China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Arbitration Rules, which legal experts say are tailored for the FTZ and consistent with international standards, were published on Tuesday.

The rules, which consist of 10 chapters and 85 articles, include innovations that are brought into the country for the first time and are the outcome of giving full consideration to the characteristics of businesses in the FTZ, said Huang Wen, deputy secretary-general of Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, which founded the court of arbitration for the FTZ in October.

One thing novel in the rules, which will become effective as of May 1, is that people can choose arbitrators outside the panel of mediators.