Egypt Bilateral Investment Treaty
Signed
March 11, 1986 (modified); Entered into Force June 27, 1992
99TH
Congress 2d Session
SENATE
Treaty Doc. 99-24
INVESTMENT
TREATY WITH EGYPT
MESSAGE
FROM
THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Transmitting
THE
TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF
EGYPT CONCERNING THE RECIPROCAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF
INVESTMENTS, SIGNED AT WASHINGTON ON SEPTEMBER 29 ,1982; WITH A RELATED
EXCHANGE OF LETTERS SIGNED MARCH 11, 1985; AND A SUPPLEMENTARY PROTOCOL,
SIGNED MARCH 11 ,1986
June 2,
1986.-Treaty was read the first time and, together with the accompanying
papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be
printed for the use of the Senate
U.S.
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON
: 1986
LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL
THE
WHITE HOUSE, June
2, 1986.
To
the Senate of the United States:
With a
view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification,
I transmit herewith the Treaty Between the United States of America and
the Arab Republic of Egypt concerning the Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of Investments, signed at Washington September 29, 1982; with
a related exchange of letters signed March 11, 1985; and a supplementary
protocol, signed March 11, 1986. I transmit also, for the information of
the Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to this
Treaty.
The
Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) program initiated in 1981, is
designed to encourage and protect U.S. investment in developing
countries. The Treaty is an integral part of U.S. efforts to encourage
Egypt and other governments to adopt macroeconomic and structural
policies that will promote economic growth. It is also fully consistent
with U.S. policy toward international investment. That policy holds that
an open international investment system in which participants respond to
market forces provides the best and most efficient mechanism to promote
global economic development. A specific tenet, reflected in this treaty,
is that U.S. direct investment abroad and foreign investment in the
United States should receive fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory
treatment. Under this treaty, the parties also agree to international
law standards for expropriation and compensation; free financial
transfers; and procedures, including international arbitration, for the
settlement of investment disputes.
I
recommend that the Senate consider this Treaty as soon as possible, and
give its advice and consent to ratification of the treaty, with related exchange of letters and supplementary protocol, at an early date.
RONALD
REAGAN.
LETTER OF
SUBMITTAL
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, May 20, 1986.
The
PRESIDENT,
The
White House.
THE
PRESIDENT: I have the honor to submit to you the Treaty Between the
United States of America and the Arab Republic of Egypt Concerning the
Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of Investments, signed at
Washington, September 29, 1982; with a related exchange of letters signed
March 11, 1985; and a supplemental protocol, signed March 11, 1986. I
recommend that this treaty, with related exchange of letters and
supplementary protocol, be transmitted to the Senate for its advice and
consent to ratification.
In
accordance with the terms of the supplementary protocol, revisions made
to the treaty and contained in that supplementary protocol will be
integrated into a single unified text which will be published as the
official treaty text after entry into force. For the information of the
Senate, a copy of that consolidated text is attached to this report to
facilitate reviewing the treaty. The consolidated text should be
considered an unofficial text prior to ratification of the treaty, with
related documents, by both Parties. As used herein, references to the
treaty with Egypt should be considered as references to the consolidated
text, as amended.
The
Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Egypt was the first treaty signed
under the BIT program which you initiated in 1981. Shortly after
the signing, the Egyptian Government indicated a need to renegotiate a
number of the treaty's provisions. The parties agreed to certain
changes, now contained in the supplementary protocol. In particular, the
supplementary protocol replaces entirely the original protocol of
September 29, 1982. Accordingly, the Department considers the first
protocol to be an unperfected instrument which should not be submitted
to the Senate for advice and consent to ratification.
Development of the BIT program and the negotiation of the individual
treaties have been pursued by the Office of the United States Trade
Representative and the Department of State with the active participation
of the Departments of Commerce and Treasury, in conjunction with other
interested U.S. Government agencies. On March 25 this year, BITs with
six countries-Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Senegal, Turkey, and Zaire-were
submitted to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification.
Additional BITs with Bangladesh, Cameroon and Grenada have also been signed and are being prepared for
submission to the Senate.
In 1981
you initiated the global BIT program to encourage and protect U.S.
investment in developing countries. By providing certain mutual
guarantees and protections, a BIT creates a more stable and predictable
legal framework for foreign investors in the territory of each of the
treaty Parties. The negotiation of a series of bilateral treaties with
interested countries establishes greater international discipline in the
investment area.
The BITs
which have been signed as well as others under negotiation are an
integral part of U.S. efforts to encourage other governments to adopt
macroeconomic and structural policies that will promote economic growth.
They are also fully consistent with your policy statement on
international investment of September 9, 1983, which states that
international direct investment flows should be determined by private
market forces and should receive fair, equitable and non-discriminatory
treatment.
Our
experience to date has shown that interested countries are willing to
provide U.S. investors with significant investment guarantees and
assurances as a way of inducing additional foreign investment. It is
U.S. policy to advise potential treaty partners that conclusion of a BIT
with the United States is an important and favorable factor in the
investment relationship, but does not in of itself result in immediate
increases in U.S. investment flows.
Congressional support for the BIT program is reflected in Section 601(a)
and (b) of the Foreign Assistance Act, as amended, in particular at
Section 601(b) which provides:
In order
to encourage and facilitate participation by private enterprise to the
maximum extent practicable in achieving any of the purposes of this Act,
the President shall...(3) accelerate a program of negotiating treaties
for commerce and trade, including tax treaties, which shall include
provisions to encourage and facilitate the flow of private investment
to, and its equitable investment in, friendly countries and areas
participating in programs under this Act.
BITs are
consistent in purpose with the network of treaties of Friendship,
Commerce and Navigation (FCNs) which the United States negotiated from
the early years of the Republic until the last successful negotiations
with Thailand and Togo in the late 1960s. They continue the U.S. policy
of securing by agreement standards of equitable treatment and protection
of U.S. citizens carrying on business abroad, and institutionalizing
processes for the settlement of disputes between investors and host
countries, and between governments. We expect that a series of bilateral
treaties with interested countries will establish greater international
discipline in the investment area.
