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.

Linklaters | 27-Mar-2024
Although a universal and uniform framework regulating arbitrators’ conduct is useful, its impact may be limited due to limited implementation prospects and the absence of punitive measures.
ISDS impactos | 26-Mar-2024
Ecuador tiene actualmente 29 demandas de inversores que se dirimen en el arbitraje inversor-Estado (ISDS).
Reuters | 26-Mar-2024
The Dutch Supreme Court denied an appeal by Russia against the seizure of the rights to the Stolichnaya and Moskovskaya vodka brand names for the Benelux market by the former shareholders of now-defunct oil producer Yukos.
Linda Sánchez | 26-Mar-2024
Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez and Congressman Lloyd Doggett led 45 of their colleagues in calling on the Biden Administration to work to remove the Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanism from the Central America – Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement.
Canal 8 | 26-Mar-2024
El canciller de la República agradeció a los 47 congresistas de Estados Unidos por enviar nota solicitando a la Administración Biden reformar el acuerdo comercial CAFTA-RD el mecanismo Solución de Controversias Inversionista-Estado.
Le Monde Diplomatique | 25-Mar-2024
Les populations ignorent souvent que, grâce au mécanisme d’arbitrage international, les entreprises sont en mesure de mettre au pas les États, parfois au mépris des lois ou des Constitutions.
Pressenza | 25-Mar-2024
Existen políticas de atracción de inversión extranjera exitosas que varios Estados receptores de grandes flujos de inversión extranjera han sabido elaborar, manteniendo una distancia prudente con el mecanismo establecido por el CIADI.
Euractiv | 22-Mar-2024
La Commission européenne a présenté au Parlement européen son plan visant à coordonner la sortie de l’UE du Traité sur la Charte de l’énergie (TCE), tout en permettant aux États membres de rester parties s’ils le souhaitent.
Euractiv | 22-Mar-2024
The European Commission’s plan to withdraw the bloc from the Energy Charter Treaty while allowing member states the right to remain if they choose was presented to Parliament.
Orla Mining | 21-Mar-2024
Orla Mining is exploring all legal remedies available to protect its investments in respect of the Cerro Quema Project. The company intends file a notice of intent to arbitrate under the Panama-Canada Free Trade Agreement.