Study On Interpretation Of WTO Table Specific Commitments On Services

This essay focuses on the WTO case ‘China-certain measures affecting electronicpayment services’, researches on the application of the interpretation rules when thePanel interpret the schedule of specific commitments of China in the case, and discussesrelated legal issues considering the interpretation of the schedule of specificcommitments. The first section mainly focuses on the GATS and the schedule ofspecific commitments, providing a deeper understanding on this part. The secondsection discusses the basis and the rules of interpretation, laying the groundwork on thelegal theory. The third section introduces the briefing of the case, the arguments ofChina and the U.S. and the findings of the Panel. The fourth section is the key part ofthe essay. This section summarizes the classification of the electronic payment service,the interpretation of the market access commitments and the national treatmentcommitments in the case. Some related issues are also discussed, like the authentic text,the principles of effective interpretation and the principle of mutual exclusivity. The lastsection is the conclusion of this essay, providing some advise on interpretaing theschedule of specific commitments in the disputes and on facing the rounds ofnegotiations in the future.