The BIT
was designed to protect investment not only by treaty but also by
reinforcing traditional international legal principles and practice
regarding foreign direct private investment. In pursuit of this
objective, the model BIT adopts FCN language and concepts. Traditional
FCN provisions granting rights which are not important to the typical
U.S. investor were eliminated and replaced with more specific language
concerning investment protection. Perhaps most significantly, the BIT
goes beyond the traditional FCN to provide investor-host country
arbitration in instances where an investment dispute arises.
The U.S.
BIT approach followed similar programs that had been undertaken with
considerable success by a number of European counties, including the
Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom, since the early
1960s. Indeed, our industrialized partners already have nearly two
hundred BITs in force, primarily with developing countries. U.S.
treaties, which draw upon language used in the U.S. FCN treaties as well
as European counterparts, are more comprehensive and far-reaching than
European BITs.
THE
U.S.-EGYPT TREATY
The
Treaty with Egypt was negotiated by an inter-agency team led by
officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative and
the Department of State. The Treaty satisfies all four main BIT
objectives:
-foreign
investors are to be accorded treatment in accordance with international
law and are to be treated no less favorably than investors of the host country or no less favorably than investors of third countries,
whichever is the most favorable treatment ("national" or "most-favored-nation"
treatment) subject to certain specified exemptions;
-international law standards shall apply to the expropriation of
investments and to the payment of compensation for expropriation;
-free
transfers shall be afforded to funds associated with an investment into
and out of the host country; and
-procedures are to be established which allow an investor to take a
dispute with a Party directly to binding third-party arbitration.
The
provisions on treatment of foreign investment and arbitration, and in
particular Egypt's acceptance of international law as the governing law,
mark an important achievement for the BIT program and U.S. investment
and international arbitration policies.
A
technical memorandum explaining in detail the provisions of this treaty
will be transmitted separately to the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations. That technical memorandum explains, clause by clause, the
provisions of the treaty with Egypt.
The
treaty with Egypt was the result of the first BIT negotiation undertaken
by the United States. Those negotiations were conducted from an early
model text which in light of experience has undergone some modification.
In general, however, the treaty closely follows the objectives contained
in current U.S. model text, the most significant provisions of which are
as follows.
The model
BIT's definition section clarified terms such as "company of a
Party" and "investment." The BIT concept of "investment"
is broad and designed to be flexible; although numerous types of
economic interests are enumerated, the intent is to include all
legitimate interests in the territory of either Party, whether directly
or indirectly controlled by nationals of the other, having economic
value or "associated" with an investment. Protected "companies
of a Party" are those incorporated or otherwise organized under the
laws of a Party in which nationals of that Party have a substantial
interest.
The model
BIT accords the better of national or most-favored-nation (MFN)
treatment to foreign investment, subject to each Party's exceptions
which are listed in a separate Annex. The exceptions are designed to
protect state regulatory interests and for the United States to
accommodate the derogations from national treatment in state or federal
law relating to such areas as air transport, shipping, banking,
telecommunications, energy and power production, insurance, and from
national and MFN treatment in the case of ownership of real property.
Any additional restrictions or limitations which a Party may adopt with
respect to those matters or sectors excepted from the standards are not
to affect existing investments. The model BIT also includes general
treatment protections designed to be a guide to interpretation and
application of the treaty. Thus, the Parties agree to accord investments
"fair and equitable treatment" and "full protection and
security" in no case "less than that required by international
law." It specifically grants nationals of a Party the right to
establish investments in the territory of the other Party, restricts the
right to impose performance requirements, and obliges Parties to observe
their contractual obligations with investors. The U.S. model also
provides that companies legally constituted under the laws of the other
Party (i.e., subsidiaries of companies of a Party) with investments in
that country shall be permitted to engage "top managerial personnel of
their choice, regardless of nationality."
The model
BIT also confers protection from unlawful interference with property
interests and assures compensation in accordance with international laws
standards. It provides that any direct or indirect taking must be: for a
public purpose; nondiscriminatory; accompanied by the payment of prompt,
adequate and effective compensation; and in accordance with due process
of law and the general standards of treatment discussed above. The meaning of "expropriation" as used in the model BIT is broad and flexible; it includes any measure which is "tantamount to exportation or nationalization." Such
compensation, which "shall be equivalent to the fair market value of the expropriated investment immediately before the expropriaty action was taken or became known," must be "without
delay," "fully realizable," "freely
transferable" and "include interest at a commercially reasonable rate from the date of expropriation...." The BIT grants the right to "prompt review"
by the relevant judicial or administrative authorities in order to
determine whether the compensation offered is consistent with these
principles. It also extends national and MFN treatment to investors in
cases of loss due to war or other civil disturbance. The BIT does not
provide, however, a specific valuation method for compensating such
losses.
The model
BIT provides for free transfers "related to an investment,"
specifically of returns, compensation for expropriation, payments arising out of an investment dispute, contract
payments, proceeds from sale, and contributions to capital for
maintenance or development of an investment. Such transfers are to be
made in a "freely convertible currency at the prevailing market
rate of exchange on the date of transfer with respect to spot
transactions in the currency to be transferred." The model text
recognizes that notwithstanding this guarantee Parties can maintain
certain laws, regulations or court-imposed obligations which could
affect the disposition of investment assets. In particular, the model
text provides that Parties can require reports of currency transfers and
impose income taxes by such means as a withholding tax on dividends. The
model text also recognizes that Parties retain the right to protect the
rights of creditors and ensure the satisfaction of judgments in
adjudicatory proceedings.
The model
BIT provides that where certain defined investment disputes arise
between a Party and a national or company of the other party, including
disputes as to the interpretation of an investment agreement, and the
dispute cannot be solved through negotiation, it may be submitted to
arbitration in accordance with any dispute-settlement procedures to
which the national or company and the host country have previously
agreed. Unless the national or company has submitted the dispute to
previously agreed dispute settlement procedures or to adjudication by
domestic courts or other tribunals of the host country, the national or
company may submit the dispute to the International Centre for the
Settlement of Investment Disputes ("ICSID") for conciliation
or binding arbitration. Exhaustion of local remedies is not required. In
a separate provision, the BIT Parties also agree to provide effective means of asserting claims and enforcing rights with respect to investments.
