世(shi)界貿易組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(WTO)部(bu)(bu)長(chang)(chang)級(ji)會(hui)(hui)議(yi)(yi)是(shi)世(shi)界貿易組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)最高(gao)決策(ce)機構,原則(ze)上每(mei)兩年召(zhao)開一次會(hui)(hui)議(yi)(yi),由各個成(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)國(guo)政府派部(bu)(bu)長(chang)(chang)率領代表團出(chu)席(xi),各方可充(chong)分(fen)(fen)討論和決定涉及世(shi)貿組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)職(zhi)能的所(suo)有(you)重要問(wen)題(ti),并采取行動,它對世(shi)貿組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)的發(fa)展具(ju)有(you)重要意(yi)義。在(zai)WTO日常(chang)運(yun)行中,盡管有(you)部(bu)(bu)長(chang)(chang)級(ji)會(hui)(hui)議(yi)(yi)、總理(li)事(shi)會(hui)(hui)、理(li)事(shi)會(hui)(hui)和委員(yuan)(yuan)會(hui)(hui)四個級(ji)別的權力機構,但由于(yu)成(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)間立場不同(tong)、分(fen)(fen)歧較大,加(jia)之其議(yi)(yi)事(shi)規則(ze)是(shi)“近乎(hu)苛刻”的“協商一致(zhi)原則(ze)”,164個成(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)很難在(zai)日常(chang)談判中達(da)成(cheng)一致(zhi)意(yi)見,往(wang)往(wang)把希望寄托在(zai)部(bu)(bu)長(chang)(chang)會(hui)(hui)上。因此(ci),歷屆部(bu)(bu)長(chang)(chang)會(hui)(hui)都(dou)會(hui)(hui)成(cheng)為“萬眾(zhong)矚目”的焦點。
部長級會議的(de)(de)主要職(zhi)(zhi)能(neng)是:任命世貿(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)(zhi)總干(gan)事并制定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)有(you)關規則(ze);確定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)總干(gan)事的(de)(de)權力、職(zhi)(zhi)責、任職(zhi)(zhi)條件和(he)任期以及(ji)秘(mi)書處工作人員的(de)(de)職(zhi)(zhi)責及(ji)任職(zhi)(zhi)條件;對世貿(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)和(he)多(duo)邊(bian)(bian)貿(mao)(mao)易協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)做(zuo)出解釋;豁免某成(cheng)員對世貿(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)和(he)其它(ta)多(duo)邊(bian)(bian)貿(mao)(mao)易協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)所承(cheng)擔的(de)(de)義務;審(shen)議其成(cheng)員對世貿(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)或多(duo)邊(bian)(bian)貿(mao)(mao)易協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)提(ti)出修改的(de)(de)動議;決定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)是否接納(na)申(shen)請(qing)加入世貿(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)(zhi)的(de)(de)國(guo)家或地區為世貿(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)(zhi)成(cheng)員;決定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)世貿(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)及(ji)多(duo)邊(bian)(bian)貿(mao)(mao)易協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)生(sheng)效的(de)(de)日期等(deng)。