马拉喀什建立世界贸易组织协定

【时效性】 有效
【签订地点】 马拉喀什
【签订日期】 1994/04/15
【生效日期】 1994/05/15
【失效日期】
【内容分类】
【文号】
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【正文】
本协定各参加方，
认识到在处理它们在贸易和经济领域的关系时，应以提高生活水平、保证充分就业、保证实际收入和有效需求的大幅稳定增长以及扩大货物和服务的生产和贸易为目的，同时应依照可持续发展的目标，考虑对世界资源的最佳利用，寻求既保护和维护环境，又以与它们各自在不同经济发展水平的需要和关注相一致的方式，加强为此采取的措施，
进一步认识到需要作出积极努力，以保证发展中国家、特别是其中的最不发达国家，在国际贸易增长中获得与其经济发展需要相当的份额，
期望通过达成互惠互利安排，实质性削减关税和其他贸易壁垒，消除国际贸易关系中的歧视待遇，从而为实现这些目标作出贡献，
因此决定建立一个完整的、更可行的和持久的多边贸易体制，以包含《关税与贸易总协定》、以往贸易自由化努力的结果以及乌拉圭回合多边贸易谈判的全部结果，
决心维护多边贸易体制的基本原则，并促进该体制目标的实现，
协议如下：
第１条 ＷＴＯ的建立
特此建立世界贸易组织（下称“ＷＴＯ”）。
第２条 ＷＴＯ的范围
１．ＷＴＯ在与本协定附件所含协定和相关法律文件有关的事项方面，为处理其成员间的贸易关系提供共同的组织机构。
２．附件１、附件２和附件３所列协定及相关法律文件（下称“多边贸易协定”）为本协定的组成部分，对所有成员具有约束力。
３．附件４所列协定及相关法律文件（下称“诸边贸易协定”），对于接受的成员，也属本协定的一部分，并对这些成员具有约束力。诸边贸易协定对于未接受的成员既不产生权利也不产生义务。
４．附件１Ａ所列《１９９４年关税与贸易总协定》（下称“ＧＡＴＴ １９９４”）在法律上不同于１９４７年１０月３０日的《关税与贸易总协定》，后者附在《联合国贸易与就业会议筹备委员会第二次会议结束时通过的最后文件》之后，以后又历经更正、修正或修改（下称“ＧＡＴＴ １９４７”）。
第３条 ＷＴＯ的职能
１．ＷＴＯ应便利本协定和多边贸易协定的实施、管理和运用，并促进其目标的实现，还应为诸边贸易协定提供实施、管理和运用的体制。
２．ＷＴＯ在根据本协定附件所列协定处理的事项方面，应为其成员间就多边贸易关系进行的谈判提供场所。ＷＴＯ还可按部长级会议可能作出的决定，为其成员间就它们多边贸易关系的进一步谈判提供场所，并提供实施此类谈判结果的体制。
３．ＷＴＯ应管理本协定附件２所列《关于争端解决规则与程序的谅解》（下称“《争端解决谅解》”或“ＤＳＵ”）。
４．ＷＴＯ应管理本协定附件３规定的《贸易政策审议机制》（下称“ＴＰＲＭ”）。
５．为实现全球经济决策的更大一致性，ＷＴＯ应酌情与国际货币基金组织和国际复兴开发银行及其附属机构进行合作。
第４条 ＷＴＯ的结构
１．设立由所有成员的代表组成的部长级会议，应至少每２年召开一次会议。部长级会议应履行ＷＴＯ的职能，并为此采取必要的行动。如一成员提出请求，部长级会议有权依照本协定和有关多边贸易协定中关于决策的具体要求，对任何多边贸易协定项下的所有事项作出决定。
２．设立由所有成员的代表组成的总理事会，酌情召开会议。在部长级会议休会期间，其职能应由总理事会行使。总理事会还应行使本协定指定的职能。总理事会应制定自己的议事规则，并批准第７款规定的各委员会的议事规则。
３．总理事会应酌情召开会议，履行《争端解决谅解》规定的争端解决机构的职责。争端解决机构可有自己的主席，并制定其认为履行这些职责所必需的议事规则。
４．总理事会应酌情召开会议，履行ＴＰＲＭ中规定的贸易政策审议机构的职责。贸易政策审议机构可有自己的主席，并应制定其认为履行这些职责所必需的议事规则。
５．设立货物贸易理事会、服务贸易理事会和与贸易有关的知识产权理事会（下称“ＴＲＩＰＳ理事会”），各理事会应根据总理事会的总体指导运作。货物贸易理事会应监督附件１Ａ所列多边贸易协定的实施情况。服务贸易理事会应监督《服务贸易总协定》（下称“ＧＡＴＳ”）的实施情况。ＴＲＩＰＳ理事会应监督《与贸易有关的知识产权协定》（下称“《ＴＲＩＰＳ协定》”）的实施情况。各理事会应履行各自协定和总理事会指定的职能。它们应自行制定各自的议事规则，但需经总理事会批准。各理事会的成员资格应对所有成员的代表开放。各理事会应在必要时召开会议，以行使其职能。
６．货物贸易理事会、服务贸易理事会和ＴＲＩＰＳ理事会应按要求设立附属机构。各附属机构应自行制定各自的议事规则，但需经各自的理事会批准。
７．部长级会议应设立贸易与发展委员会、国际收支限制委员会和预算、财务与行政委员会，各委员会应行使本协定和多边贸易协定指定的职能，以及总理事会指定的任何附加职能。部长级会议还可设立具有其认为适当的职能的其他委员会。作为其职能的一部分，贸易与发展委员会应定期审议多边贸易协定中有利于最不发达国家成员的特殊规定，并向总理事会报告以采取适当行动。各委员会的成员资格应对所有成员的代表开放。
８．诸边贸易协定项下规定的机构履行这些协定指定的职责，并在ＷＴＯ的组织机构内运作。各机构应定期向总理事会报告其活动。
第５条 与其他组织的关系
１．总理事会应就与职责上同ＷＴＯ有关的政府间组织进行有效合作作出适当安排。
２．总理事会可就与涉及ＷＴＯ有关事项的非政府组织进行磋商和合作作出适当安排。
第６条 秘书处
１．设立由总干事领导的ＷＴＯ秘书处（下称“秘书处”）。
２．部长级会议应任命总干事，并通过列出总干事的权力、职责、服务条件和任期的条例。
３．总干事应任命秘书处职员，并依照部长级会议通过的条例，确定他们的职责和服务条件。
４．总干事和秘书处职员的职责纯属国际性质。在履行其职责时，总干事和秘书处职员不得寻求或接受ＷＴＯ之外任何政府或任何其他权力机关的指示。他们应避免任何可能对其国际官员身份产生不利影响的行动。ＷＴＯ成员应尊重总干事和秘书处职员职责的国际性质，不得寻求在他们履行职责时对其施加影响。
第７条 预算和会费
