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.

Tercera Información | 3-Dec-2016
El Parlamento Europeo ha rechazado una resolución para someter el polémico Sistema Judicial de Inversiones incluído en el acuerdo comercial entre la UE y Canadá, el CETA, al escrutinio del Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea (TJCE).
CNN | 2-Dec-2016
Trump could begin with a controversial chapter of NAFTA that some experts believe allows a company to go head-to-head with a foreign country — an idea that bothers some.
Le Soir | 2-Dec-2016
Selon le ministre-président wallon, le fédéral tarde à honorer un de ses engagements.
El Salvador | 1-Dec-2016
El conflicto entre la empresa minera Pacific Rim, podría seguir, ya que la empresa no solo dilata el pago de la indemnización de $8 millones impuesta por el CIADI, sino que ha iniciado acercamientos con representantes del gobierno salvadoreño en un intento por conseguir permiso para explotar oro y plata en Cabañas.
Jakarta Post | 1-Dec-2016
Indonesia will seek a win-win outcome for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the European Union, having exchanged views on a number of crucial sticking points ahead of the next round of negotiations in January.
Oil Voice | 1-Dec-2016
The Paris Court of Appeals confirmed the validity and enforceability of both awards.
La Libre | 30-Nov-2016
La crise du mois d’octobre dernier était peut-être inutile.
Gestión | 30-Nov-2016
El CIADI emitió un laudo final a través del cual ordena que Grupo Renco y el Estado peruano paguen sus propios costos jurídicos ocasionados por el procedimiento arbitral en el caso Doe Run.
El País | 30-Nov-2016
El canciller se queja de que acuerdo con Japón está “trancado”.
Vieuws | 30-Nov-2016
The European Commission wants to give a strong push within the EU and around the globe for the establishment of a multilateral investment dispute settlement system.