A Critical Analysis of the Appellate Body's Interpretation of the Concept of 'Likeness' as Found in Article III GATT

Abstract

This paper set out to analyses the Appellate Body's interpretation of 'likeness' in Article III The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), this analysis is based on the backdrop of increasingly dynamic and extensive trade between countries around the world. The development of goods exchanged has contributed to a boom in international trade, but also has inevitably given rise to a number of disputes. This paper gives an account that these trade disputes mainly stem from disagreement in the interpretation of keywords in the GATT provisions. This is why the interpretation of 'likeness' is important, the understanding of 'likeness' directly affects whether a country's adoption of different policies for products violates its national obligations under GATT. In this article, the Appellate Body's interpretation of 'likeness' is analysed with a focus on the cases of Alcoholic Beverages II (1996) and EC-Asbestos (2000). The Appellate Body's approach to the interpretation of 'likeness' in these two cases is analysed, as well as the logic and rationality of this interpretation. The validity of the Appellate Body interpretation is also analysed in light of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT). This essay analysed and found that the Appellate Body's interpretation of 'likeness' is both comprehensive and consistent with the general principles of treaty interpretation of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties(VCLT). However, there are some drawbacks such as the Appellate Body's interpretation of 'likeness' is too vague and subjective and based on only a single method of interpretation.