摘要近年来，在国际经济合作中最引人注目的动向之一，是区域性或双边自由贸易协定(ITA)的发展。例如，美国已与一些国家达成了VIA协议，其与南美洲国家进行的美洲自由贸易区(Free Trade Area of American，简称FFAA)的谈判也预期于2005年结束，届时美洲自由贸易区将成为包括34个国家在内、具有8亿人口的最大的自由贸易区。
2UNCTAD, International Investment Agreements: Flexibility for Development, pp. 94-103, UNCTAD/ITE/IIT/18, UN, New York & Geneva,2000.
3UNCTAD, International Investment Agreements: Flexibility for Development, p. 101, UNCTAD/ITE/IIT/18, UN, New York & Geneva, 2000.
4Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Korea for the Liberalisation, Promotion and Protection of Investment, Article 2, 4, 5, Annex Ⅰ, and Annex Ⅱ.
5Patricia Mekinsty Robin, The BIT Won't Bite, The American Bilateral Investment Treaty Program, 33 Am U L Rev.931, 949 (1984) .
6Kenneth J Vandevelde, U S. ilateral Investment Treaties: The Second Wave, 14 Mich J. Int' 1 L. 621.
7U S Department of State, U S Bilateral Investment Treay Program, Sept 15, 2004, http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/fs/22422.htm(last visited Oc-tober 1. 2004) .
8U S Department of State, Update of U S Bilateral Investment Treaty (Feb 5, 2004), http://www.state.gov/e/eb/ds/prsrl/2004/28923.htm(last visited October 1, 2004) .