１．总干事应向预算、财务与行政委员会提交ＷＴＯ的年度概算和决算。预算、财务与行政委员会应审议总干事提交的年度概算和决算，并就此向总理事会提出建议。年度概算应经总理事会批准。
２．预算、财务与行政委员会应向总理事会提出有关财务条例的建议，该条例应包括列出下列内容的规定：
（ａ）根据ＷＴＯ费用确定的各成员会费分摊比例；及
（ｂ）对拖欠会费成员所采取的措施。
财务条例应尽可能依据ＧＡＴＴ １９４７的条例和做法。
３．总理事会应以ＷＴＯ半数以上成员的三分之二多数通过财务条例和年度概算。
４．每一成员应依照总理事会通过的财务条例，迅速向ＷＴＯ交纳其在ＷＴＯ费用中分摊的份额。
第８条 ＷＴＯ的地位
１．ＷＴＯ具有法律人格，ＷＴＯ每一成员均应给予ＷＴＯ履行其职能所必需的法定资格。
２．ＷＴＯ每一成员均应给予ＷＴＯ履行其职能所必需的特权和豁免。
３．ＷＴＯ每一成员应同样给予ＷＴＯ官员和各成员代表独立履行与ＷＴＯ有关的职能所必需的特权和豁免。
４．ＷＴＯ一成员给予ＷＴＯ、其官员及其成员的代表的特权和豁免应与１９４７年１１月２１日联合国大会批准的《专门机构特权及豁免公约》所规定的特权和豁免相似。
５．ＷＴＯ可订立一总部协定。
第９条 决策
１．ＷＴＯ应继续实行ＧＡＴＴ １９４７所遵循的经协商一致作出决定的做法。（注１）除非另有规定，否则如无法经协商一致作出决定，则争论中的事项应通过投票决定。在部长级会议和总理事会会议上，ＷＴＯ每一成员拥有一票。如欧洲共同体行使投票权，则其拥有的票数应与属ＷＴＯ成员的欧洲共同体成员国的数目（注２）相等。部长级会议和总理事会的决定应以所投票数的简单多数作出，除非本协定或有关多边贸易协定另有规定。（注３）
注１：如在作出决定时，出席会议的成员均未正式反对拟议的决定，则有关机构应被视为经协商一致对提交其审议的事项作出了决定。
注２：欧洲共同体及其成员国的票数决不能超过欧洲共同体成员国的数目。
注３：对于作为争端解决机构召集的总理事会的决定，应仅依照《争端解决谅解》第２条第４款的规定作出。
２．部长级会议和总理事会拥有通过对本协定和多边贸易协定所作解释的专有权力。对附件１中一多边贸易协定的解释，部长级会议和总理事会应根据监督该协定实施情况的理事会的建议行使其权力。通过一项解释的决定应由成员的四分之三多数作出。本款不得以损害第１０条中有关修正规定的方式使用。
３．在特殊情况下，部长级会议可决定豁免本协定或任何多边贸易协定要求一成员承担的义务，但是任何此类决定应由成员的四分之三（注４）多数作出，除非本款另有规定。
注４：对于受过渡期或分阶段执行期限约束的任何义务，如提出豁免请求的成员在有关期限结束时未履行该义务，则关于豁免的决定只能经协商一致作出。
（ａ）有关本协定的豁免请求，应根据经协商一致作出决定的做法，提交部长级会议审议。部长级会议应确定一不超过９０天的期限审议该请求。如在此期限内未能协商一致，则任何给予豁免的决定应由成员的四分之三多数作出。（注４）
注４：对于受过渡期或分阶段执行期限约束的任何义务，如提出豁免请求的成员在有关期限结束时未履行该义务，则关于豁免的决定只能经协商一致作出。
（ｂ）有关附件１Ａ、附件１Ｂ或附件１Ｃ所列多边贸易协定及其附件的豁免请求，应首先分别提交货物贸易理事会、服务贸易理事会或ＴＲＩＰＳ理事会，在不超过９０天的期限内审议。在该期限结束时，有关理事会应向部长级会议提交一份报告。
４．部长级会议给予豁免的决定应陈述可证明该决定合理的特殊情况、适用于实施豁免的条款和条件以及豁免终止的日期。所给予的期限超过１年的任何豁免应在给予后不迟于１年的时间内由部长级会议审议，并在此后每年审议一次，直至豁免终止。每次审议时，部长级会议应审查证明豁免合理的特殊情况是否仍然存在及豁免所附条款和条件是否得到满足。部长级会议根据年度审议情况，可延长、修改或终止该项豁免。
５．一诸边贸易协定项下作出的决定，包括有关解释和豁免的任何决定，应按该协定的规定执行。
第１０条 修正
１．ＷＴＯ任何成员均可提出修正本协定或附件１所列多边贸易协定条款的提案，提案应提交部长级会议。第４条第５款所列各理事会也可向部长级会议提交提案，以修正其监督实施情况的附件１所列相应多边贸易协定的条款。除非部长级会议决定一更长的期限，否则当提案正式提交部长级会议后９０天内，部长级会议应经协商一致作出任何有关将拟议的修正提交各成员供接受的决定。除非第２款、第５款或第６款的规定适用，否则该决定应列明是否适用第３款或第４款的规定。如协商一致，部长级会议应立刻将拟议的修正提交各成员供接受。如在确定期限内，在部长级会议的一次会议上未能协商一致，则部长级会议应以成员的三分之二多数决定是否将拟议的修正提交各成员供接受。除第２款、第５款和第６款的规定外，第３款的规定适用于拟议的修正，除非部长级会议以成员的四分之三多数决定应适用第４款的规定。
２．对本条的规定和下列各条款的修正应经所有成员接受方可生效：
本协定第９条；
ＧＡＴＴ １９９４第１条和第２条；
ＧＡＴＳ第２条第１款；
《ＴＲＩＰＳ协定》第４条。
３．对本协定条款的修正或对附件１Ａ和附件１Ｃ所列多边贸易协定条款的修正，除第２款和第６款所列条款外，如其具有改变各成员权利和义务的性质，则经成员的三分之二多数接受后，应对接受修正的成员生效，并在此后对接受修正的每一其他成员自其接受时起生效。部长级会议可以成员的四分之三多数决定根据本款生效的任何修正是否属如下性质：在部长级会议对每种情况指定的期限内未接受修正的任何成员有权退出ＷＴＯ，或经部长级会议同意，仍为成员。
４．对本协定条款的修正，或对附件１Ａ和附件１Ｃ所列多边贸易协定条款的修正，除第２款和第６款所列条款外，如其具有不改变各成员权利和义务的性质，则经成员的三分之二多数接受后，应对所有成员生效。
５．除以上第２款的规定外，对ＧＡＴＳ第一部分、第二部分和第三部分及相应附件的修正，经成员的三分之二多数接受后，应对接受修正的成员生效，并在此后对接受修正的每一其他成员自其接受时起生效。部长级会议可以成员的四分之三多数决定根据前述规定生效的任何修正是否属如下性质：在部长级会议对每种情况指定的期限内未接受修正的任何成员有权退出ＷＴＯ，或经部长级会议同意，仍为成员。对ＧＡＴＳ第四部分、第五部分和第六部分及相应附件的修正，经成员的三分之二多数接受后，应对所有成员生效。
