A Typology of Multilateral Treaty Obligations: Are WTO Obligations Bilateral or Collective in Nature?

Posted: 17 Sep 2004

See all articles by Joost Pauwelyn

Joost Pauwelyn

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)

Abstract

An important though oft neglected distinction between multilateral treaty obligations is that between obligations of a bilateral nature versus those of the collective or erga omnes partes type. Multilateral obligations of the bilateral type can be reduced to a compilation of bilateral, state-to-state relations. They can be compared to contracts. Collective obligations, in contrast, cannot be separated into bilateral components. They are concluded in pursuit of a collective interest that transcends the individual interests of the contracting parties. The standard example of such obligations is obligations arising under a human rights treaty. In domestic law, collective obligations can be compared to criminal law statutes or even domestic constitutions. This essay examines the origins of the distinction between bilateral and collective obligations, as well as its major consequences, both in the law of treaties and the law on state responsibility. On that basis, a wider typology of multilateral treaty obligations is suggested. In the exercise, the case study that is used is obligations arising under the World Trade Organization. The argument is made that WTO obligations remain essentially of the bilateral type; they are not collective in nature.

Keywords: multilateral treaties, obligations erga omnes partes, state responsibility, WTO

Suggested Citation

Pauwelyn, Joost, A Typology of Multilateral Treaty Obligations: Are WTO Obligations Bilateral or Collective in Nature?. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=478023

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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