美式小多边主义与美国重塑全球经贸体系

2016年特朗普当选美国总统之后,美国在国际舞台的一系列举措被描述为"退群""针对多边主义的逆流而动"。拜登执政之后,不仅没有致力于恢复世界贸易组织争端解决机制的全面运行,而且积极推进所谓的"民主同盟"和"价值观同盟"。美国的表现并不能笼统地概括成"逆全球化",而更宜理解为边缘化现有多边主义机制,转向积极推进多个双边、区域自由贸易协定,依照自身意志重塑全球规则体系,再造对美国有利的全球化,形成一种全新的"小多边主义"安排。美式小多边主义的动因在于多边主义的内在症结及其对美国产生的贸易劣势;美式小多边主义具有迅速、灵活、俱乐部形态和以美国优先为核心理念的主要特征;美式小多边主义的主要诉求在于把握新型国际经贸规则制定主动权,人为消除对美国的"不公平贸易行为"以及围堵中国。拜登政府执政并没有办法改变包括WTO机制低效笨拙等在内的多边主义的内在缺陷,以小多边策略实现遏制中国的首要战略目的仍是重要的政策选项。

US Minilateralism and Its Remolding of the Global Trade System

A series of moves taken by the United States after Donald Trump was elected in 2016 have been described as“withdrawing from international institutions”and“acting against the trend of multilateralism.”After taking office,not only has Biden failed to address the impasse regarding the WTO dispute settlement mechanism,but also actively promoted the so-called alliance of democracy or a values-based alliance.Rather than simply viewed in an“anti-globalization”light,these moves should be seen as an attempt to marginalize the existing multilateral institutions,and prioritize bilateral and regional free trade agreements.The US is in fact resorting to minilateralism to try to remold the global rules and promote pro-US globalization.This stems from its deep dissatisfaction with the present multilateralism and the resultant trade disadvantage the US suffers.Key features of US-centered minilateralism include efficiency,flexibility,the club-like format,and the idea of American first.The main objectives of US minilateralism are to take the lead in international rule-making for new forms of trade and economic affairs,combat“unfair trade practices”against the US,and contain China.Since the Biden administration will not be able to overcome the main drawbacks of multilateralism such as low efficiency of the WTO,using minilateralism to contain China will remain an important policy option.