世(shi)(shi)(shi)界(jie)貿(mao)易(yi)組(zu)(zu)織(WTO)部(bu)長(chang)級(ji)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)議(yi)是(shi)世(shi)(shi)(shi)界(jie)貿(mao)易(yi)組(zu)(zu)織最高(gao)決策(ce)機(ji)構,原則上每(mei)兩年召開一(yi)次(ci)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)議(yi),由各(ge)個成(cheng)(cheng)員國政府(fu)派部(bu)長(chang)率(lv)領(ling)代表團(tuan)出席(xi),各(ge)方可(ke)充(chong)分討論和(he)決定涉及世(shi)(shi)(shi)貿(mao)組(zu)(zu)織職能的(de)所有重(zhong)要問(wen)題,并采取行(xing)(xing)動(dong),它(ta)對世(shi)(shi)(shi)貿(mao)組(zu)(zu)織的(de)發展具有重(zhong)要意義。在(zai)(zai)WTO日常運行(xing)(xing)中,盡管有部(bu)長(chang)級(ji)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)議(yi)、總理事會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)、理事會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)和(he)委(wei)員會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)四個級(ji)別的(de)權力機(ji)構,但(dan)由于(yu)成(cheng)(cheng)員間(jian)立場不同、分歧較(jiao)大,加(jia)之其議(yi)事規則是(shi)“近乎苛刻”的(de)“協商(shang)一(yi)致原則”,164個成(cheng)(cheng)員很難在(zai)(zai)日常談判中達成(cheng)(cheng)一(yi)致意見,往(wang)往(wang)把希(xi)望寄托在(zai)(zai)部(bu)長(chang)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)上。因此,歷屆(jie)部(bu)長(chang)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)都會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)成(cheng)(cheng)為“萬眾矚目”的(de)焦點(dian)。
部長級會議(yi)的(de)(de)主要職能(neng)是:任(ren)命世(shi)貿(mao)組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)總干事并(bing)制定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)有關規(gui)則;確定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)總干事的(de)(de)權(quan)力(li)、職責、任(ren)職條(tiao)件和任(ren)期(qi)以及秘書處工作人員(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)職責及任(ren)職條(tiao)件;對世(shi)貿(mao)組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)和多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)易(yi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)做出解釋;豁免某成(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)對世(shi)貿(mao)組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)和其它(ta)多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)易(yi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)所承(cheng)擔的(de)(de)義務;審議(yi)其成(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)對世(shi)貿(mao)組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)或多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)易(yi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)提出修(xiu)改(gai)的(de)(de)動(dong)議(yi);決定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)是否接納申請(qing)加(jia)入世(shi)貿(mao)組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)的(de)(de)國(guo)家或地區為世(shi)貿(mao)組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)成(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan);決定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)世(shi)貿(mao)組(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)及多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)易(yi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)生效(xiao)的(de)(de)日(ri)期(qi)等。