General Exceptions (Art. XX)

Koul, Autar Krishen

doi:10.1007/978-981-13-2089-7_19

Autar Krishen Koul^2,3

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Abstract

Subject to the requirement that such measures are not applied in a manner which would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between countries where the same conditions prevail, or a disguised restriction on international trade, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent the adoption or enforcement by any contracting party of measures.

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Notes

1.
US—Import Prohibition of Certain Shrimp Products, Appellate Body Report, WT/DS 58/AB/R, DSR 1998: VII, para. 121.
2.
Ibid., paras. 156 and 15.
3.
US—Standards for Reformulated and Convention Gasoline, Appellate Body Report, WT/DS2/AB/R, DSR 1996: 1 para. 22.
4.
Appellate Body Report, WT/DS58/AB/R, DSR 1998: VII, paras. 121–122.
5.
Ibid., para. 150.
6.
Havana Conference, Third Committee, E/CONF.2/C.3/SR/.35.
7.
L/6216, Adopted on 10 Nov. 1987, 34 S/83, 124, para. 5.13.
8.
DS 10/R, Adopted on 7 Nov. 1990. 37 S/200.
9.
DS 29/R dated 16 June 1994. paras. 5.28–5.29. The Panel Decision was not adopted.
10.
Appellate Body Report in EC-Measures Affecting Asbestos and Asbestos-Containing Products, WT/DS 135/AB/R, para. 161.
11.
Ibid., para. 168.
12.
L/5863 (unadopted) dated 17 Sept. 1985, para. 51.
13.
Panel Report on ‘US—Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 dealt with the claim by the EEC that the special “Section 337” procedure for enforcing patent claims against imported products treated such products less favourably than the procedures applicable to patent claims involving products of domestic origin contrary to Article III:4 and this special procedure was not justified under Article XX(d) as “necessary” to enforce US patent laws against imports. After a threadbare analysis of the conditions required to justify an exception under Article XX(d), the Panel found that the system of determining allegation of violations of the US patent right cannot be justified as necessary within the meaning of Article XX(d) so as to permit an exception to the basic obligation contained in Article III: 4 of the GATT. Panel noted further that some of the inconsistencies with Article III:4 of individual aspects of procedures under Section 337 could be justified under Article XX (d) in certain circumstances: L/6439, Adopted on 7 Nov. 1989, 36 S/345, 392, paras. 5.22–5.35.
14.
Appellate Body Report in Korea—Measures Affecting Imports of Fresh, Chilled and Frozen Beef, Appellate Body Report, WT/DS 161/AB/R; WT/DS 169/AB/R, para. 157.
15.
L/6657 Adopted on 16th May 1990, 375/132; 194–195, paras. 5.125.18.
16.
Panel Report on Japan—Restriction on imports of Certain Agricultural Products, L/6253 Adopted on 2 Feb. 1988 355/63, 230, para. 5.2–5.3.
17.
Panel Report on Canada—Measures Affecting Exports of unprocessed Herring and Salmon, L/6268, Adopted on 22 March 1988, 35 S/98, 113–115, para. 4.4–4.7.
18.
USA—Restrictions on Imports of Tuna, DS21/R/(Unadopted) 3 Sep. 1991, 39S/155, 200–201, para. 5.30–5.34.
19.
US—Standards for Reformulated and Conventional Gasoline, Panel Report, WT/DS/108/RW, Adopted 20 May 1996, para. 6.40.
20.
Ibid., Appellate Body Report, WT/DS/AB/R, DSR 1996: 1, p. 16.
21.
The text of the Resolution 30(IV) OF 28 March, 1947 is reprinted in Review of International Commodity Agreements, ICCICA, Geneva (Nov. 1947) pp. 8–9.
22.
Paragraph (i) of Art. XX is based on the proposal submitted by New Zealand to the Preparatory Committee at Geneva in 1947. See EPCT/A/PV-36. p. 22.
23.
GATT/CP.4/33 (sales No. GATT/1950-3).
24.
London Report, p. 11, para. II.c.1(b).
25.
Decision of the Contracting Parties, 20 Feb. (1970) L/3361, 175/18.
26.
John H. Jackson, World Trade And the Law of GATT, 748 (1969).
27.
GATT/CP.3/38, p. 9.
28.
See the following cases:
1. (i)
  US—Trade Measures affecting Nicaragua, L/6053, 13 Oct. 1986 (unadopted), paras. 5.1–5.3.
2. (ii)
  Accession of the United Arab Republic, L/3362, Adopted on 27 Feb. 1979, 179/33, 39, para. 22.
3. (iii)
  EEC and its Members Suspension of Imports from Argentina, L/5317, L/5336; C/M/157, CM/159.
29.
For a critical analysis, see John H. Jackson, supra note 26, pp. 748–752.

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National University of Study and Research, Ranchi, India
Autar Krishen Koul
National Law University, Jodhpur, India
Autar Krishen Koul

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Koul, A.K. (2018). General Exceptions (Art. XX). In: Guide to the WTO and GATT. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2089-7_19

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2089-7_19
Published: 20 November 2018
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
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