The model
BIT provides for state-to-state arbitration between the Parties in case
of a dispute regarding the interpretation or application of the treaty.
In the absence of an agreement that other rules apply, the BIT refers
the Parties to specific procedural rules which must govern the
arbitration. The BIT also outlines the procedures for the creation of
the arbitral panel.
The model
BIT exhorts Parties to apply their tax policies fairly and equitably.
Because the United States specifically addresses tax matters in tax
treaties, the BIT generally excludes such matters. Another BIT provision
exempts disputes arising under Export-Import Bank programs, or other
credit guarantee or insurance arrangements providing for alternative
dispute settlement arrangements, from the standard BIT arbitration
clauses. The model BIT also states that the treaty shall not derogate
from any obligations that require more favorable treatment of
investments and declares that the treaty shall not preclude measures
necessary for public order or essential security interests. The model
BIT enters into force 30 days after exchange of ratifications and
continues in force for at least ten years. Thereafter, either Party may
terminate the treaty, subject to one year's written notice.
Each of
these model provisions was developed after lengthy and extensive
consultations within the U.S. Government and with the private sector.
Nonetheless, in negotiating a particular treaty, the U.S. Government
retains, of course, some flexibility to adopt modifications as necessary
and in light of experience. While the U.S. model text has recently been
simplified, the provisions summarized above have all been retained.
Some of
the provisions of the U.S.-Egypt treaty differ from the model text. With
the exception of the transfers provisions, none of the changes represent
substantive departures from U.S. objectives. The more significant
modifications are as follows:
(1).
Definition of Investment (Article I): Although the treaty with Egypt,
like the current model text, defines investment so as to include "every
kind of asset, owned or controlled," paragraph 2 of the Protocol
defines "control" as having "a substantial share of ownership
rights and the ability to exercise decisive influence." While the
United States would have preferred to omit this clause, paragraph 2 also
states that differences as the existence of control "shall be
resolved" in accordance with the binding dispute settlement
provisions contained in the treaty. Also this treaty, unlike the current
model text, does not specify that investments may be controlled "directly
or indirectly." Since Article I(1)(d) of the treaty specifies that "own
or control' includes ownership or control exercised through
subsidiaries or affiliates," this omission is not significant.
(2).
Existing Investments (Article II (2)(b)): Like the current model text,
the treaty with Egypt specifically applies to pre-existing investments.
This treaty provides, however, that pre-existing investments receive
treaty protection if "accepted in accordance with the respective
prevailing legislation of either party." U.S. investments
established in Egypt after 1974 are covered by Egypt's Law 43 on Arab
and Foreign Capital Investment and Free Zones (later amended by Law 32
of 1977)(Law 43). Law 43 and regulations thereunder contain application
procedures, provisions on the assessment of assets, and registration of
invested capital. The foreign investor's application, together with
Egyptian government assessments, approvals, or certifications, entitle
the investor to certain benefits and could be construed to constitute a
contractual arrangement between the Egyptian government and the foreign
investor, insofar as these arrangements are binding on both parties.
While is it conceivable that such arrangements may in some respects be
inconsistent with the present treaty and that U.S. investments
established in Egypt under legislation in force prior to Law 43 may
contain arrangements inconsistent with the treaty, U.S. negotiators are
unaware of any such inconsistencies. Egypt has also agreed, in Article
II (3)(a), that any additional limitations which a party may adopt with
respect to those sectors excepted from the standards are not to affect
existing investments.
(3). Right
of establishment (Article II): The treaty with Egypt contains the same
rights with respect to establishment of an investment as are contained
in the model text subject to one minor qualification. Although the
treaty contains model language which permits investments to be
established on MFN and national treatment basis (the latter subject to
exceptions listed in the annex), Article II(3)(b) states that consistent
with these rights each Party "retains the discretion to approve
investments according to national plans and priorities on a
non-discriminatory basis."
(4).
Excepted sectors (Annex; Protocol): Egypt's list of sectors to be
excluded from national treatment, found in the Annex, is extensive and
includes commercial activity such as distribution, wholesaling,
retailing, import and export activities." Paragraph 12 of the
Protocol limits this exception by stating that "commercial activity"
does not include integrated operations which combine production and
sales activities for their products. In addition, in paragraph 13 of the
Protocol each Party agrees to accord investments in investment banks,
merchant banks and reinsurance companies whose activities are confined
to foreign currency transactions "treatment no less favorable than that
accorded under existing laws and regulations to investments by its own
nationals and companies or to investments by nationals or companies of
any third country, whichever is the more favorable." The Parties
also agree to hold further discussions concerning the expansion of
investment possibilities in the banking and insurance sectors. Finally,
under paragraph 3(b) of the Protocol, United States investors may have a
restricted right of establishment in "limited sensitive geographic
area designated for exclusive Egyptian investment." This responds
to Egypt's public order and national security concerns about foreign
investment in certain sensitive border regions. In these areas, United
States investors' right of establishment will be on an MFN basis. Egypt
reserves the right to modify these areas, provided such areas are kept
to a minimum and "will not substantially impair the investment
opportunities" of the United States nationals.
(5). Customs Union
Exemption (Paragraph 4 of Protocol): Under Paragraph 4 of the Protocol
the Parties are not required to extend MFN treatment in excepted sectors
if those advantages are derived from a special security or regional
arrangement, including regional customs unions or free trade areas.
Egypt requested this exception because it is a member of the Arab
League. While the current model text does not contain a similar provision,
similar customs union exceptions to MFN treatment are contained in
United States BITs with Bangladesh, Haiti and Morocco.
(6). Treatment of
Investment (Article II): This treaty deviates from the current model
text on the treatment of investment in two respects:
(a)
Although the treaty, like the current model text, grants national or MFN
treatment to activities "associated" with an investment and
includes the purchase of foreign exchange among these activities,
Article II (2)(a) states that the purchase of foreign exchange for the
operation of enterprises must be made "in accordance with national
regulations and practices." This provision would essentially
protect Egypt's foreign exchange reserves during periods of stringency.
