世界(jie)貿易組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(WTO)部長級(ji)會(hui)(hui)議是世界(jie)貿易組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)最(zui)高決(jue)策機(ji)(ji)構,原則(ze)上每兩年(nian)召開一(yi)(yi)次會(hui)(hui)議,由各個成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)國政府派部長率領代表團出席,各方可充(chong)分(fen)討論和決(jue)定(ding)涉及世貿組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)職(zhi)能的所有(you)重要問題,并(bing)采取行動,它對世貿組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)的發展(zhan)具有(you)重要意義。在WTO日常運行中,盡管有(you)部長級(ji)會(hui)(hui)議、總理事會(hui)(hui)、理事會(hui)(hui)和委(wei)員(yuan)(yuan)會(hui)(hui)四個級(ji)別(bie)的權力(li)機(ji)(ji)構,但由于成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)間(jian)立場不同(tong)、分(fen)歧較大,加之其議事規(gui)則(ze)是“近乎苛刻(ke)”的“協商一(yi)(yi)致(zhi)原則(ze)”,164個成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)很難(nan)在日常談(tan)判中達成(cheng)(cheng)一(yi)(yi)致(zhi)意見(jian),往(wang)往(wang)把希(xi)望寄(ji)托在部長會(hui)(hui)上。因此,歷(li)屆部長會(hui)(hui)都會(hui)(hui)成(cheng)(cheng)為“萬眾矚目”的焦點。
部長級會議的(de)(de)主要職(zhi)(zhi)能是:任(ren)命世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織總(zong)干事(shi)并制定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)有關(guan)規則;確定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)總(zong)干事(shi)的(de)(de)權力、職(zhi)(zhi)責、任(ren)職(zhi)(zhi)條(tiao)件和任(ren)期以及(ji)秘書處工(gong)作人員(yuan)的(de)(de)職(zhi)(zhi)責及(ji)任(ren)職(zhi)(zhi)條(tiao)件;對(dui)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)和多邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)易協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)做(zuo)出(chu)解釋;豁免(mian)某(mou)成(cheng)員(yuan)對(dui)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)和其它多邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)易協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)所承擔的(de)(de)義務;審議其成(cheng)員(yuan)對(dui)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)或多邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)易協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)提出(chu)修改(gai)的(de)(de)動議;決(jue)(jue)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)是否接(jie)納申請加(jia)入(ru)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織的(de)(de)國(guo)家或地區為(wei)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織成(cheng)員(yuan);決(jue)(jue)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)織協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)及(ji)多邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)易協(xie)(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)生效的(de)(de)日期等。