世(shi)(shi)界(jie)貿易組(zu)(zu)織(WTO)部(bu)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)級(ji)會(hui)(hui)議是世(shi)(shi)界(jie)貿易組(zu)(zu)織最高決策(ce)機(ji)構,原則(ze)上每兩年召開一次會(hui)(hui)議,由各(ge)個(ge)成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)國政府派部(bu)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)率(lv)領(ling)代表(biao)團出席,各(ge)方可充分討論和(he)(he)決定涉(she)及世(shi)(shi)貿組(zu)(zu)織職能的(de)(de)所(suo)有重(zhong)(zhong)要問題,并采取行動,它對世(shi)(shi)貿組(zu)(zu)織的(de)(de)發展具有重(zhong)(zhong)要意義。在WTO日常運行中(zhong),盡管有部(bu)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)級(ji)會(hui)(hui)議、總(zong)理(li)(li)事(shi)會(hui)(hui)、理(li)(li)事(shi)會(hui)(hui)和(he)(he)委員(yuan)會(hui)(hui)四個(ge)級(ji)別的(de)(de)權力機(ji)構,但由于成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)間立場不同、分歧較大,加之(zhi)其議事(shi)規(gui)則(ze)是“近乎苛刻”的(de)(de)“協商一致(zhi)原則(ze)”,164個(ge)成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)很(hen)難(nan)在日常談判中(zhong)達成(cheng)(cheng)一致(zhi)意見,往往把希望寄托在部(bu)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)會(hui)(hui)上。因此(ci),歷屆部(bu)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)會(hui)(hui)都(dou)會(hui)(hui)成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)“萬眾矚目”的(de)(de)焦點。
部(bu)長(chang)級會議的(de)主(zhu)要(yao)職(zhi)(zhi)能是:任(ren)命世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)總干(gan)事并(bing)制(zhi)定(ding)(ding)(ding)有關規則;確定(ding)(ding)(ding)總干(gan)事的(de)權力、職(zhi)(zhi)責、任(ren)職(zhi)(zhi)條件(jian)和任(ren)期以及秘(mi)書處(chu)工作(zuo)人員的(de)職(zhi)(zhi)責及任(ren)職(zhi)(zhi)條件(jian);對世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)和多(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)易(yi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)做(zuo)出解釋;豁免某(mou)成(cheng)員對世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)和其(qi)它多(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)易(yi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)所承(cheng)擔的(de)義務;審議其(qi)成(cheng)員對世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)或(huo)多(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)易(yi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)提(ti)出修改的(de)動議;決定(ding)(ding)(ding)是否接納申請加入世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)國家或(huo)地區為世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)成(cheng)員;決定(ding)(ding)(ding)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)組(zu)(zu)(zu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)及多(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)易(yi)協(xie)定(ding)(ding)(ding)生(sheng)效的(de)日期等。