Chapter VIII
Strengthening of the Multilateral System


Art. 23 of the DSU deals, as indicated by its title, with the “Strengthening of the Multilateral System”. Its overall design is to prevent WTO Members from unilaterally resolving their disputes in respect of WTO rights and obligations. It does so by obligating Members to follow the multilateral rules and procedures of the DSU. Art. 23 of the DSU reads:

“Strengthening of the Multilateral System
1. When Members seek the redress of a violation of obligations or other nullification or impairment of benefits under the covered agreements or an impediment to the attainment of any objective of the covered agreements, they shall have recourse to, and abide by, the rules and procedures of this Understanding.
2. In such cases, Members shall:
(a) not make a determination to the effect that a violation has occurred, that benefits have been nullified or impaired or that the attainment of any objective of the covered agreements has been impeded, except through recourse to dispute settlement in accordance with the rules and procedures of this Understanding, and shall make any such determination consistent with the findings contained in the panel or Appellate Body report adopted by the DSB or an arbitration award rendered under this Understanding;
(b) follow the procedures set forth in Article 21 to determine the reasonable period of time for the Member concerned to implement the recommendations and rulings; and
(c) follow the procedures set forth in Article 22 to determine the level of suspension of concessions or other obligations and obtain DSB authorization in accordance with those procedures before suspending concessions or other obligations under the covered agreements in response to the failure of the Member concerned to implement the recommendations and rulings within that reasonable period of time.”