It was understood that such national laws and practices would not be
discriminatory against the nationals and companies of the other Party.
(b)
Article II (4) states that the "treatment, protection and security
of investments shall never be less than that required by international
law and national legislation." This clause is intended to place a
floor under and reinforce the national/MFN treatment standard. It
corresponds to a clause contained in the U.S. model BIT at the time the
Egypt treaty was originally negotiated which includes additional
language, not contained in the Egypt treaty and derived from European
BITS, which is intended to supplement national or MFN treatment, such as
"fair and equitable treatment" and "full protection and
security."
(7).
Employment (Article II (5)): Although this treaty, like the current
model text, permits nationals of either party to enter and to reside in
the territory of the other Party "for the purpose of establishing,
developing, directing, administering or advising on the operations of an
investment * * *," it deviates from the current model text
concerning investors' rights to hire personnel of their choice in two
minor respects. While the current model text permits investors to engage
"top managerial personnel of their choice, regardless of
nationality" this treaty grants this right with respect to "the
managing director or their choice." In addition, the "regardless
of nationality" phrase, included in the current model text to
insure that companies of a Party investing in the United States
otherwise comply with U.S. anti-discrimination employment laws in their
hiring practices, was not included in this treaty. It is understood that
the right to hire top managerial personnel remains nevertheless subject
to U.S. anti-discrimination laws. (The "regardless of nationality"
phrase was omitted in a similar provision in the U.S. BIT with
Cameroon.) In addition, although Paragraph 5 of the Protocol states that
the treaty does not derogate from each Party's right to establish
qualifications for the exercise of a profession, this paragraph also
states that it does not derogate from investors' rights to engage
professional and technical personnel of their choice.
(8).
Performance Requirements (Article II(6)): While the current model text
prohibits performance requirements, Article II(6) of this treaty employs
only a hortatory standard ("seek to avoid"). Similar hortatory
language concerning performance requirements is found in Unites States BITs with Bangladesh, Haiti, Morocco, Senegal and Turkey. In addition,
while the current model text takes a broad approach to performance
requirements (and includes "commitments to export goods produced, or
which specify that goods or services must be purchased locally, or
which impose any other similar requirements"), Paragraph 7 of the
Protocol limits the definition of performance requirements to
"conditions imposed which would require an investor to export a minimum percentage
of final product or to source some inputs locally."
(9).
Transfers (Article V; Paragraph 10 of the Protocol): The most
significant departure from the current model text is in respect to
transfers. Egypt has agreed to a transfers provision-Article V- which is
substantially similar to that in the current model text. The current
model text specifically states that "transfers related to an
investment" shall be made "freely and without delay into and
out of its territory * * *," and lists examples of types of funds
subject to free transfer. This treaty by contrast simply states that
each Party "shall in respect to investments by nationals or
companies of the other Party grant to those nationals or companies the
free transfer of," enumerated specific types of funds subject to
free transfer. The types of funds listed are identical in substance to
those in the current model text except that two categories identified in
the current model text are not explicitly listed in the Egypt text:
additional funds for the development (not merely the maintenance) of an
investment and compensation payments arising from an investment dispute
other than an expropriation.
In
addition, under paragraph 10 of the Protocol, Egypt may temporarily
delay transfers abroad of funds from liquidated investments if foreign
exchange reserves are at a "very low level." In such cases,
Egypt may delay transfers:
(i) in a
manner not less favorable than that accorded to comparable transfers to
investors of third countries; (ii) to the extent and for the time period
necessary to restore its reserves to a minimally acceptable level, but
in no case for period [s] of time longer than that permitted by the
provisions of Law 43 in force on the date of signature of this Treaty;
and (iii) after providing the investor an opportunity to invest the
sales or liquidation proceeds in a manner which will preserve their real
value free of exchange risk until transfer occurs.
Under
Article 21 of Law 43, an investor may not, except in "exceptional
circumstances," repatriate or dispose of his invested capital in
less than five years after the importation of the capital into Egypt.
(Within the statutory five year period, he may transfer the capital out
of the country "at the highest rate prevailing and declared for
freely convertible foreign currency in five equal annual installments.")
Similar delays on the right to free transfers of liquidated capital on
the basis of foreign exchange shortages where also accepted in United
States BITs with Bangladesh, Turkey and Zaire.
(10)
Expropriation (Article III): This treaty departs from the current model
text expropriation provisions in several minor respects:
(a)
Paragraph 8 of the Protocol states that "prompt" payment in
the event of an expropriation "does not necessarily mean
instantaneous * * *(the intent is that the Party diligently and
expeditiously carry out any necessary formalities." This merely
makes express what the United States has long regarded to be required
under international law.
(b) While
the treaty with Egypt omits specific use of the term "effective"
compensation, the substance of that concept-assurance that once
compensation has been paid the investor is able to withdraw his assets
in usable form from the expropriating country-is retained. Thus, the
treaty with Egypt provides that compensation shall be "freely
realizable" and "freely transferable at the prevailing rate of
exchange for current transactions on the date of the expropriatory
action."
(c)
Article III (1) provides that compensation "include payments for
delay as may be considered appropriate under international law."
The current model text is more specific about the international law
standard, stating that payments for delay "bear current interest
from the date of expropriation."
(d) While
both the current model text and the treaty with Egypt provide that
compensation shall not reflect any reduction in value due to "the
occurrence of the events that constituted or resulted in the
expropriatory action," paragraph 9 of the Protocol clarifies that
this refers to conduct attributable to the expropriatory Party and not
to the conduct of the investor.
(e)
Paragraph 9 of the Protocol also clarifies that the Article III (1)
requirement that an expropriation not violate "a specific
contractual engagement" is without prejudice to the measure of
compensation due in the event of an expropriation.
(f) The
March 11, 1985 exchange of letters between the Parties states that
compensation for purposes of Article III (1) "shall be determined
in a manner consistent with international legal norms and standards
rather than norms and standards that are particular to a specific
domestic legal system." This assurance, made at Egypt's insistence,
is implicit in the current model text reference to international law
standards.