６．尽管有本条其他规定，但是满足《ＴＲＩＰＳ协定》第７１条第２款要求的对该协定的修正，可由部长级会议通过，而无需进一步的正式接受程序。
７．任何接受对本协定或附件１所列多边贸易协定修正的成员，应在部长级会议指定的接受期限内，将接受书交存ＷＴＯ总干事。
８．ＷＴＯ任何成员均可提出修正附件２和附件３所列多边贸易协定条款的提案，此类提案应提交部长级会议。批准对附件２所列多边贸易协定修正的决定应经协商一致作出，这些修正经部长级会议批准后，应对所有成员生效。批准对附件３所列多边贸易协定修正的决定，经部长级会议批准后，应对所有成员生效。
９．应属一贸易协定参加方的成员请求，部长级会议可决定将该贸易协定加入附件４，但此种决定只能经协商一致作出。应属一诸边贸易协定参加方的成员请求，部长级会议可决定将该协定从附件４中删除。
１０．对一诸边贸易协定的修正应按该协定的规定执行。
第１１条 创始成员资格
１．本协定生效之日的ＧＡＴＴ １９４７缔约方和欧洲共同体，如接受本协定和多边贸易协定，并将减让和承诺表附在ＧＡＴＴ １９９４之后，将具体承诺减让表附在ＧＡＴＳ之后，则应成为ＷＴＯ创始成员。
２．联合国承认的最不发达国家只需承担与其各自发展、财政和贸易需要或其管理和机构能力相符的承诺和减让。
第１２条 加入
１．任何国家或在处理其对外贸易关系及本协定和多边贸易协定规定的其他事项方面拥有完全自主权的单独关税区，可按它与ＷＴＯ议定的条件加入本协定。此加入适用于本协定及所附多边贸易协定。
２．有关加入的决定应由部长级会议作出。部长级会议应以ＷＴＯ成员的三分之二多数批准关于加入条件的协议。
３．一诸边贸易协定的加入应按该协定的规定执行。
第１３条 多边贸易协定在特定成员间的不适用
１．任何成员，如在自己成为成员时或在另一成员成为成员时，不同意在彼此之间适用本协定及附件１和附件２所列多边贸易协定，则这些协定在该两成员之间不适用。
２．对于原属ＧＡＴＴ １９４７缔约方的ＷＴＯ创始成员，只有在这些缔约方以往已经援引ＧＡＴＴ １９４７第３５条，且在本协定对其生效时，该条款仍然在它们之间有效的前提下，第１款的规定方可在它们之间援引。
３．对于根据第１２条加入ＷＴＯ的成员，只有在不同意对另一成员适用的一成员在部长级会议批准关于加入条件的协议之前，已按此通知部长级会议的前提下，第１款的规定方可在该两成员之间适用。
４．在任何成员请求下，部长级会议可审议本条在特殊情况下的运用情况，并提出适当建议。
５．诸边贸易协定参加方之间的不适用应按该协定的规定执行。
第１４条 接受、生效和交存
１．本协定应开放供依照本协定第１１条有资格成为ＷＴＯ创始成员的ＧＡＴＴ １９４７缔约方和欧洲共同体以签字或其他方式接受。此接受应适用于本协定及其所附多边贸易协定。本协定及其所附多边贸易协定应在部长们依照《乌拉圭回合多边贸易谈判结果最后文件》第３段所确定的日期生效，并在此日期起２年内开放供接受，除非部长们另有决定。本协定生效之后的接受应在此接受之日后的第３０天生效。
２．在本协定生效之后接受本协定的成员，应执行自本协定生效开始的期限内应执行的多边贸易协定中的减让和义务，如同该成员在本协定生效之日即接受本协定。
３．在本协定生效之前，本协定和多边贸易协定的文本应交存ＧＡＴＴ １９４７缔约方全体的总干事。总干事应及时向已接受本协定的每一国政府和欧洲共同体提供一份本协定和多边贸易协定经核证无误的副本和每一份关于接受的通知。在本协定生效时，本协定和多边贸易协定及任何修正应交存ＷＴＯ总干事。
４．一诸边贸易协定的接受和生效应按该协定的规定执行。此类协定应交存ＧＡＴＴ １９４７缔约方全体的总干事。在本协定生效时，此类协定应交存ＷＴＯ总干事。
第１５条 退出
１．任何成员均可退出本协定。此退出适用于本协定和多边贸易协定，并在ＷＴＯ总干事收到书面退出通知之日起６个月期满后生效。
２．一诸边贸易协定的退出应按该协定的规定执行。
第１６条 杂项条款
１．除本协定或多边贸易协定项下另有规定外，ＷＴＯ应以ＧＡＴＴ １９４７缔约方全体和在ＧＡＴＴ １９４７范围内设立的机构所遵循的决定、程序和惯例为指导。
２．在可行的情况下，ＧＡＴＴ １９４７的秘书处应成为ＷＴＯ秘书处，ＧＡＴＴ１９４７缔约方全体的总干事在部长级会议依照本协定第６条第２款任命总干事之前，应担任ＷＴＯ总干事。
３．在本协定的条款与任何多边贸易协定的条款产生抵触时，应以本协定的条款为准。
４．每一成员应保证其法律、法规和行政程序与所附各协定对其规定的义务相一致。
５．不得对本协定的任何条款提出保留。对多边贸易协定任何条款的保留应仅以这些协定规定的程度为限。对一诸边贸易协定条款的保留应按该协定的规定执行。
６．本协定应依照《联合国宪章》第１０２条的规定予以登记。
１９９４年４月１５日订于马拉喀什，正本一份用英文、法文和西班牙文写成，三种文本具有同等效力。
解释性说明
本协定和多边贸易协定中使用的“国家”一词应理解为包括任何ＷＴＯ单独关税区成员。
对于ＷＴＯ单独关税区成员，如本协定和多边贸易协定中的措辞被冠以“国家（的）”一词，则此措辞应理解为与该单独关税区有关，除非另有规定。
附件清单
附件１
附件１Ａ 货物贸易多边协定
１９９４年关税与贸易总协定
农业协定
实施卫生与植物卫生措施协定
纺织品与服装协定
技术性贸易壁垒协定
与贸易有关的投资措施协定
关于实施１９９４年关税与贸易总协定第６条的协定
关于实施１９９４年关税与贸易总协定第７条的协定
装运前检验协定
原产地规则协定
进口许可程序协定
补贴与反补贴措施协定
保障措施协定
附件１Ｂ 服务贸易总协定及附件
附件１Ｃ 与贸易有关的知识产权协定
附件２ 关于争端解决规则与程序的谅解
附件３ 贸易政策审议机制
附件４ 诸边贸易协定（注１）
注１：《国际奶制品协定》和《国际牛肉协定》已于１９９７年年底终止。
民用航空器贸易协定
政府采购协定
国际奶制品协定