In this section, to end this book, the author means to take a precise overlook on the nature of obligations under Art. 23 of the DSU as a whole by referring to two panels’ reports in part. In this respect, the Panel in US-Sections 301-310 (DS152) rules: 1
“On this basis [provision of Article 23], we conclude as follows:
(a)It is for the WTO through the DSU process - not for an individual WTO Member - to determine that a WTO inconsistency has occurred (Article 23.2(a)).
(b)It is for the WTO or both of the disputing parties, through the procedures set forth in Article 21 - not for an individual WTO Member - to determine the reasonable period of time for the Member concerned to implement DSB recommendations and rulings (Article 23.2(b)).
(c)It is for the WTO through the procedures set forth in Article 22 - not for an individual WTO Member - to determine, in the event of disagreement, the level of suspension of concessions or other obligations that can be imposed as a result of a WTO inconsistency, as well as to grant authorization for the actual implementation of these suspensions.
Article 23.2 clearly, thus, prohibits specific instances of unilateral conduct by WTO Members when they seek redress for WTO inconsistencies in any given dispute. This is, in our view, the first type of obligations covered under Article 23.
Article 23.1 is not concerned only with specific instances of violation. It prescribes a general duty of a dual nature. First, it imposes on all Members to ‘have recourse to’ the multilateral process set out in the DSU when they seek the redress of a WTO inconsistency. In these circumstances, Members have to have recourse to the DSU dispute settlement system to the exclusion of any other system, in particular a system of unilateral enforcement of WTO rights and obligations. This, what one could call ‘exclusive dispute resolution clause’, is an important new element of Members' rights and obligations under the DSU. Second, Article 23.1 also prescribes that Members, when they have recourse to the dispute settlement system in the DSU, have to ‘abide by’ the rules and procedures set out in the DSU. This second obligation under Article 23.1 is of a confirmatory nature: when having recourse to the DSU Members must abide by all DSU rules and procedures.
Turning to the second paragraph under Article 23, Article 23.2 - which, on its face, addresses conduct in specific disputes - starts with the words ‘[i]n such cases’. It is, thus, explicitly linked to, and has to be read together with and subject to, Article 23.1.
Indeed, two of the three prohibitions mentioned in Article 23.2 - Article 23.2(b) and (c) - are but egregious examples of conduct that contradicts the rules and procedures of the DSU which, under the obligation in Article 23.1 to ‘abide by the rules and procedures’ of the DSU, Members are obligated to follow. These rules and procedures clearly cover much more than the ones specifically mentioned in Article 23.2. There is a great deal more State conduct which can violate the general obligation in Article 23.1 to have recourse to, and abide by, the rules and procedures of the DSU than the instances especially singled out in Article 23.2.
Article 23 interdicts, thus, more than action in specific disputes, it also provides discipline for the general process WTO Members must follow when seeking redress of WTO inconsistencies. A violation of the explicit provisions of Article 23 can, therefore, be of two different kinds. It can be caused
(a)by an ad hoc, specific action in a given dispute, or
(b)by measures of general applicability, e.g. legislation or regulations, providing for a certain process to be followed which does not, say, include recourse to the DSU dispute settlement system or abide by the rules and procedures of the DSU.”
Furthermore, as to Art. 23 of the DSU, the Panel in US-Import Measures (DS165) confirms the ruling developed in US-Sections 301-310, and states: 2
“The Panel believes that the adopted Panel Report on United States - Sections 301-310 of the Trade Act of 1974 (‘US - Section 301’) has confirmed the crucial importance that WTO Members place on the dispute settlement system of the WTO, as the exclusive means to redress any violations of any provisions of the WTO Agreement. This fundamental principle is embedded in Article 23 of the DSU: …
An important reason why Article 23 of the DSU must be interpreted with a view to prohibiting any form of unilateral action is because such unilateral actions threaten the stability and predictability of the multilateral trade system, a necessary component for "market conditions conducive to individual economic activity in national and global markets" which, in themselves, constitute a fundamental goal of the WTO. Unilateral actions are, therefore, contrary to the essence of the multilateral trade system of the WTO. As stated in the Panel Report on US - Section 301:
‘7.75 Providing security and predictability to the multilateral trading system is another central object and purpose of the system which could be instrumental to achieving the broad objectives of the Preamble. Of all WTO disciplines, the DSU is one of the most important instruments to protect the security and predictability of the multilateral trading system and through it that of the market-place and its different operators. DSU provisions must, thus, be interpreted in the light of this object and purpose and in a manner which would most effectively enhance it.’
The structure of Article 23 is that the first paragraph states the general prohibition or general obligation, i.e. when Members seek the redress of a WTO violation, they shall do so only through the DSU. This is a general obligation. Any attempt to seek ‘redress’ can take place only in the institutional framework of the WTO and pursuant to the rules and procedures of the DSU.
The prohibition against unilateral redress in the WTO sectors is more directly provided for in the second paragraph of Article 23. From the ordinary meaning of the terms used in the chapeau of Article 23.2 (‘in such cases, Members shall’), it is also clear that the second paragraph of Article 23 is ‘explicitly linked to, and has to be read together with and subject to, Article 23.1’. That is to say, the specific prohibitions of paragraph 2 of Article 23 have to be understood in the context of the first paragraph, i.e. when such action is performed by a WTO Member with a view to redressing a WTO violation.
We also agree with the US - Section 301 Panel Report that Article 23.2 contains ‘egregious examples of conduct that contradict the rules of the DSU’ and which constitute more specific forms of unilateral actions, otherwise generally prohibited by Article 23.1 of the DSU.
‘[t]hese rules and procedures [Article 23.1] clearly cover much more than the ones specifically mentioned in Article 23.2. There is a great deal more State conduct which can violate the general obligation in Article 23.1 to have recourse to, and abide by, the rules and procedures of the DSU than the instances especially singled out in Article 23.2.’
The same Panel identified a few examples of such instances where the DSU could be violated contrary to the provisions of Article 23. Each time a Member seeking the redress of a WTO violation is not abiding by a rule of the DSU, it thus violates Article 23.1 of the DSU.
In order to verify whether individual provisions of Article 23.2 have been infringed (keeping in mind that the obligation to also observe other DSU provisions can be brought under the umbrella of Article 23.1), we must first determine whether the measure at issue comes under the coverage of Article 23.1. In other words, we need to determine whether Article 23 is applicable to the dispute before addressing the specific violations envisaged in the second paragraph of Article 23 of the DSU or elsewhere in the DSU.
Article 23.1 of the DSU provides that the criterion for determining whether Article 23 is applicable is whether the Member that imposed the measure was ‘seeking the redress of’ a WTO violation. …
The term ‘seeking’ or ‘to seek’ is defined in the Webster New Encyclopedic Dictionary as: ‘to resort to, … to make an attempt, try’. This term would therefore cover situations where an effort is made to redress WTO violations (whether perceived or WTO determined violations). The term ‘to redress’ is defined in the New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary as ‘repair (an action); atone for (a misdeed); remedy or remove; to set right or rectify (injury, a wrong, a grievance etc.); obtaining reparation or compensation’. The term ‘redress’ is defined in the New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary as: ‘reparation of or compensation for a wrong or consequent loss; remedy for or relief from some trouble; correction or reformation of something wrong’. The term 'redress' implies, therefore, a reaction by a Member against another Member, because of a perceived (or WTO determined) WTO violation, with a view to remedying the situation.
Article 23.1 of the DSU prescribes that when a WTO Member wants to take any remedial action in response to what it views as a WTO violation, it is obligated to have recourse to and abide by the DSU rules and procedures. In case of a grievance on a WTO matter, the WTO dispute settlement mechanism is the only means available to WTO Members to obtain relief, and only the remedial actions envisaged in the WTO system can be used by WTO Members. The remedial actions relate to restoring the balance of rights and obligations which form the basis of the WTO Agreement, and include the removal of the inconsistent measure, the possibility of (temporary) compensation and, in last resort, the (temporary) suspension of concessions or other obligations authorised by the DSB (Articles 3.7 and 22.1 of the DSU). The latter remedy is essentially retaliatory in nature.”