(11)
Consultations Between Parties (Article VI): Like the current model text,
this treaty provides that consultations between the Parities be held
promptly upon the request of either Party to discuss the interpretation
or application of the treaty or resolve related disputes. At the
request of Egypt, this treaty goes beyond the current model text and
also provides for biennial consultations to review the operation of the
treaty in encouraging investments.
(12)
Dispute Settlement Between a Party and an Investor (Article VII): This
treaty modified the dispute settlement provisions of the current model
text in two respects:
(a) While
the current model text specifically defines the types of "investment
dispute" which are subject to arbitration to include "the
interpretation or application of any investment authorization granted by
a party's foreign investment authority," no such clause appears in
this treaty. Nonetheless, since this treaty, like the current model
text, defines such arbitrable disputes to include both the
interpretation of an investment agreement as well as "any right
conferred or created" by this treaty "with respect to an
investment," the failure to mention specifically this third type of
dispute is of doubtful significance.
(b)
Article VII (4) of this treaty states that investors "shall not be
entitled to compensation for more than the value of the affected assets,
taking into account all sources of compensation within the territory of
the Party liable for the compensation." The intent of this
language, inserted at the insistence of Egypt, is to protect the Parties
against "double indemnity." Egyptian negotiators were
concerned that U.S. investors not receive payment for the value of a
single claim from both a local Egyptian insurance company (which is
likely to be publicly owned) and the Egyptian Government. The language
would not limit a U.S. investor from collecting payment on the same
claim from a third party (non-Egyptian) insurance company.
Submission of this treaty marks a significant development in our
international investment policy. I join with the United States Trade
Representative and other U.S. Government agencies in supporting this
treaty, with related exchange of letters and supplemental protocol, and favor its transmittal to the Senate at an early date.
Respectfully submitted.
GEORGE P.
SHULTZ.
Attachment: Consolidated text prepared by the Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative and Department of State.
TREATY
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
CONCERNING THE RECIPROCAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS
Whereas,
the United States of America and the Arab Republic of Egypt (each
hereinafter referred to as a "Party"), both recognize the
importance of providing mutually beneficial support for the major
efforts that each has contributed in fostering international peace both
within and beyond their respective regions, and
Whereas,
each Party recognizes that economic expansion and development are basic
elements in the process of strengthening the efforts for and the bonds
of international peace and friendship within an atmosphere of stability
and security, and
Whereas,
each agrees that economic cooperation through the pursuit of policies an
practices which foster bilateral trade and investment, will contribute
substantially to the long-term benefit and welfare of the peoples of
each Party, and
Recognizing that agreement on a general framework for the encouragement
and nondiscriminatory treatment of investments will stimulate the flow
of productive capital and technology and thereby provide for a more
effective use of capital and technical resources for development needs,
further promoting economic stability and durable peace,
Both have
resolved to conclude a bilateral Treaty pertaining to the reciprocal
encouragement and protection of investments, and
Have
agreed as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 For the
purposes of this Treaty,
(1 The original text contains a paragraph 1, but no
paragraph 2.)
(a)
"Company" means any kind of juridical entity, including any
corporation, company, association, or other juridical entity, that is duly
incorporated, constituted, or otherwise duly organized, regardless of
whether or not the entity is duly organized for pecuniary gain, privately
or publicly owned, or organized with limited or unlimited
liability.
(b) "company
of a Party" means a company duly incorporated, constituted or
otherwise duly organized under the applicable laws and regulations of a
Party or its subdivisions in which
(i)
natural persons who are nationals of such Party, or
(ii) such
Party or its subdivision or its agencies or instrumentalities have a
substantial interest.
The
juridical status of a company of a Party shall be recognized by the
other Party and its subdivisions.
(c) "Investment"
means every kind of asset owned or controlled and includes but is note
limited to:
(i)
tangible and intangible property, including rights, such as mortgages,
liens and pledges;
(ii) a
company or shares, stock in a company or interests
in the assets thereof;
(iii) a
claim to money or a claim to performance having economic value due
under an investment agreement;
(iv)
valid intellectual and industrial property rights, including, but not
limited to rights with respect to copyrights and related patents, trademarks and trade names, industrial designs, trade secrets and know-how,
and goodwill.
(v)
licenses and permits issued pursuant to law, including those issued for
manufacture and sale of products.
(vi) any
right conferred by law or contract, but not limited rights, within the
confines of law, to search for or utilize natural resources, and
rights to manufacture, use and sell products;
(vii)
returns which are reinvested.
(d) "own or
control" includes ownership or control exercised through subsidiaries
or affiliates.
(e) "national"
of a Party means a natural person who is a national of a party under its
applicable law.
(f) "return"
means an amount derived from an investment,
including but not limited to, profit; dividend; interest;
royalty payment; management, technical assistance or other fee; and
payment in kind.
ARTICLE II
ENCOURAGEMENT
AND PROMOTION OF INVESTMENTS
1. Each
Party undertakes to provide an maintain a favorable environment for
investments in its territory by nationals and companies of the other
Party and shall, in applying its laws, regulations, administrative
practices and procedures, permit such investments to be established and
acquired on terms and conditions that accord treatment no less favorable than
the treatment it accords to investments of its own nationals and
companies of
any third country, whichever is the most favorable.
2. (a)
Each Party shall accord investments in its territory, and associated
activities in connection with these investments of nationals or
companies of the other Party, treatment no less favorable than that
accorded in like situations to investments and associated activities of its own nationals and
companies, or nationals and companies of any third
country, whichever is the most favorable. Associated activities in
connection with an investment include, but are not limited to:
(i) the
establishment, control and maintenance of branches, agencies, offices,
factories or other facilities for the conduct of business;
(ii) the
organization of companies under applicable laws and regulations; the
acquisition of companies or interests in companies or in the property;
and the management, control, maintenance, use, enjoyment and expansion,
and the sale, liquidation, dissolution or other disposition, of
companies organized or acquired;
(iii) the
making, performance and enforcement of contracts related to investment;
(iv) the
acquisition (whether by purchase, lease or any other legal means),
ownership and disposition (whether by sale, testament or any other legal
means) of personal property of all kinds, both tangible and intangible;
(v) the
leasing of real property appropriate for the conduct of business;
(vi)
acquisition, maintenance and protection of copyrights, patents,
trademarks, trade secrets, trade names, licenses and other approvals of
products and manufacturing processes, and other industrial property
rights; and
(vii) the
borrowing of funds at market terms and conditions from local financial
institutions, as well as the purchase and issuance of equity shares in
the local financial markets, and, in accordance with national
regulations and practices, the purchase of foreign exchange for the
operation of the enterprise.