国际牛肉协定
MARRAKESH AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION


The Parties to this Agreement,
Recognizing that their relations in the field of trade and economic
endeavour should be conducted with a view to raising standards of
living, ensuring full employment and a large and steadily growing volume
of real income and effective demand, and expanding the production of and
trade in goods and services, while allowing for the optimal use of the
world's resources in accordance with the objective of sustainable
development, seeking both to protect and preserve the environment and to
enhance the means for doing so in a manner consistent with their
respective needs and concerns at different levels of economic
development,
Recognizing further that there is need for positive efforts designed
to ensure that developing countries, and especially the least developed
among them, secure a share in the growth in international trade
commensurate with the needs of their economic development,
Being desirous of contributing to these objectives by entering into
reciprocal and mutually advantageous arrangements directed to the
substantial reduction of tariffs and other barriers to trade and to the
elimination of discriminatory treatment in international trade
relations,
Resolved, therefore, to develop an integrated, more viable and
durable multi-lateral trading system encompassing the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade, the results of past trade liberalization efforts,
and all of the results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade
Negotiations,
Determined to preserve the basic principles and to further the
objectives underlying this multilateral trading system,
Agree as follows:

Article I Establishment of the Organization
The World Trade Organization (hereinafter referred to as "the WTO")
is hereby established.

Article II Scope of the WTO
1. The WTO shall provide the common institutional framework for the
conduct of trade relations among its Members in matters related to the
agreements and associated legal instruments included in the Annexes to
this Agreement.
2. The agreements and associated legal instruments included in
Annexes 1, 2and 3 (hereinafter referred to as "Multilateral Trade
Agreements") are integral parts of this Agreement, binding on all
Members.
3. The agreements and associated legal instruments included in Annex
4(hereinafter referred to as "Plurilateral Trade Agreements") are also
part of this Agreement for those Members that have accepted them, and
