There could be no justice for weaker nations. The multilateral system is weakened as a significant part of its enforcement mechanism is shut down. The Rule of Law in the world of trade may return to the rule of the jungle.

现在怎么办？仲裁可能行得通，也可能行不通。对实力较弱的国家来说，正义无法伸张。贸易可能变得毫无规则可言，因为根本没有人执行规则。世界贸易中的法治原则可能倒退为弱肉强食的丛林法则。

These and other concerns prompted many nations to find solutions. The European Union's proposal to reform the appeals court won wide support from members, except the United States. EU's former Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said it was "a dispute between the 163 members of the WTO and the U.S." 

这些和其他种种担忧促使各国找寻解决问题的方法。欧盟的提议是改革上诉法庭，该提议获得了除美国以外众多成员国的广泛支持。欧盟前贸易专员塞西莉亚·马尔姆斯特伦称其为“世贸组织163个成员国和美国之间的纠纷”。

China has also proposed reforms, but before any reforms can be adopted, the world needs trade and trade needs rules. By effectively killing the WTO Appellate Body, America has taken another step in eroding its greatness. Fine if you want to do that to yourself, but don't expect the world to be the collateral damage.

中国也提议作出改革，但是在任何改革得以实施之前，世界都需要贸易，而贸易就需要有规则。通过扼杀世贸组织的上诉机构，美国在通往“不再伟大”的道路上又迈进了一步。要是你想，尽管这么做吧，但别指望全世界都陪着你受伤。

推荐阅读：