Even the notion that this is about protecting foreign firms is a ruse: companies based in country A can set up a subsidiary in country B to sue country A’s government. American courts, for example, have consistently ruled that corporations need not be compensated for the loss of profits from a change in regulations (a so-called regulatory taking); but, under the typical investment agreement, a foreign firm (or an American firm, operating through a foreign subsidiary) can demand compensation!
即使是这事关保护外国企业的概念也只是一条诡计：以A国为总部的公司可以在B国开设分公司起诉A国政府。比如，美国法院一直判定不必因为监管变化导致的利润损失（所谓的监管征收）赔偿公司；但是，在典型的投资协定中，外国企业（或者通过外国分公司经营的美国企业）可以要求赔偿！