are binding on those Members. The Plurilateral Trade Agreements do not
create either obligations or rights for Members that have not accepted
them.
4. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 as specified in
Annex 1A (hereinafter referred to as "GATT 1994") is legally distinct
from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, dated 30 October 1947,
annexed to the Final Act Adopted at the Conclusion of the Second Session
of the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations Conference on Trade
and Employment, as subsequently rectified, amended or modified
(hereinafter referred to as "GATT 1947").

Article III Functions of the WTO
1. The WTO shall facilitate the implementation, administration and
operation, and further the objectives, of this Agreement and of the
Multilateral Trade Agreements, and shall also provide the framework for
the implementation, administration and operation of the Plurilateral
Trade Agreements.
2. The WTO shall provide the forum for negotiations among its
Members concerning their multilateral trade relations in matters dealt
with under the agreements in the Annexes to this Agreement. The WTO may
also provide a forum for further negotiations among its Members
concerning their multilateral trade relations, and a framework for the
implementation of the results of such negotiations, as may be decided by
the Ministerial Conference.
3. The WTO shall administer the Understanding on Rules and
Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (hereinafter referred to
as the "Dispute Settlement Understanding" or "DSU") in Annex 2 to this
Agreement.
4. The WTO shall administer the Trade Policy Review Mechanism
(hereinafter referred to as the "TPRM") provided for in Annex 3 to this
Agreement.
5. With a view to achieving greater coherence in global economic
policy-making, the WTO shall cooperate, as appropriate, with the
International Monetary Fund and with the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and its affiliated agencies.

Article IV Structure of the WTO
1. There shall be a Ministerial Conference composed of
representatives of all the Members, which shall meet at least once every
two years. The Ministerial Conference shall carry out the functions of
the WTO and take actions necessary to this effect. The Ministerial
Conference shall have the authority to take decisions on all matters
under any of the Multilateral Trade Agreements, if so requested by a
Member, in accordance with the specific requirements for decision-making
in this Agreement and in the relevant Multilateral Trade Agreement.
