世(shi)界貿易(yi)(yi)組織(zhi)(zhi)(WTO)部(bu)長(chang)(chang)級(ji)會(hui)(hui)(hui)議(yi)(yi)是(shi)世(shi)界貿易(yi)(yi)組織(zhi)(zhi)最高決(jue)策機構,原(yuan)則(ze)上每兩年召開一次(ci)會(hui)(hui)(hui)議(yi)(yi),由各個成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)國政府派部(bu)長(chang)(chang)率(lv)領(ling)代表團出席,各方(fang)可充分討論和決(jue)定涉及世(shi)貿組織(zhi)(zhi)職能的(de)所(suo)有重(zhong)(zhong)要問題,并采(cai)取行(xing)動,它對世(shi)貿組織(zhi)(zhi)的(de)發展具(ju)有重(zhong)(zhong)要意(yi)義。在WTO日常運行(xing)中,盡管有部(bu)長(chang)(chang)級(ji)會(hui)(hui)(hui)議(yi)(yi)、總理事會(hui)(hui)(hui)、理事會(hui)(hui)(hui)和委員(yuan)(yuan)會(hui)(hui)(hui)四個級(ji)別的(de)權力機構,但由于成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)間立場不同、分歧較大,加之其議(yi)(yi)事規則(ze)是(shi)“近乎(hu)苛刻”的(de)“協商一致原(yuan)則(ze)”,164個成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)(yuan)很難在日常談(tan)判中達成(cheng)(cheng)一致意(yi)見,往往把(ba)希(xi)望寄托在部(bu)長(chang)(chang)會(hui)(hui)(hui)上。因此,歷屆部(bu)長(chang)(chang)會(hui)(hui)(hui)都(dou)會(hui)(hui)(hui)成(cheng)(cheng)為“萬眾矚(zhu)目”的(de)焦點。
部長級會議(yi)的(de)(de)(de)主要職(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)能是:任命世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)總干事并制定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)有(you)關規(gui)則;確定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)總干事的(de)(de)(de)權力、職(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)責、任職(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)條(tiao)件(jian)和(he)任期以及(ji)秘書處(chu)工(gong)作人員的(de)(de)(de)職(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)責及(ji)任職(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)條(tiao)件(jian);對(dui)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)和(he)多邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)易協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)做出解釋;豁(huo)免某成(cheng)員對(dui)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)和(he)其(qi)它(ta)多邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)易協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)所承(cheng)擔的(de)(de)(de)義(yi)務;審議(yi)其(qi)成(cheng)員對(dui)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)或多邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)易協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)提出修(xiu)改的(de)(de)(de)動議(yi);決(jue)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)是否接納申請加(jia)入世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)國家或地區為世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)成(cheng)員;決(jue)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)及(ji)多邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)易協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)(ding)生(sheng)效的(de)(de)(de)日(ri)期等。