《外国国家豁免法》中商业活动例外问题研究

Research on the Issue of Commercial Activity Exception in the Foreign State Immunity Act

摘要: 商业活动是限制豁免主义的核心概念，商业活动例外是国家豁免立法中最常被援引的条款，也是国家豁免领域最复杂的问题之一。《中华人民共和国外国国家豁免法》(下称外国国家豁免法)第七条规定了商业活动例外规则。仅从立法层面看，援引商业活动例外条款需满足以下四点，其一主体符合外国国家概念，其二被诉行为被认为是商业活动，其三商业活动与诉讼具有实际联系，其四商业活动与法院地国家具有领土联系。就具体适用而言，《外国国家豁免法》中商业活动例外规则并不十分明确，在实际适用中，对商业活动的判断标准、援引条件规定、与其他法律衔接问题等方面可能会出现种种问题，因此需要在商业活动判断标准上坚持性质为首，把握其中是否存在公权力；援引时应把握立法中的价值取向，审慎适用；协调法律衔接；尽快出台司法解释和指导案例的方式明确商业活动例外规则的适用，以期《外国国家豁免法》发挥出真正的价值。

Abstract: Commercial activities constitute a core concept within the doctrine of restrictive immunity, and the commercial activity exception stands as one of the most frequently invoked provisions in national immunity legislation, as well as one of the most complex issues in this field. Article 7 of the Foreign State Immunity Law of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Foreign State Immunity Act) establishes the commercial activity exception rule. From a legislative perspective, invoking this exception requires meeting four criteria: (1) the subject falls within the definition of a foreign state; (2) the alleged conduct qualifies as a commercial activity; (3) the commercial activity bears a substantial connection to the litigation; and (4) the commercial activity has a territorial link to the forum state. In practical application, however, the commercial activity exception under the FSIL remains inadequately defined. Challenges may arise in areas such as determining the immunity of state-owned enterprises, establishing criteria for identifying commercial activities, interpreting invocation conditions, and harmonizing interactions with other legal frameworks. In practical application, the commercial activity exception under the Foreign State Immunity Act lacks sufficient clarity. Issues are likely to arise concerning the criteria for characterizing commercial activities, the conditions for invoking the exception, and its coordination with other legal regimes. Consequently, it is necessary to: adhere to a nature-based test as the primary criterion for determining commercial activities, focusing on whether public authority is exercised; ensure that any invocation of the exception is consistent with the underlying values of the legislation and applied prudently; enhance legal coherence across relevant statutes; and promptly issue judicial interpretations and guiding cases to clarify the application of the commercial activity exception. These steps are essential to realizing the true purpose and value of the Foreign State Immunity Act.