(b) This
Treaty shall also apply to investments by nationals or companies of
either Party, made prior to the entering into force of this Treaty and
accepted in accordance with the respective prevailing legislation of
either party.
3. (a)
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, each Party
reserves the right to maintain limited exceptions to the standard of
national treatment otherwise required concerning investments or
associated activities if exceptions fall within one of the sectors
listed in the Annex to this Treaty. Both Parties hereby agree to
maintain the number of such exceptions to a minimum. In addition, each
Party shall notify the other Party of any specific measures which
constitute exceptions to the standard of national treatment provided
herein. In no event, however, shall the treatment to be accorded
pursuant to any exception be less favorable than that accorded in like
situations to investments and associated activities of nationals or
companies of any third country. Moreover, no exception, within the
sectors contained in the Annex, introduced after the date of entry into
force of this Treaty shall apply to investments of nationals or
companies of the other Party existing in that sector at the time the
exception becomes effective.
(b) Each
Party retains the discretion to approve investments according to
national plans and priorities on a nondiscriminatory basis consistent
with paragraphs (1) and (3)(a) of this Article.
4. The
treatment, protection and security of investments shall never be less
than that required by international law and national legislation.
5. (a)
Subject to the laws relating to the entry and sojourn of aliens,
nationals of either Party shall be permitted to enter and to reside in
the territory of the other Party for the purpose of establishing,
developing, directing, administering or advising on the operations of an
investment to which they or the companies that employ them have
committed or are in the process of committing a substantial amount of
capital or other resources.
(b)
Nationals and companies of either Party, and their companies which they
own or control in the territory of the other Party, shall be able to
engage the managing director of their choice. Further, subject to
employment laws of each Party, nationals and companies of either Party
shall be permitted to engage, within the territory of the other Party,
professional and technical personnel of their choice, for the particular
purpose of rendering professional, technical and managerial assistance
necessary for the planning and operation of investments.
6. In the
context of its national economic policies and objectives, each Party
shall seek to avoid the imposition of performance requirements of the
investments of nationals and companies of the other Party.
7. Each
Party recognizes that in order to maintain a favorable environment for
investments in its territory by nationals or companies of the other
Party, it should provide effective means of asserting claims and
enforcing rights with respect to investment agreements, investment
authorizations and properties. Each Party shall grant to nationals or
companies of the other Party, on terms and conditions no less favorable
than those which it grants in like situations to its own nationals or
companies or to nationals or companies of any third country, whichever
is the most favorable treatment, the right of access to its courts of
justice, administrative tribunals and agencies, and all other bodies
exercising adjudicatory authority, and the right to employ persons of
their choice, who otherwise qualify under applicable laws and
regulations of the forum for the purpose of asserting claims, and
enforcing rights, with respect to their investments.
8. Each
Party and its subdivisions shall make public all laws, regulations,
administrative practices and procedures, and adjudicatory decisions that
pertain to [or] affect investments in its territory of nationals or
companies of the other Party.
ARTICLE
III
COMPENSATION FOR EXPROPRIATION
1. No
investment or any part of an investment of a national or company of
either Party shall be expropriated or nationalized by the other Party or
by a subdivision thereof-or subjected to any other measure, direct or
indirect, if the effect of such other measure, or a series of such other
measures, would be tantamount to expropriation or nationalization (all
expropriations, all nationalizations and all such other measures
hereinafter referred to as "expropriation")-unless the
expropriation
(a) is
done for a public purpose;
(b) is
accomplished under due process of law;
(c) is
not discriminatory;
(d) is
accompanied by prompt and adequate compensation, freely realizable; and
(e) does
not violate any specific contractual engagement.
Compensation
shall be equivalent to the fair market value of the expropriated
investment on the date of expropriation. The calculation of such
compensation shall not reflect any reduction in such fair market value
due to either prior public notice or announcement of the expropriatory
action, or the occurrence of the events that constituted or resulted in
the expropriatory action. Such compensation shall include payments for
delay as may be considered appropriate under international law, and
shall be freely transferable at the prevailing rate of exchange for
current transactions on the date of the expropriatory action.
2. If
either Party or a subdivision thereof expropriates the investment of any
company duly incorporated, constituted or otherwise duly organized in
its territory, and if nationals or companies of the other Party,
directly or indirectly, own, hold or have other rights with respect to
the equity of such company, then the Party within whose territory the
expropriation occurs shall ensure that such nationals or companies of
the other Party receive compensation in accordance with the provisions
of the preceding paragraph.
3. Except
as otherwise provided in an agreement between the Parties, or between a
Party and a national or company of the other Party, a national or
company of either Party that asserts that all or part of its investment
in the territory of the other Party has been expropriated shall have a
right to prompt review by the appropriate judicial or administrative
authorities of such other Party to determine whether any such
expropriation has occurred and, if so, whether such expropriation, and any compensation thereof,
conforms to the principals of international law.
ARTICLE
IV
COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES DUE TO WAR AND SIMILAR EVENTS
Nationals
or companies of either Party whose investments or returns in the
territory of either Party suffer
(a)
damages due to war or other armed conflict between such other Party and
a third country or
(b)
damages due to any kind of civil disturbance or insurrection in the
territory of such other Party,
shall be
accorded treatment no less favorable than that which such other Party
accords to its own nationals or companies or to nationals or companies
of any third country, whichever is the most favorable treatment, when
making restitution, indemnification, compensation or other appropriate
settlement with respect to such damages.
