WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism

------An Analysis of the DSU in Positivism



by
Chengwei, Liu




Foreword
This book is a systematically selected compilation of Reports issued by various panels and the standing Appellate Body, then adopted by the DSB under the WTO jurisdiction by the end of May 2002, in category of subjects such as causes of action, initiation of panel proceedings, function of panels, rules of evidence and special rules governing anti-dumping disputes, etc., which are in most cases ruled as “preliminary issues” or “procedural objections”. However, this book is not intended to be exhaustive. It deals only with issues in dispute settlement proceedings under the WTO jurisprudence that the author considers the more important, where such rules are mainly concerned as Art. XXIII of the GATT 1994; Arts. 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 21.5, 23, 26 of the DSU; Arts. 17.4, 17.5, 17.6 of the AD Agreement and Arts. 31, 32 of the Vienna Convention and so on.
Moreover, this book is intended to be descriptive and positive rather than prescriptive and theoretical. Most of the author’s analysis benefits much from the precise and logically organized reports by panels and the Appellate Body, administered by the DSB under the WTO jurisdiction. It must be made clear that these reports do not constitute binding “subsequent practice” referred to in Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, nor do they operate as stare decisis, panels and the Appellate Body are therefore not bound by past reports. Nevertheless, it does be the case demonstrated by the DSB practice that, relevant reasoning in a particular case has been cited or followed frequently by another panel or confirmed by the Appellate Body in subsequent cases.
As ruled by the Appellate Body in Japan-Taxes on Alcoholic Beverages (DS44), “[a]dopted panel reports are an important part of the GATT acquis. They are often considered by subsequent panels. They create legitimate expectations among WTO Members, and, therefore, should be taken into account where they are relevant to any dispute”. Furthermore, a panel could nevertheless find useful guidance in the reasoning of an unadopted panel report when it considers relevant. More importantly, as stated in the letter with which the Appellate Body conveyed in the February of 1996 its Working Procedures for Appellate Review to the DSB for information, “… it is also important to ensure consistency and coherence in our decision-making, which is to the advantage of every WTO Member and the overall multilateral trading system we all share”.
There is no doubt that, in line with the pragmatic evolution of the GATT dispute settlement system, the progressive clarification of a number of issues that are not precisely regulated in the DSU and the further development of the WTO dispute settlement procedures, will gradually evolve after having been tested and progressively clarified and improved in concrete dispute settlement cases.
Considering all of this, the author complete this book with serious-minded exploring examination and great diligence, bearing in mind that it is therefore practical and of great significance for WTO Members to be informed of the valuable rulings in those reports issued by panels and the Appellate Body in particular cases.

List of Abbreviations

ATC Agreement on Textile and Clothing
BISD Basic Instruments and Selected Documents (published by GATT)
DSU Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing
the Settlement of Disputes
DSB Dispute Settlement Body
EC The European Communities
GATS General Agreement on Trade in Services
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
IMF International Monetary Fund
PGE Permanent Group of Experts (in the SCM Agreement)
SCM Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
SG Agreement on Safeguards
SPS Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
TBT Technical Barriers to Trade
TMB Textiles Monitoring Body
TRIMS Trade-related Investment Measures
TRIPS Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
TSB Textiles Surveillance Body
WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization
WTO World Trade Organization
Table of Contents

Chapter I Trend towards “Judicialization”:
A Rule-oriented Dispute Settlement System
Chapter II Causes of Action before the DSB:
Art. XXIII of the GATT 1994
Section One Right to Pursue a Proceeding under the WTO
I The Concept of Nullification or Impairment
II The Standing Issue before the DSB
国家安全监管总局　国家煤矿安监局


国家安全监管总局 国家煤矿安监局关于近期五起较大以上煤矿事故的通报

安监总煤调〔2010〕120号


各产煤省、自治区、直辖市及新疆生产建设兵团煤矿安全监管部门和煤炭行业管理部门，各省级煤矿安全监察机构，司法部直属煤矿管理局，有关中央企业：

7月16至18日，全国煤矿连续发生了5起较大以上事故，共造成59人死亡和被困，给人民生命财产造成了重大损失。现将事故有关情况通报如下：

7月16日，四川省达州市宣汉县七里乡乱石沟煤矿发生一起中毒窒息事故，死亡6人。该矿为乡镇煤矿，属于资源整合矿井，低瓦斯矿井。初步分析，该矿在未采取安全措施的情况下，擅自安排2人到被整合的七里煤矿（已关闭）井下查看情况，造成2人中毒窒息死亡；事故发生后，又盲目组织4人入井施救，全部中毒窒息死亡。

7月17日，河南省郑煤集团汝州公司新岭煤矿发生一起火灾事故，死亡8人。该矿为郑煤集团整合兼并矿井，技改初步设计已获批复，安全专篇正在报批过程中。事故发生在该矿西井井下，巷道着火产生大量有毒有害气体，造成作业人员死亡。

