Public Law Studies Quarterly

The WTO’s Approach to Renewable Energies in Theory and Practice

Document Type : Article

Authors

Hatam Sadeghi Ziazi
Somayehsadat Mirilavasani
Zahra Ziafati Sabbagh

Assistant Professor Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2021.298939.2350
Abstract
World Trade Organisation which replaced GATT, has entered new domains in addition to General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT); e.g. trade aspects of intellectual property and anti-dumping measures. In some of them like TRIPS, it’s pioneer in rule-setting and in some like subsidies, it is the first time that mandatory rules have been envisaged. In Doha negotiations, commenced since 2001, following the organization's ministerial conference, many subjects have been put forward like environment in addition to conventional issues like tariff reduction except for energy,  and only renewable energies are visible in WTO practice. The present paper tries  to find the place of (renewable) energy in main WTO agreements and practice using a descriptive-analytical approach, and concludes that (renewable) energy lacks enough attention in the organisation's agreements and practice. It tries to give practical solutions for improvement of this kind of energy in WTO, suggest that the issue of energy be included as a comprehensive agreement in WTO's negotiation agenda.

Keywords

agreement
energy
dispute settlement body
GATT
renewable energy
WTO (world trade organization)
Subjects

  1. English

    1. A) Books
      1. Selivanova, Y. (2008). Energy Dual Pricing in WTO Law: Analysis and Prospects in the Context of Russia’s Accession to the WTO. London: Cameron May.
      2. Selivanova, Y. (ed.) (2011). Regulation of Energy in International Trade Law: WTO, NAFTA and Energy Charter. Kluwer Law International.
      3. Stewart, T. p. (1999) (ed.). The GATT Uruguay Round: A Negotiating History (1986- 1992). Kluwer International.
      4. Venn, F. (2013). The Oil Crisis. London: Routledge.

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Batra, M.; & Bafna, N. (2018). Renewable Energy: The WTO’s Position on Local Content Requirements. Energy Law Journal, 39, 401- 426.
    3. Cottier, T.; et al (2010). Energy in WTO law and policy, WTO working paper, available at: https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/wtr10_forum_e/wtr10_7may10_e.pdf
    4. De Bivre, D.; Espa, I.; & Poletti, A. (2016), Actual and Potential WTO Disputes on Subsidies fr Fossil and Renewable Energy, International Conference on Global Public Goods, Globl Commons and Democracy: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, Ku Leuven, Leuven Centre for Globl Governance Studies.
    5. Espa, I.; & Duran, G. M. (2018). Renewable Energy Subsidies and WTO Law: Time to Rethink the Case for Reform Beyond Canada – Renewable Energy/Fit Program, Journal of International Economic Law, 21, 621–653
    6. Farah, P. D.; & Cima, E. (2013). Energy Trade and the WTO Implications for Renewable Energy and the OPEC Cartel, Journal of international Economic law, 16 (3), 707-740.
    7. Sakmar, S. L. (2012). Bringing Energy Trade into the WTO: The Historical Context, Current Status, and Potential Implications for the Middle East Region, Indiana International & Comparative Law Review, 18(1), 89-111.
    8. Selivanova (2012), The Energy Charter and the International Energy Governance,  European Yearbook of International Economic Law, 307-342
    9. Wenzlau, S. (2018), Renewable Energy Subsidies and the WTO. University of California Davis Journal, 41(2), 337-365
    10. Ya Qin, J. (2003). WTO-Plus' Obligations and Their Implications for the World Trade Organization Legal System - an Appraisal of the China Accession Protocol. Journal of World Trade, 37(3), 483-522

     

    1. C) Book Chapters
    2. Chapter 2: National Treatment Principle. In: 2016 Report on Compliance by Major Trading Partners with Trade Agreements- WTO, EPA/FTA and IIA, pp. 273-280 available at: https://www.meti.go.jp/english/report/data/2016WTO/pdf/02_03.pdf
    3. Tacoa-Vielma, J. (2003). Defining Energy Services for the GATS: An issue under Discussion. In: Energy and Environmental Services: Negotiating Objectives and Development Priorities, UNCTAD, United Nations, New York, Geneva, pp. 70-84.

