（二）《TRIMS协定》的效力高于成员的国内立法
WTO协定第16条第4款明确规定：Each Member shall ensure the conformity of its laws, regulations and administrative procedures with its obligations as provided in the annexed Agreements. 这意味着对于WTO成员来讲，WTO规则具有强行性，也就是说WTO规则是各成员必须遵守的。这表现在WTO规则与成员的国内法关系上，WTO规则的效力高于成员的国内立法的效力，如果成员的国内立法与WTO规则不一致，有关成员应修改其国内法，使之与WTO规则相一致。《TRIMS协定》第5条第2款规定体现了这一精神：Each Member shall eliminate all TRIMs which are notified under paragraph 1 within two years of the date of entry into force of the WTO Agreement in the case of a developed country Member, within five years in the case of a developing country Member, and within seven years in the case of a least-developed country Member.可见，《TRIMS协定》所禁止的投资措施通常是东道国外资立法内容的一部分，即WTO的许多成员方将不得不因《TRIMS协定》的制定与生效而在协定规定期限内修改、删除其外资法中与《TRIMS协定》不相符的条款。