ARTICLE V
TRANSFERS
1. Either
Party shall in respect to investments by nationals or companies of the
other Party grant to those nationals or companies the free transfer
of:
(a)
returns;
(b)
royalties and other payments deriving from licenses, franchises and
other similar grants or rights;
(c)
installments in repayment of loans;
(d)
amounts spent for the management of the investment in the territory of
the other Party or a third country;
(e)
additional funds necessary for the maintenance of the investment;
(f) the
proceeds of partial or total sale or liquidation of the investment,
including a liquidation effected as a result of any event mentioned in
Article IV; and
(g)
compensation payments pursuant to Article III.
2. To the
extent a national or company of either Party has not made another
arrangement with the appropriate authorities of the other Party in whose
territory the investment of such national or company is situated,
currency transfers made pursuant to Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be
permitted in the currency of the original investment or in any other
freely convertible currency. Such transfers shall be made at the
prevailing rate of exchange on the date of transfer with respect to
current transactions in the currency to be transferred.
3.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs, either Party may maintain laws
and regulations: (a) requiring reports of currency transfer; and (b)
imposing income taxes by such means as a withholding tax applicable to
dividends or other transfers. Furthermore, either Party may protect the
rights of creditors, or ensure the satisfaction of judgments in
adjudicatory proceedings, through the equitable, nondiscriminatory and
good faith application of the law.
ARTICLE
VI
CONSULTATIONS AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
1. The
Parties shall, upon the written request of either of them, promptly hold
consultations to discuss the interpretation or application of this
Treaty or to resolve any disputes in connection therewith.
2.
Further, for the purpose of reviewing the operation of this Treaty in
encouraging investments, consultations should be held biennially between
the two Parties. Those consultations should aim at exchanging
information and views on the progress regarding investments.
3. If one
Party requests in writing that the other Party supply information in its
possession concerning investments in its territory by nationals or
companies of the Party making the request, then the other Party shall,
consistent with its applicable laws and regulations and with due regard
for business confidentiality, endeavor to establish appropriate
procedures and arrangements for the provision of any such information.
ARTICLE
VII
SETTLEMENT
OF LEGAL INVESTMENT DISPUTES BETWEEN ONE PARTY AND A NATIONAL OR COMPANY
OF THE OTHER PARTY
1. For
purposes of this Article, a legal investment dispute is defined as a
dispute involving (i) the interpretation or application of an investment
agreement between a Party and a national or company of the other Party;
or (ii) an alleged breach of any right conferred or created by this
Treaty with respect to an investment.
2. In the
event of a legal investment dispute between a Party and a national or
company of the other Party with respect to an investment of such
national or company in the territory of such Party, the parties shall
initially seek to resolve the dispute by consultation and negotiation.
The Parties may, upon the initiative of either of them and as a part of
their consultation and negotiation, agree to rely upon non-binding,
third-party procedures. If the dispute cannot be resolved through
consultation and negotiation, then the dispute shall be submitted for
settlement in accordance with the applicable dispute-settlement procedures upon which a Party and
national or company of other Party have previously agreed. With respect
to expropriation by either Party, any dispute-settlement procedures
specified in an investment agreement between such Party and such national or
company shall remain binding and shall be enforceable in accordance with
the terms of the investment agreement and relevant provisions of
domestic laws of such Party and treaties and other international
agreements regarding enforcement of arbitral awards to which such Party
has subscribed.
3. (a) In
the event that the legal investment dispute is not resolved under
procedures specified above, the national or company concerned may choose
to submit the dispute to the International Centre for the Settlement of
Investment Disputes ("Centre") for settlement by conciliation
or binding arbitration, if, within six (6) months of the date upon which
it arose: (i) the dispute has not been settled through consultation and
negotiation; or (ii) the dispute has not, for any good faith reason,
been submitted for resolution in accordance with any applicable
dispute-settlement procedures previously agreed to by the Parties to
dispute: or (iii) the national or company concerned has not brought the
dispute before the
courts of justice or administrative tribunals or agencies of competent jurisdiction
of the Party that is a Party to the dispute.
(b) Each
Party hereby consents to the submission of an investment dispute to the
Centre for settlement by conciliation or binding arbitration.
(c)
Conciliation or binding arbitration of such disputes shall be done in
accordance with the provisions of the Convention on the Settlement of
Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States ("Convention")
and the Regulations and Rules of the Centre.
4. In any
proceeding , judicial, arbitral or otherwise, concerning a legal
investment dispute between it and a national or company of the other
Party, A Party Shall not assert, as a defense, counterclaim, right of
set-off or otherwise, that the national or company concerned has
received or Will receive, pursuant to an insurance contract,
indemnification or other compensation for all or part of its alleged
damages from any third Party whatsoever, whether public or private,
including such other Party and its subdivisions, agencies and
instrumentalities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a national or company
of the other Party shall not be entitled to compensation for more than
the value of its affected assets, taking into account all sources of
compensation within the territory of the Party liable for the
compensation.
5. For the
purpose of any proceedings initiated before the Centre in accordance
with this Article, any company that, immediately prior to the occurrence
of the event or events giving rise to the dispute was a company of the
other Party, shall be treated as a national or company of such other
Party.
6. The
provisions of this Article shall not apply to a dispute arising under an
official export credit, guarantee, or insurance arrangement, pursuant to
which the Parties have agreed to other means of settling disputes.
ARTICLE
VIII
SETTLEMENT
OF DISPUTES BETWEEN THE PARTIES CONCERNING INTERPRETATION OR APPLICATION
OF THIS TREATY
1. Any
dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation or application
of this Treaty should, if possible, be resolved through diplomatic
channels.
2. If the
dispute cannot be resolved through diplomatic channels, it shall, upon
the agreement of the Parties, be submitted to the International Court of
Justice.
3. (a) In
the absence of such agreement, the dispute shall, upon the written
request of either Party, be submitted to an arbitral tribunal for
binding decision in accordance with the applicable rules and principles
of international law.
(b) The
Tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators, one appointed by each
Party, and a Chairman appointed by agreement of the other two
arbitrators. The Chairman shall not be a national of either Party. Each
Party shall appoint an arbitrator within 60 days, and the Chairman shall
be appointed within 90 days, after a Party has requested arbitration of
a dispute.