     

    1. D) Documents and Reports
    2. Selivanova Yulia (2007). The WTO and Energy, WTO Rules and Agreements of Relevance to the Energy Sector, Energy Charter Secretariat, available at: https://www.ictsd.org/sites/default/files/research/2012/03/the-wto-and-energy.pdf.
    3. UNCTAD (2003). Energy and Environmental Services: Negotiating Objectives and Development Priorities, New York/Geneva, UNCTAD, United Nations, available at: https://www.ictsd.org/sites/default/files/research/2012/03/the-wto-and-energy.pdf
    4. UNCTAD (2000). Trade Agreement, Petroleum and Energy Policies, UNCTAD/ ITCD/ TSB/9, New York/Geneva, United Nations UNCTAD.
    5. E) WTO Documents
    6. Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMs) (1994). WTO, available at: https://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/18-trims.pdf
    7. GATT Panel Report on US – Superfund, in WTO Dispute Settlement Reports, (2005), vol. xiii, Cambridge University Press
    8. Lamy, Pascal (2007). Doha Round will benefit energy trade, available at: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/sppl_e/sppl80_e.htm
    9. Technical Information on anti-dumping. WTO, available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/adp_e/adp_info_e.htm
    10. Trade without discrimination. WTO, available at: https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/fact2_e.htm

     

    1. F) WTO Cases
    2. WTO DS 412 (2014).Canada — Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, available at: https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/DS/412R.pdf&Open=True.
    3. WTO DS419 (2011). China — Measures concerning wind power equipment, available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds419_e.htm.
    4. WTO DS426 (2014). Canada — Measures Relating to the Feed-in Tariff Program, available at: https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/DS/412R.pdf&Open=True.
    5. WTO DS449 (2015). United States — Countervailing and Anti-dumping Measures on Certain Products from China, available at: https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/DS/449ABR.pdf&Open=True
    6. WTO DS452 (2012). European Union and certain Member States — Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds452_e.htm
    7. WTO DS 456 (2018) India — Certain Measures Relating to Solar Cells and Solar Modules, available at: https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/DS/456R.pdf&Open=True
    8. WTO DS473 (2016). European Union — Anti-Dumping Measures on Biodiesel from Argentina, available at: https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/DS/473R.pdf&Open=True
    9. WTO DS510 (2019). United States — Certain Measures Relating to the Renewable Energy Sector, available at: https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/DS/510R.pdf&Open=True
    10. WTO DS563 (2018). United States — Certain Measures Related to Renewable Energy, https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds563_e.htm

     

    References in Persian:

    1. A) Books
    1. Irvani, M. J. (2003). Understanding the WTO, Tehran, Institute For Trade Studies and Research (In Persian).
    2. Sadeghi Shahdani, S. M. (2015). “Globalization of the Energy Sector through the WTO”, Strategic Studies of Public Policy Journal, 4 (12),  107-132 (In Persian).

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Fateh, A.; & Hosseini Sadrabadi, I. (2017). “The Approach of World Trade Organization (WTO) Towards Renewable Energies”, Journal of Researches Energy Law Studies, 3 ( 2),  309-337,  DOI: 22059/JRELS.2018.241462.146 (In Persian).
    3. Habibi Dabbagh, Mohsen (2011), “Membership in WTO and Oil-Dependent Economies”. Quarterly Energy Economics Review, 8 (28), 153-178 (In Persian).
    4. Haerian Ardekani, M. (2002). “Oil and WTO”, Journal of Huanities of AlZahra University, 12-13 (44-45), 129-153 (In Persian).
    5. Hossein, A. (2001). “GATT and WTO Effects on Oil Exporting Countries”, Journal of Energy Economy, 2 (3), 36-45 (In Persian).
    6. Sadeghi Shahdani, S. M. (2015). WTO and its Approach to Energy, National Centre for Globalisation (In Persian).
    7. Shahbazi, A. (2009). “The Companionship of the Energy Sector and WTO Regulations; Facts, Challenges and Prospects”, Journal of Legal Research, 8 (16), 255-288 (In Persian).
    8. Shiravi, A.; & Farhanjam, M. (2018). “Energy Dual Pricing in WTO Practice”, Academic Journal of Legal Studies, 10 (4), 131-163, DOI: 22099/jls.2019.5206 (In Persian).
    9. Zhimenerguera, A.; & Jesmi, Y. (translator) (2002). “WTO and Oil”, Journal of Energy Economy, 43, 17-23 (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly
Volume 54, Issue 2 - Serial Number 38
Summer 2024
Spring 2024
Pages 861-882

  • Receive Date 04 March 2020
  • Revise Date 03 August 2021
  • Accept Date 08 November 2021

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