2. There shall be a General Council composed of representatives of
all the Members, which shall meet as appropriate. In the intervals
between meetings of the Ministerial Conference, its functions shall be
conducted by the General Council. The General Council shall also carry
out the functions assigned to it by this Agreement. The General Council
shall establish its rules of procedure and approve the rules of
procedure for the Committees provided for in paragraph 7.
3. The General Council shall convene as appropriate to discharge the
responsibilities of the Dispute Settlement Body provided for in the
Dispute Settlement Understanding. The Dispute Settlement Body may have
its own chairman and shall establish such rules of procedure as it deems
necessary for the fulfillment of those responsibilities.
4. The General Council shall convene as appropriate to discharge the
responsibilities of the Trade Policy Review Body provided for in the
TPRM. The Trade Policy Review Body may have its own chairman and shall
establish such rules of procedure as it deems necessary for the
fulfilment of those responsibilities.
5. There shall be a Council for Trade in Goods, a Council for Trade
in Services and a Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (hereinafter referred to as the "Council for TRIPS"),
which shall operate under the general guidance of the General Council.
The Council for Trade in Goods shall oversee the functioning of the
Multilateral Trade Agreements in Annex 1A. The Council for Trade in
Services shall oversee the functioning of the General Agreement on Trade
in Services (hereinafter referred to as "GATS"). The Council for TRIPS
shall oversee the functioning of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property Rights (hereinafter referred to as the
"Agreement on TRIPS"). These Councils shall carry out the functions
assigned to them by their respective agreements and by the General
Council. They shall establish their respective rules of procedure
subject to the approval of the General Council. Membership in these
Councils shall be open to representatives of all Members. These Councils
shall meet as necessary to carry out their functions.
6. The Council for Trade in Goods, the Council for Trade in Services
and the Council for TRIPS shall establish subsidiary bodies as required.
These subsidiary bodies shall establish their respective rules of
procedure subject to the approval of their respective Councils.
7. The Ministerial Conference shall establish a Committee on Trade
and Development, a Committee on Balance-of-Payments Restrictions and a
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration, which shall carry out
the functions assigned to them by this Agreement and by the Multilateral
Trade Agreements, and any additional functions assigned to them by the
General Council, and may establish such additional Committees with such
functions as it may deem appropriate. As part of its functions, the
Committee on Trade and Development shall periodically review the special
provisions in the Multilateral Trade Agreements in favour of the
least-developed country Members and report to the General Council for
appropriate action. Membership in these Committees shall be open to
representatives of all Members.
8. The bodies provided for under the Plurilateral Trade Agreements
shall carry out the functions assigned to them under those Agreements
and shall operate within the institutional framework of the WTO. These
bodies shall keep the General Council informed of their activities on a
regular basis.

Article V Relations with Other Organizations
1. The General Council shall make appropriate arrangements for
effective cooperation with other intergovernmental organizations that
have responsibilities related to those of the WTO.
2. The General Council may make appropriate arrangements for
consultation and co-operation with non-governmental organizations
concerned with matters related to those of the WTO.

Article VI The Secretariat
1. There shall be a Secretariat of the WTO (hereinafter referred to
as "the Secretariat") headed by a Director-General.
2. The Ministerial Conference shall appoint the Director-General and
adopt regulations setting out the powers, duties, conditions of service
and term of office of the Director-General.
3. The Director-General shall appoint the members of the staff of
the Secretariat and determine their duties and conditions of service in
accordance with regulations adopted by the Ministerial Conference.
4. The responsibilities of the Director-General and of the staff of
the Secretariat shall be exclusively international in character. In the
discharge of their duties, the Director-General and the staff of the
Secretariat shall not seek or accept instructions from any government or
any other authority external to the WTO. They shall refrain from any
action which might adversely reflect on their position as international
officials. The Members of the WTO shall respect the international
character of the responsibilities of the Director-General and of the
staff of the Secretariat and shall not seek to influence them in the
discharge of their duties.

Article VII Budget and Contributions
1. The Director-General shall present to the Committee on Budget,
Finance and Administration the annual budget estimate and financial
statement of the WTO. The Committee on Budget, Finance and
Administration shall review the annual budget estimate and the financial
statement presented by the Director-General and make recommendations
thereon to the General Council. The annual budget estimate shall be
subject to approval by the General Council.
2. The Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration shall propose
to the General Council financial regulations which shall include
provisions setting out:
(a) the scale of contributions apportioning the expenses of the WTO
among its Members; and
(b) the measures to be taken in respect of Members in arrears.
The financial regulations shall be based, as far as practicable, on
the regulations and practices of GATT 1947.
3. The General Council shall adopt the financial regulations and the
annual budget estimate by a two-thirds majority comprising more than
half of the Members of the WTO.