【NOTE】:
1. See, in detail, WT/DS152/R/7.38-7.46.
2. See, in detail, WT/DS165/R/6.13-6.23.



List of References

1 Sources of Legal Texts: http://www.wto.org; WTO Secretariat: The WTO Dispute Settlement Procedures (Second Edition), CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2001.
四川省内江市人民政府


内江市人民政府令

第29号

《内江市招商引资优惠政策规定》，已经市政府2004年12月8日第92次常务会审议通过，现予发布，从2005年4月1日起施行。



　　　　　　　　　　　市　　长：



　　　　　　　　　　　二○○五年三月二十一日





内江市招商引资优惠政策规定

第一章　总　则
第一条　为进一步强化和规范招商引资工作，营造与WTO接轨的公开、公平、公正的投资软环境，吸引更多的外来投资者到我市投资兴业，根据国家和省有关规定，结合内江实际，特制定本规定。
第二条　制定招商引资优惠政策的原则：热忱欢迎，诚信招商，政策优惠，兑现承诺，共同发展，谁投资，谁受益。
第三条　全面放开招商引资领域。除国家法律、法规明令禁止的领域外，鼓励外来投资者在符合国家法律、法规、投资政策和本市发展规划条件下以任何形式到内江投资开发。

第二章　财税扶持政策
第四条　对于2002年1月1日后在我市注册登记的经营期在十年以上的生产型“三资”企业，自获利年度起，经税务机关批准，免征企业所得税两年，后三年减半征收，第六至第十年由当地政府按企业实际上缴企业所得税地方留成部分的50%作为扶持资金补助企业；市外国内投资者新办的经营期在十年以上生产性企业，自获利年度起，第一年至第四年由当地政府按企业实际上缴企业所得税地方留成部分作为扶持资金全额补助企业，第五至第十年由当地政府按企业实际上缴企业所得税地方留成部分的50%作为扶持资金补助企业。
第五条　外来投资经营期在十年以上，固定资产投资在500万元以上的工业生产性企业，自经营年度起，第一年企业实际缴纳的增值税地方留成部分在10—100万元的，由当地政府按增值税地方留成部分的10%作为扶持资金补助企业，每增加100万元，递增10个百分点，累计最多不超过50%；招用下岗失业人员或吸纳原企业人员达到职工总数30%以上且签订了3年以上期限劳动合同的，相应的奖励标准可提高2个百分点。第二年，由地方政府按增值税地方留成部分的5%作为扶持资金补助企业，每增加100万元，递增5个百分点，累计最多不超过25%；招用下岗失业人员或吸纳原企业人员符合第一年条件的，相应的奖励标准可提高1个百分点。列为全国500强的外来投资企业, 第三至六年继续享受第二年的补助政策；列为世界500强的外来投资企业，第三至十年继续享受第二年的补助政策。
第六条　投资改造原有工业企业的，扣除原企业上年税收基数后，新增的税收地方留成部分，享受第四、五条规定的优惠政策。　　
第七条　外来投资者新办旅游业、商业和饮食服务企业，自获利年度起，实际交纳企业所得税50万元以上的，第一年由当地政府按企业实际缴纳企业所得税地方留成部分的100%作为扶持资金补助企业，第二至第三年由当地政府按企业实际缴纳企业所得税地方留成部分的50%作为扶持资金补助企业。
第八条　投资建设水利、交通、城市公用设施的，自获利年度起，前三年由当地政府按企业实际缴纳的所得税地方留成部分的100%作为扶持资金补助企业，后三年由当地政府按企业实际缴纳企业所得税地方留成部分的50%作为扶持资金补助企业。
第九条　投资从事农、林、牧、渔业的，市、县（区）政府可根据各自的实际情况给予专项补助。
第十条　外商投资兴办的出口产品企业，在依照税法规定免征、扶持优惠政策期满后，凡当年出口产品产值达到当年企业产品产值70%以上的，可以按照税法规定的税率减半征收企业所得税。外商投资企业自产货物自营出口或委托外贸企业代理出口，经税务机关批准可以享受出口货物退（免）税的政策。
第十一条　外来投资者利用废水、废渣、废气进行综合利用、开发产品，除执行前列条款规定外，还享受环保的有关税收优惠政策。
第十二条　外来投资者全资收购国有、集体企业、乡镇企业的，享受前列条款规定的优惠政策。

