世(shi)界(jie)貿易組織(WTO)部(bu)長(chang)(chang)級會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)議是(shi)世(shi)界(jie)貿易組織最高決策機構,原(yuan)則上每兩年(nian)召開一次會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)議,由各(ge)個成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)國政府派(pai)部(bu)長(chang)(chang)率領代(dai)表團出席(xi),各(ge)方可充分討(tao)論(lun)和(he)(he)決定涉(she)及(ji)世(shi)貿組織職能的(de)所有(you)重要問題,并(bing)采取行動,它對世(shi)貿組織的(de)發展具有(you)重要意(yi)義。在WTO日常(chang)(chang)運(yun)行中,盡(jin)管有(you)部(bu)長(chang)(chang)級會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)議、總理事會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)、理事會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)和(he)(he)委員(yuan)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)四個級別的(de)權(quan)力機構,但由于成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)間(jian)立場不同、分歧較大(da),加之(zhi)其議事規則是(shi)“近乎苛刻”的(de)“協商一致(zhi)原(yuan)則”,164個成(cheng)(cheng)員(yuan)很難在日常(chang)(chang)談(tan)判中達成(cheng)(cheng)一致(zhi)意(yi)見,往(wang)(wang)往(wang)(wang)把希望寄托(tuo)在部(bu)長(chang)(chang)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)上。因此,歷(li)屆部(bu)長(chang)(chang)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)都會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)成(cheng)(cheng)為“萬眾(zhong)矚目”的(de)焦點(dian)。
部長級會議(yi)的主要職(zhi)(zhi)能(neng)是:任(ren)命世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織總干事(shi)(shi)并(bing)制定(ding)(ding)(ding)有關規(gui)則;確定(ding)(ding)(ding)總干事(shi)(shi)的權力(li)、職(zhi)(zhi)責、任(ren)職(zhi)(zhi)條件和(he)(he)任(ren)期以及秘書處工作人員(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的職(zhi)(zhi)責及任(ren)職(zhi)(zhi)條件;對(dui)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織協定(ding)(ding)(ding)和(he)(he)多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)易協定(ding)(ding)(ding)做出(chu)解釋;豁(huo)免某成員(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)對(dui)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織協定(ding)(ding)(ding)和(he)(he)其(qi)它多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)易協定(ding)(ding)(ding)所承(cheng)擔(dan)的義務;審議(yi)其(qi)成員(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)對(dui)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織協定(ding)(ding)(ding)或(huo)多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)易協定(ding)(ding)(ding)提(ti)出(chu)修改的動議(yi);決(jue)定(ding)(ding)(ding)是否接納申請加入世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織的國家或(huo)地區為世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織成員(yuan)(yuan)(yuan);決(jue)定(ding)(ding)(ding)世(shi)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)組織協定(ding)(ding)(ding)及多(duo)(duo)邊(bian)貿(mao)(mao)(mao)(mao)易協定(ding)(ding)(ding)生效的日期等。