Principles of Law and Interpretation ofWTO Regulations

Like a number of international treaties, provisions of WTO Agreements are subject to ambiguities and problems. Hence, interpretation of WTO provisions is of great importance to Dispute Settlement Body of World Trade Organization and international trade lawyers. In this regard, using general principles of law provided, particularly, by Articles 31 and 32 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) require special attention. This Article intends to provide an answer to this question: To what extent are these principles able to affect the interpretation of WTO provisions. By considering different interpretation methods, this Article shows that the general principles of law play an undeniable role in interpreting and understanding the provisions of WTO. Applying these principles assists the panels and appellate body to discharge their function and lead to convergence between WTO and other international legal systems. This approach has been affirmed by WTO Dispute Settlement Body.