4. Each Member shall promptly contribute to the WTO its share in the
expenses of the WTO in accordance with the financial regulations adopted
by the General Council.

Article VIII Status of the WTO
1. The WTO shall have legal personality, and shall be accorded by
each of its Members such legal capacity as may be necessary for the
exercise of its functions.
2. The WTO shall be accorded by each of its Members such privileges
and immunities as are necessary for the exercise of its functions.
3. The officials of the WTO and the representatives of the Members
shall similarly be accorded by each of its Members such privileges and
immunities as are necessary for the independent exercise of their
functions in connection with the WTO.
4. The privileges and immunities to be accorded by a Member to the
WTO, its officials, and the representatives of its Members shall be
similar to the privileges and immunities stipulated in the Convention on
the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies, approved by
the General Assembly of the United Nations on 21November 1947.
5. The WTO may conclude a headquarters agreement.

Article IX Decision-Making
1. The WTO shall continue the practice of decision-making by
consensus followed under GATT 1947. (Notes 1) Except as otherwise
provided, where a decision cannot be arrived at by consensus, the matter
at issue shall be decided by voting. At meetings of the Ministerial
Conference and the General Council, each Member of the WTO shall have
one vote. Where the European Communities exercise their right to vote,
they shall have a number of votes equal to the number of their member
States(Notes 2) which are Members of the WTO. Decisions of the
Ministerial Conference and the General Council shall be taken by a
majority of the votes cast, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement
or in the relevant Multilateral Trade Agreement. (Notes 3)
Notes 1: The body concerned shall be deemed to have decided by
consensus on a matter submitted for its consideration, if no Member,
present at the meeting when the decision is taken, formally objects to
the proposed decision.
Notes 2: The number of votes of the European Communities and their
member States shall in no case exceed the number of the member States of
the European Communities.
Notes 3: Decisions by the General Council when convened as the
Dispute Settlement Body shall be taken only in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the Dispute Settlement
Understanding.
2. The Ministerial Conference and the General Council shall have the
exclusive authority to adopt interpretations of this Agreement and of
the Multilateral Trade Agreements. In the case of an interpretation of a
Multilateral Trade Agreement in Annex 1, they shall exercise their
authority on the basis of a recommendation by the Council overseeing the
functioning of that Agreement. The decision to adopt an interpretation
shall be taken by a three-fourths majority of the Members. This
paragraph shall not be used in a manner that would undermine the
amendment provisions in Article X.
3. In exceptional circumstances, the Ministerial Conference may
decide to waive an obligation imposed on a Member by this Agreement or
any of the Multilateral Trade Agreements, provided that any such
decision shall be taken by three fourths(Notes 4) of the Members unless
otherwise provided for in this paragraph.
Notes 4: A decision to grant a waiver in respect of any obligation
subject to a transition period or a period for staged implementation
that the requesting Member has not performed by the end of the relevant
period shall be taken only by consensus.
(a) A request for a waiver concerning this Agreement shall be
submitted to the Ministerial Conference for consideration pursuant to
the practice of decision-making by consensus. The Ministerial Conference
shall establish a time period, which shall not exceed 90 days, to
consider the request. If consensus is not reached during the time
period, any decision to grant a waiver shall be taken by three
fourths(Notes 4) of the Members.
Notes 4: A decision to grant a waiver in respect of any obligation
subject to a transition period or a period for staged implementation
that the requesting Member has not performed by the end of the relevant
period shall be taken only by consensus.
(b) A request for a waiver concerning the Multilateral Trade
Agreements in Annexes 1A or 1B or 1C and their annexes shall be
submitted initially to the Council for Trade in Goods, the Council for
Trade in Services or the Council for TRIPS, respectively, for
consideration during a time period which shall not exceed 90 days. At
the end of the time period, the relevant Council shall submit a report
to the Ministerial Conference.
4. A decision by the Ministerial Conference granting a waiver shall
state the exceptional circumstances justifying the decision, the terms
and conditions governing the application of the waiver, and the date on
which the waiver shall terminate. Any waiver granted for a period of
more than one year shall be reviewed by the Ministerial Conference not
later than one year after it is granted, and thereafter annually until
the waiver terminates. In each review, the Ministerial Conference shall
examine whether the exceptional circumstances justifying the waiver
still exist and whether the terms and conditions attached to the waiver
have been met. The Ministerial Conference, on the basis of the annual
review, may extend, modify or terminate the waiver.
5. Decisions under a Plurilateral Trade Agreement, including any
decisions on interpretations and waivers, shall be governed by the
provisions of that Agreement.

