CEO | 3 July 2014
TTIP: debunking the business propaganda over investor rights
The European Commission’s plan to enshrine sweeping rights for foreign investors in the proposed EU-US trade deal (TTIP) continues to draw heavy criticism, in particular the right for corporations to sue governments in private tribunals. In response, industry lobby groups, law firms, and arbitrators have launched a tooth and nail defence of the business power grab. See through their propaganda with Corporate Europe Observatory’s guide to investment arbitration under TTIP.
Here’s the list of top-10 misleading claims that we tackle:
– #1: More investor rights bring more investment
– #2: Investor-state arbitration is independent and impartial
– #3: The system is not pro-investor, but fair
– #4: Investment deals only protect investors against extreme sovereign abuse
– #5: Laws and regulations cannot be revoked by investment tribunals
– #6: ISDS is an established system which has not curbed the right to regulate
– #7: EU members have not been sued under existing treaties with the US
– #8: Without investment arbitration the investor rights cannot be enforced
– #9: We need ISDS in TTIP to get it in a deal with China
– #10: ISDS in TTIP is the ultimate chance to fix the problems of the past