第三章　用地扶持政策
第十三条　外来投资企业用地，可依法通过出让、租赁等方式获得土地使用权。对重点项目、高科技项目可按国家规定的最高年期办理土地出让手续。通过出让获得土地使用权者，其土地可以依法转让、出租、抵押，使用年期届满时，用地者可优先续期。
第十四条　外来投资者新建生产性项目，可以采取协议出让方式取得土地；外来投资者投资建设基础设施和社会公益事业项目，可采取行政划拨方式提供土地；投资经营性项目用地，应经过招拍挂市场取得土地使用权。投资高新技术企业、重点规模工业企业及附加值高、效益好的项目，应优先予以保障用地。
第十五条　市、县政府可根据工业项目的投资密度、税收贡献和就业岗位等实施地价补贴。
1、每亩土地固定资产投资强度达到《工业用地项目建设用地控制指标》（国土资发［2004］232号）规定的最低投资强度和容积率控制指标的工业用地项目，其固定资产投资每亩增加3.5万元，地价补贴1%。
2、工业用地项目每亩土地在提供2个就业岗位的基础上，每增加0.5个就业岗位，地价补贴1%；每亩缴纳税金上2万元的企业，其缴纳税金每增加1000元，地价补贴1%。
3、列为世界500强的企业用地，地价一次补贴30%；列为全国500强的企业用地，地价一次补贴20%；产品属国家驰名商标的企业用地，地价一次补贴10%。
4、无“三废”排放和噪声的工业企业，地价一次补贴5%。
5、经有权机关批准认定的高新技术项目，地价补贴10%；对拥有自主知识产权、人均产值高、市场前景好的高新技术项目，可采取特事特办的政策，在地价上给予特殊补贴。
6、以上地价实行累计补贴，累计补贴幅度在基准地价（评估认定价）的30%以内的，经市国土资源管理委员会研究，通过土地使用权出让合同约定浮动地价，先按预期指标一次性补贴，约定期限到期重新核算地价，多退少补；对累计补贴幅度在基准地价30%以上的，经市委、市政府研究，用地时先补贴30%，差额部分自获税年度起，由财政以企业所缴纳税中地方留成部分的50%逐年补贴给企业用于技改等扩大再生产。

第四章　收费优惠政策
第十六条　外来投资者新办企业（房地产开发企业除外）办理各种证照时，除工本费、代省收取的行政事业性收费和上级明文规定不能减免的收费以外，免收其他行政事业性收费。
第十七条　固定资产投资在500万元以上的新办外来投资企业，自投产之日起，三年内除水资源费、环保排污费及超标排污费、污水处理费、工本费，以及代省收取的行政事业性收费外，免收其他行政事业性收费。经营服务性收费，按物价部门核准的最低标准收费。产品出口企业和高新技术企业经批准可免缴水资源费。
第十八条　对所有涉及外来投资企业的收费项目，除国家、省有明确规定和前列条款有规定的，均按低限征收。
第十九条　外来投资者新建生产性项目，减免城市基础设施配套费，由市、县人民政府审定。
第五章　金融优惠政策
第二十条　外来投资企业向我市金融机构申请贷款，只要符合国家信贷政策和贷款条件，金融机构给予贷款支持。
第二十一条　境外法人或自然人在我市筹建外商投资企业，可以申请开立临时外汇帐户。
第二十二条　外来投资企业在开立基本帐户的金融机构提取现金，只要用途合理，如实进行申报，金融机构给予方便。
第二十三条　外来投资者兼并、收购我市企业，按国家信贷政策，经批准，对所承担的被兼并收购企业的贷款给予停、缓、减照顾。
第二十四条　境外投资者获得的利润和其他合法收入，可依法汇出境外。

