Abstract
This chapter explains that although there are various methods of treaty interpretation and although an interpreter almost always starts from identifying the ordinary meanings of the textual wording, these methods are not subject to rigid sequence and hierarchy in their application. The interpreter will be bound by the good faith requirement and conduct an overall/holistic assessment after having resorted to various interpretation methods. The chapter also explains the needed flexibility for the interpreter when conducting treaty interpretation.
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Notes
- 1.
Gardiner (2015), p. 10.
- 2.
Panel Report, United States—Sections 301–310 of the Trade Act 1974, para. 7.22, WTO Doc. WT/DS152/R (adopted 27 Jan 2000) [hereinafter US—Section 301 Trade Act Panel Report].
- 3.
Appellate Body Report, European Communities—Customs Classification of Frozen Boneless Chicken Cut, para. 176, WTO Doc. WT/DS269/AB/R, WT/DS286/AB/R, WT/DS269/AB/R/Corr.1, WT/DS286/AB/R/Corr.1 (adopted 27 Sept 2005) [hereinafter EC—Chicken Cuts Appellate Body Report].
- 4.
Qureshi (2015), p. 205.
- 5.
Appellate Body Report, United States—Import Prohibition of Certain Shrimp and Shrimp Products, para. 114, WTO Doc. WT/DS58/AB/R (adopted 6 Nov 1998).
- 6.
Appellate Body Report, United States—Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services, para. 164, fn. 191, WTO Doc. WT/DS285/AB/R, WT/DS285/AB/R/Corr.1 (adopted 20 Apr 2005).
- 7.
EC—Chicken Cuts Appellate Body Report, supra note 3, at para. 175.
- 8.
US—Section 301 Trade Act Panel Report, supra note 2, at para. 7.22.
- 9.
Ruse-Khan (2010), p. 164.
- 10.
Appellate Body Report, United States—Definitive Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties on Certain Products from China, para. 326, WTO Doc. WT/DS379/AB/R (adopted 25 Mar 2011).
- 11.
EC—Chicken Cuts Appellate Body Report, supra note 3, at para. 176.
- 12.
Appellate Body Report, United States—Continued Existence and Application of Zeroing Methodology, para. 268, WTO Doc. WT/DS350/AB/R (adopted 19 Feb 2009).
- 13.
Pronto and Wood (2010), p. 784.
- 14.
EC—Chicken Cuts Appellate Body Report, supra note 3, at para. 283.
References
Gardiner RK (2015) Treaty interpretation, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Pronto A, Wood M (2010) The International Law Commission: 1999–2009, Volume IV: treaties, final draft articles, and other materials. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Qureshi AH (2015) Interpreting WTO agreements: problems and perspectives, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Ruse-Khan HG (2010) A real partnership for development? Sustainable development as treaty objective in European economic partnership agreements and beyond. J Int Econ Law 13:139–180
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Lo, Cf. (2017). Sequence, Hierarchy, Good Faith, Holistic Interpretation and the Possible Codification. In: Treaty Interpretation Under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6866-9_17
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