WTO Compassion or Superiority Complex?: What to Make of the WTO Waiver for 'Conflict Diamonds'

31 Pages Posted: 8 Mar 2004

See all articles by Joost Pauwelyn

Joost Pauwelyn

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)

Abstract

In May 2003, the WTO granted a waiver for trade restrictions imposed on WTO members not participating in the Kimberley Certification Scheme combating so-called "conflict diamonds." This Article examines the implications of this waiver decision. It argues that GATT/TBT provisions may already excuse the trade restrictions at issue, especially now that the UN Security Council has explicitly supported them. The waiver, therefore, risks sending out the wrong signals, confirming a WTO "superiority complex." At the same time, by excluding from its scope restrictions as between Kimberley participants, the waiver implies that WTO members considered the Kimberley scheme as a non-WTO instrument that could play a role also before a WTO panel. This convergence of the WTO treaty with other instruments of international law must be applauded. Yet the same result could have been achieved by other, more conciliatory means such as an interpretative decision. Referring to other recent examples, the paper concludes that WTO law should not take other international negotiations hostage. The WTO treaty is of equal value as other treaties. "Contracting out" of WTO rules by some WTO members ought to be accepted as long as it does not affect the rights of third parties.

Suggested Citation

Pauwelyn, Joost, WTO Compassion or Superiority Complex?: What to Make of the WTO Waiver for 'Conflict Diamonds'. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=464842

Joost Pauwelyn (Contact Author)

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) ( email )

PO Box 136
Geneva, Geneva CH-1211
Switzerland

HOME PAGE: http://graduateinstitute.ch

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