世界貿(mao)易組織(zhi)(WTO)部(bu)長(chang)(chang)級會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)議是(shi)世界貿(mao)易組織(zhi)最高決策(ce)機構,原則(ze)上每兩年召開一(yi)次會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)議,由各個成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)國(guo)政府派部(bu)長(chang)(chang)率領代表(biao)團出席,各方可充分(fen)討論和(he)決定涉(she)及世貿(mao)組織(zhi)職能的所有(you)重要問題,并采取行(xing)(xing)動,它對世貿(mao)組織(zhi)的發(fa)展具有(you)重要意(yi)(yi)義(yi)。在WTO日(ri)常(chang)運(yun)行(xing)(xing)中(zhong),盡管有(you)部(bu)長(chang)(chang)級會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)議、總(zong)理事(shi)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)、理事(shi)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)和(he)委員(yuan)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)四個級別的權力(li)機構,但由于成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)間立(li)場不同、分(fen)歧(qi)較大(da),加之(zhi)其(qi)議事(shi)規則(ze)是(shi)“近乎苛刻(ke)”的“協商一(yi)致原則(ze)”,164個成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)很難在日(ri)常(chang)談判中(zhong)達成(cheng)(cheng)一(yi)致意(yi)(yi)見,往(wang)往(wang)把希望(wang)寄托在部(bu)長(chang)(chang)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)上。因此,歷(li)屆部(bu)長(chang)(chang)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)都(dou)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)成(cheng)(cheng)為“萬眾矚(zhu)目”的焦點。
部長級(ji)會議(yi)的主要職(zhi)能是:任(ren)命(ming)世貿(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)總(zong)干事并制定(ding)(ding)有關規則;確(que)定(ding)(ding)總(zong)干事的權力、職(zhi)責、任(ren)職(zhi)條件和任(ren)期以及秘書處工作(zuo)人員(yuan)(yuan)的職(zhi)責及任(ren)職(zhi)條件;對世貿(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)和多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)易(yi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)做出解釋;豁免某成(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)對世貿(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)和其(qi)它多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)易(yi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)所承擔的義務;審議(yi)其(qi)成(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)對世貿(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)或多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)易(yi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)提出修(xiu)改的動(dong)議(yi);決(jue)定(ding)(ding)是否接納申請加入世貿(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的國家或地區(qu)為世貿(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)成(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan);決(jue)定(ding)(ding)世貿(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)及多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)易(yi)協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)生效(xiao)的日期等。