第六章　其他优惠政策
第二十五条　外来投资者开发建设小区、公园、学校、医院、道路、绿地，视其固定资产投资规模，经有关部门批准，可以零价或优价出让开发范围内的冠名权、空间广告使用权等无形资产，以提高投资者知名度，树立投资者形象。
第二十六条　凡到我市投资的外来投资者，经本人申请，可为本人、配偶、子女和父母一次性办理城镇居民户口，除工本费外免收其他费用；企业所雇用的大专以上或中级以上职称管理人员、技术人员，可办理城镇居民户口，除工本费外免收其他费用。
第二十七条　外来投资者的子女在就业方面与本市居民享受同等待遇，在入托、就学等方面尊重投资者的选择及时予以安排，对投资额在1000万元以上的，选校费给予全免。
第二十八条　经批准，外来投资企业固定资产可实行加速折旧。
第二十九条　外来投资企业按政策规定的标准向政府社会保障管理部门缴纳的养老保险、待业（失业）保险等社会保障性质的保险费用（或基金），经税务部门批准，可在税前扣除。
第三十条　外来投资企业所需的水、电、气、热、运输、通讯条件等，有关部门优先安排，服务收费标准按本地企业标准执行。
第三十一条　外来投资企业和技术人员取得科技成果的，享受我市科学技术奖励办法的奖励。
第三十二条　外来投资企业建成投产后，由当地政府按当年入库税收的地方留成部分的下列比例奖励企业法人代表和有功人员：入库税收（四舍五入）50—100万元，奖励2%； 101—150万元部分，奖励3%；150万元以上部分，奖励5%。外来投资者参股对我市老企业进行嫁接改造的，上缴税金的地方所得部分比上年增长20—30%、31—50%、51%以上的，分别按增长部分的5%、6%、7%奖励外来投资者及企业有关人员。连续奖励两年。
第三十三条　对我市的外商投资企业和在其中工作的外籍人士的服务价格，实行国民待遇。
第七章　附　则
第三十四条　重点招商引资项目和符合国家颁布的高新技术产品目录项目，可实行一事一议，一企一策，特事特办的政策。
第三十五条　招商引资优惠政策审批、执行程序：
1、外来投资企业向内江市对外开放暨招商引资领导小组提出享受优惠政策的申请，并提供相关材料。
2、内江市对外开放暨招商引资领导小组办公室（设在内江市招商引资局）初审材料，到现场和有关部门调查核实，提出对申请享受优惠政策的企业的初步优惠意见。
3、内江市对外开放暨招商引资领导小组每季度定期研究一次招商引资优惠政策的兑现，根据本规定，对领导小组办公室提出的初步优惠意见进行讨论，做出对申请享受优惠政策的企业的最终优惠决定。
4、制发《内江市对外开放暨招商引资领导小组关于对×××实行优惠政策的决定》（以下简称《决定》），送达有关市级部门，并向申请优惠政策的企业回复。
5、有关市级部门按《决定》兑现优惠政策。税收减免的兑现，由税务部门审批落实。财政扶持的兑现，由纳税人申报，年初根据年度经营计划提出预计数，经招商、财政、税务、劳动社保部门审查后，报市政府审批，由市财政局再根据市政府审定的数额下达企业年度控制预算；市财政局根据企业实际缴纳的税费、提供就业等情况，按季兑现，年终清算，进行追加或追减。对外来投资企业或外来投资参股企业法人代表和有功人员纳税的奖励，由纳税人申报，经招商、财政、税务、劳动社保部门审查后，报市政府审批，由市财政局一年兑现一次。收费政策的兑现，由财政、物价等有关执收部门办理。土地政策的兑现，由财政、土地部门负责办理有关手续。户籍政策的兑现，由公安部门负责办理有关手续。
第三十六条　本规定适用于在内江缴纳流转税和企业所得税的外来投资企业。本市投资者在市内投资企业或项目的，可参照本规定执行。
第三十七条　除本规定外，本市内的外来投资企业同时享受省及以上的相关优惠政策。
第三十八条　本规定自发布之日起执行。如国家有关政策发生变化，本优惠政策作相应调整。
第三十九条　自本规定发布之日起,市政府2002年24号令同时废止，市政府其它有关政策与本规定不一致的，按本规定执行。本规定实施前在我市投资的客商及其企业或项目，除国家政策有重大变化的，原则上执行投资时的承诺及优惠政策。本规定由内江市对外开放暨招商引资领导小组办公室（内江市招商引资局）负责解释。