Article X Amendments
1. Any Member of the WTO may initiate a proposal to amend the
provisions of this Agreement or the Multilateral Trade Agreements in
Annex 1 by submitting such proposal to the Ministerial Conference. The
Councils listed in paragraph 5 of Article IV may also submit to the
Ministerial Conference proposals to amend the provisions of the
corresponding Multilateral Trade Agreements in Annex 1 the functioning
of which they oversee. Unless the Ministerial Conference decides on a
longer period, for a period of 90 days after the proposal has been
tabled formally at the Ministerial Conference any decision by the
Ministerial Conference to submit the proposed amendment to the Members
for acceptance shall be taken by consensus. Unless the provisions of
paragraphs 2, 5 or 6 apply, that decision shall specify whether the
provisions of paragraphs 3 or 4 shall apply. If consensus is reached,
the Ministerial Conference shall forthwith submit the proposed amendment
to the Members for acceptance. If consensus is not reached at a meeting
of the Ministerial Conference within the established period, the
Ministerial Conference shall decide by a two-thirds majority of the
Members whether to submit the proposed amendment to the Members for
acceptance. Except as provided in paragraphs 2, 5 and 6, the provisions
of paragraph 3 shall apply to the proposed amendment, unless the
Ministerial Conference decides by a three-fourths majority of the
Members that the provisions of paragraph 4 shall apply.
2. Amendments to the provisions of this Article and to the
provisions of the following Articles shall take effect only upon
acceptance by all Members:
Article IX of this Agreement;
Articles I and II of GATT 1994;
Article II: 1 of GATS;
Article 4 of the Agreement on TRIPS.
3. Amendments to provisions of this Agreement, or of the
Multilateral Trade Agreements in Annexes 1A and 1C, other than those
listed in paragraphs 2 and 6, of a nature that would alter the rights
and obligations of the Members, shall take effect for the Members that
have accepted them upon acceptance by two thirds of the Members and
thereafter for each other Member upon acceptance by it. The Ministerial
Conference may decide by a three-fourths majority of the Members that
any amendment made effective under this paragraph is of such a nature
that any Member which has not accepted it within a period specified by
the Ministerial Conference in each case shall be free to withdraw from
the WTO or to remain a Member with the consent of the Ministerial
Conference.
4. Amendments to provisions of this Agreement or of the Multilateral
Trade Agreements in Annexes 1A and 1C, other than those listed in
paragraphs 2 and 6, of a nature that would not alter the rights and
obligations of the Members, shall take effect for all Members upon
acceptance by two thirds of the Members.
5. Except as provided in paragraph 2 above, amendments to Parts I ,
II and III of GATS and the respective annexes shall take effect for the
Members that have accepted them upon acceptance by two thirds of the
Members and thereafter for each Member upon acceptance by it. The
Ministerial Conference may decide by a three-fourths majority of the
Members that any amendment made effective under the preceding provision
is of such a nature that any Member which has not accepted it within a
period specified by the Ministerial Conference in each case shall be
free to withdraw from the WTO or to remain a Member with the consent of
the Ministerial Conference. Amendments to Parts IV, V and VI of GATS
and the respective annexes shall take effect for all Members upon
acceptance by two thirds of the Members.
6. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article, amendments
to the Agreement on TRIPS meeting the requirements of paragraph 2 of
Article 71 thereof may be adopted by the Ministerial Conference without
further formal acceptance process.
7. Any Member accepting an amendment to this Agreement or to a
Multilateral Trade Agreement in Annex 1 shall deposit an instrument of
acceptance with the Director-General of the WTO within the period of
acceptance specified by the Ministerial Conference.
8. Any Member of the WTO may initiate a proposal to amend the
provisions of the Multilateral Trade Agreements in Annexes 2 and 3 by
submitting such proposal to the Ministerial Conference. The decision to
approve amendments to the Multilateral Trade Agreement in Annex 2 shall
be made by consensus and these amendments shall take effect for all
Members upon approval by the Ministerial Conference. Decisions to
approve amendments to the Multilateral Trade Agreement in Annex 3shall
take effect for all Members upon approval by the Ministerial Conference.
9. The Ministerial Conference, upon the request of the Members
parties to a trade agreement, may decide exclusively by consensus to add
that agreement to Annex 4. The Ministerial Conference, upon the request
of the Members parties to a Plurilateral Trade Agreement, may decide to
delete that Agreement from Annex 4.
10. Amendments to a Plurilateral Trade Agreement shall be governed
by the provisions of that Agreement.

Article XI Original Membership
1. The contracting parties to GATT 1947 as of the date of entry into
force of this Agreement, and the European Communities, which accept this
Agreement and the Multilateral Trade Agreements and for which Schedules
of Concessions and Commitments are annexed to GATT 1994 and for which
Schedules of Specific Commitments are annexed to GATS shall become
original Members of the WTO.
2. The least-developed countries recognized as such by the United
Nations will only be required to undertake commitments and concessions
to the extent consistent with their individual development, financial
and trade needs or their administrative and institutional capabilities.

Article XII Accession
1. Any State or separate customs territory possessing full autonomy
in the con-duct of its external commercial relations and of the other
matters provided for in this Agreement and the Multilateral Trade
Agreements may accede to this Agreement, on terms to be agreed between
it and the WTO. Such accession shall apply to this Agreement and the
Multilateral Trade Agreements annexed thereto.
2. Decisions on accession shall be take