7月17日，陕西省渭南市韩城市小南沟煤矿发生一起火灾事故，死亡28人。该矿为乡镇煤矿，属资源整合矿井。初步分析，该矿副斜井动力电缆被运送材料的矿车撞断，短路着火并引燃井下木支架等可燃物，产生大量有毒有害气体，造成矿工中毒窒息死亡。

7月18日，甘肃省酒泉市金塔县金源矿业公司芨芨台子煤矿发生一起透水事故，死亡5人、被困8人。该矿为乡镇煤矿，属新建矿井。初步分析，该矿掘进过程中打透老空区积水，导致事故发生。

7月18日，辽宁省南票煤电有限公司大窑沟矿发生一起瓦斯爆炸事故，死亡4人。该矿为国有重点煤矿，低瓦斯矿井。初步分析，该矿西翼回采工作面采空区大面积垮落，造成回风顺槽堵塞，致使工作面瓦斯积聚，遇到火源后发生爆炸。

以上5起事故暴露出一些煤矿企业安全责任不落实、安全措施不完善、安全管理不到位等突出问题，也反映出一些地方对资源整合和新建矿井安全监管不严格、安全执法检查不深入等薄弱环节。为深刻吸取事故教训，切实加强煤矿安全生产工作，有效防范和坚决遏制煤矿重特大事故，促进煤矿安全生产形势的持续稳定好转，特提出以下要求：

一、高度重视煤矿安全生产工作。各地要认真贯彻落实7月20日召开的全国安全生产（季度）视频会议精神，正确认识当前煤矿安全生产形势，进一步增强做好煤矿安全生产工作的紧迫感、使命感和责任感，继续深入开展“安全生产年”活动，全面深化安全生产“三项行动”和“三项建设”各项工作措施，部署好三季度煤矿安全生产工作和“打非治违”专项行动，进一步加强煤矿企业安全生产管理与监督工作，强化安全生产管理机制，严格安全生产责任考核，真正把煤矿安全生产各项规章制度和技术措施落实到基层、落实到岗位，有效防范和坚决遏制煤矿重特大事故的发生。

二、切实加强煤矿建设项目的安全管理。各地要严格落实煤矿建设项目安全责任，进一步明确建设、设计、施工、监理等单位责任；严格履行煤矿项目建设程序，新建项目、改扩建项目必须履行项目核准、初步设计和安全设施设计审查程序；扎实做好煤矿建设项目基础工作，加强煤田地质勘查，尤其是要查清水文地质和瓦斯地质情况；合理安排煤矿建设项目施工顺序，建设单位不得随意压减工期、不得盲目赶超进度。煤矿建设项目安全设施设计未经审查合格的，一律不得开工；未经验收合格的，一律不得投产。

三、进一步规范煤炭资源整合。各地区要进一步落实各有关部门在煤炭资源整合工作中的职责，确保煤炭资源整合工作规范、有序进行。对纳入资源整合范围的矿井，必须先关闭后整合；对实施整合的矿井，要按照建设项目进行管理。要督促整合矿井的法人主体建立健全安全管理机构，制定安全生产工作制度，落实安全生产责任制。要切实加强煤炭资源整合期间的安全监管，严防借整合之名拖延或逃避关闭，严防整合期间违规生产，严防验收走过场。

四、进一步深化隐患排查治理工作。要督促煤矿企业认真落实安全生产隐患排查治理主体责任，建立和完善安全生产隐患排查、治理和报告制度，切实开展好水害、瓦斯、防灭火专项整治和中央企业煤矿安全专项检查。要立足于查大系统、治大隐患、防大事故，加强现场监督检查，全面深入排查治理煤矿各生产系统、各生产环节存在的隐患。对查处的重大安全隐患，要挂牌督办、跟踪治理，对整改措施不落实、违法违规组织生产的煤矿，要依法严肃惩处。

五、依法查处煤矿事故和违法违规行为。各级煤矿安全监管、煤炭行业管理部门和煤矿安全监察机构要切实加大执法检查力度，依法打击煤矿非法违法生产建设行为，依法查处违章指挥、违章作业、违反劳动纪律行为。驻地煤矿安全监察机构要按照“四不放过”和“依法依规、实事求是、注重实效”的原则，严肃查处事故，严厉追究有关人员责任，特别是进一步加大对非法违法生产导致事故的责任追究力度，通过责任追究推动安全生产责任制的落实。通过吸取事故教训，举一反三，认真整改，促进煤矿安全生产工作。

请各省级煤矿安全监管部门及时将本通报精神传达到辖区内所有煤矿。

国家安全生产监督管理总局

国家煤矿安全监察局

二○一○年七月二十二日