investor-state disputes | ISDS

Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) refers to a way of handling conflicts under international investment agreements whereby companies from one party are allowed to sue the government of another party. This means they can file a complaint and seek compensation for damages. Many BITs and investment chapters of FTAs allow for this if the investor’s expectation of a profit has been negatively affected by some action that the host government took, such as changing a policy. The dispute is normally handled not in a public court but through a private abritration panel. The usual venues where these proceedings take place are the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (World Bank), the International Chamber of Commerce, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law or the International Court of Justice.

ISDS is a hot topic right now because it is being challenged very strongly by concerned citizens in the context of the EU-US TTIP negotiations, the TransPacific Partnership talks and the CETA deal between Canada and the EU.

Tech Dirt | 21-Nov-2017
The MIC would be able to create what amount to global laws, without any democratic input or scrutiny.
Xinhua | 20-Nov-2017
Empresas de hidrocarburos de México, Estados Unidos y Canadá rechazaron la propuesta de cláusula de extinción en el Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (TLCAN).
Ámbito | 20-Nov-2017
El Gobierno pidió al tribunal de resolución de controversias del Banco Mundial (CIADI) la anulación de la condena por la cual Argentina deberá pagar u$s 320,7 millones por expropiar Aerolíneas en el 2008.
Korea Herald | 20-Nov-2017
Samsung Engineering has filed an investor-state dispute settlement suit against Saudi Arabia over changes made to its power plant construction contracts for Yanbu Industrial City.
WRadio | 17-Nov-2017
La demanda que la empresa de telecomunicaciones estadounidense Italba Corporation interpuso contra Uruguay por revocarle una licencia carece de méritos jurisdiccionales y de fondo, alegó el gobierno del país suramericano en una audiencia ante el organismo internacional que aborda este asunto.
CNCD 11.11.11 | 17-Nov-2017
Au-delà du CETA, signé en octobre 2017 par l’Union européenne et le Canada et très médiatisé, l’Europe négocie une kyrielle de traités commerciaux à travers toute la planète.
Friends of the Earth Europe | 16-Nov-2017
English translation of the German Association of Judges opinion on the proposal for the Multilateral Investment Court system (MIC).
Bloomberg | 15-Nov-2017
An international arbitration tribunal in February will begin trial on Vodafone’s challenge to India using a retrospective legislation to seek Rs 22,100 crore in taxes.
Le Figaro | 15-Nov-2017
La société ferroviaire américaine Omnitrax a menacé de saisir le tribunal d’arbitrage prévu par l’Accord de libre-échange nord-américain (Aléna) pour régler le désaccord qui l’oppose au gouvernement canadien sur la réparation d’une voie de chemin de fer.
L’Orient le Jour | 15-Nov-2017
Une grande partie du problème tient aux traités bilatéraux et aux dispositions sur l’investissement inscrites dans les accords commerciaux plus généraux.