Do Economic Free Zones Pass Legal Scrutiny?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Abbreviations
Acknowledgements
Introductory Remarks

Part I The Zones

1. From Ancient China to Internet and Media
2. The Legal Construction
3. Outlook

Part II The Nature of International Law

Part III Lex Lata – Established Law

1. General Principles of Law
2. Customary International Law
2.1 Multilateral Instruments
2.1.1 The World Bank Guidelines
2.1.2 The Multilateral Agreement on Investment
2.1.3 Regional Treaties
2.2 Bilateral Investment Treaties
2.3 National Law
2.4 Conclusion
3. Other Sources of Law
4. Treaty Law
4.1 Multilateral Instruments in General
4.2 The World Trade Organization
4.2.1 The TRIMs Agreement
4.2.2 Subsidies
4.2.3 The GATS
5. Conclusion

Part IV Lex Ferenda – Conflicts and Developments

1. Potential Conflicts of Law
1.1 International Law on FDI vis-à-vis Free Zones
1.1.1 State Sovereignty and Free Zones
1.1.2 State Contracts and Acquired Rights
1.1.3 Conflict Solving
1.2 WTO Law in General
1.3 Subsidies
2. Possibly Emerging Law
2.1 General International Law
2.2 Trade-Related WTO Law
2.3 Towards a Multilateral Investment Agreement?
3. Conclusion

Bibliography

Annex I
States bound by the Agreement on SCM as of June 2003

Annex II
States in the process of accession to the WTO

Annex III
LDCs that are WTO members as of June 2003

Annex IV
States with a GNP below $ 1,000 as of June 2003

Annex V
States which have negotiated exceptions (to various extents) from the Agreement on SCM until January 1, 2008