(c) If
the period set forth in (b) above are not met, and in the absence of
some other arrangement between the Parties, either Party may invite the
President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary
appointment. If the President is a national of either of the Parties or
is unable to act for any reason, either Party may invite the Vice
President, or if he is also a national of either Party or otherwise
unable to act, the next most senior member of the International Court of
Justice, to make the appointment.
(d) In
the event that an arbitrator is for any reason unable to perform his
duties, a replacement shall be appointed within thirty (30) days of
determination thereof, utilizing the same method by which the arbitrator
being replaced was appointed. If a replacement is not appointed within
the time limit specified above, either Party may invite the President of
the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointment. If
the President is a national of either of the Parties or is unable to act
for any reason, either Party may invite the Vice President, or if he is
also a national of either Party or otherwise unable to act, the next
most senior member of the International Court of Justice, to make the
appointment.
(e)
Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties to the dispute, all
submissions shall be made. and all hearings shall be completed within
one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date of the selection of the
third arbitrator, and the Tribunal shall render its decision within
thirty (30) days of the date of the final submissions or the date of the
closing of the hearings, whichever is later, and such decision shall be
binding on each Party.
(f)
Except as otherwise agreed to by the Parties, arbitration proceedings
shall be governed by the Model Rules on Arbitral Procedure adopted by
the United Nations International Law Commission in 1958 ("Model
Rules") and commended to Member States by the United Nations
General Assembly in Resolution 1262 (XIII). To the extent that
procedural questions are not resolved by this Article or the Model Rules
they shall be resolved by the Tribunal. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Treaty or the Model Rules, the Tribunal shall in all
cases act by majority vote.
(g) Each
Party shall bear the costs of its own arbitrator and counsel in the
arbitral proceeding. Expenses incurred by the Chairman and other costs
of the proceedings shall be paid for equally by the Parties. The
Tribunal may, however, at its discretion, direct that a higher
proportion of the costs be paid by one of the Parties. Such a decision
shall be binding.
4. The
provisions of this Article shall not apply to a dispute arising under an
official export credit, guarantee or insurance arrangement, pursuant to
which the Parties have agreed to other means of settling disputes.
ARTICLE
IX
PRESERVATION OF RIGHTS
1. This
Treaty shall not supersede, prejudice, or otherwise derogate from (a)
laws, regulations, administrative practices or procedures, or
adjudicatory decisions of either Party, (b) international legal
obligations, or (c) obligations assumed by either Party, including those
contained in an investment agreement or an investment authorization,
whether extant at the time of entry into force of this Treaty or
thereafter, that entitle investments or associated activities of
nationals or companies of the other Party to treatment more favorable
than that accorded by this Treaty in like situations.
2. This
Treaty shall not derogate from or terminate any other agreement entered
into by the two Parties and in force as between the two Parties on the
date on which this Treaty enters into force.
ARTICLE X
MEASURES
NOT PRECLUDED BY TREATY
1. This
Treaty shall not preclude the application by either Party or any
subdivision thereof of any and all measures necessary for the
maintenance of public order and morals, the fulfillment of its existing
international obligations, the protection of its own security interests,
or such measures deemed appropriate by the Parties to fulfill future
international obligations.
2. This
Treaty shall not preclude either Party from prescribing special
formalities in connection with the establishment of investments in its
territory of nationals and companies of the other Party, but such
formalities shall not impair the substance of any of the rights set
forth in this Treaty.
ARTICLE
XI
TAXATION
With
respect to its tax policies, each Party should strive to accord fairness
and equity in the treatment of investments of nationals or companies of
the other Party. Nevertheless, all matters relating to the taxation of
nationals or companies of a Party, or their investments in the
territories of the other Party or a subdivision thereof shall be
excluded from this Treaty, except with regard to measures covered by
Article III and the specific provisions of Article V.
ARTICLE
XII
APPLICATION
OF TREATY TO POLITICAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE PARTIES
This
Treaty shall apply to the political and/or administrative subdivisions
of each Party.
ARTICLE
XIII
ENTRY
INTO FORCE AND DURATION AND TERMINATION
1. This
Treaty shall be ratified by each of the Parties, and the instruments of
ratification thereof shall be exchanged as soon as possible.
2. This
Treaty shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the date of
exchange of the instruments of ratification. It shall remain in force
for a period of ten (10) years and shall continue in force unless
terminated in accordance with Paragraph 3 of this Article.
3. Either
Party may, by giving one (1) year's written notice to the other Party,
terminate this Treaty at the end of the initial ten (10) year period or
at any time thereafter.
4. With
respect to investments made or acquired prior to the date of termination
of this Treaty and to which this Treaty otherwise applies, the
provisions of all of the other Articles of this Treaty shall continue to
be effective for a further period of ten (10) years from such date of
termination.
5. The
attached Annex and Protocol are integral parts of this Treaty.
DONE in
duplicate at Washington this twenty-ninth day of September 1982* in the
English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the
United States of America:
WILLIAM
E. BROCK, Jr.
For the
Arab Republic of Egypt:
WAJIH
SHINDI.
* As
modified by the Supplementary Protocol, signed at Cairo, March 11, 1986,
ANNEX
Consistent
with Article II paragraph 3, each Party reserves the right to maintain
limited exceptions in the sectors it has indicated below
THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Air
transportation, ocean and coastal shipping; banking; insurance;
government grants; government insurance and loan programs; energy and
power production; use of land and natural resources; custom house
brokers; ownership of real estate; radio and television broadcasting;
telephone and telegraph services; submarine cable services; satellite
communications.
THE
REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
Air and
sea transportation; maritime agencies; land transportation other than
that of tourism; mail, telecommunication, telegraph services and other
public services which are state monopolies; banking and insurance;
commercial activity such as distribution, wholesaling, retailing, import
and export activities; commercial agency and broker activities;
ownership of real estate; use of land; natural resources; national
loans; radio, television, and the issuance of newspapers and magazines.
PROTOCOL*
On signing
the Treaty concerning the Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of
Investments, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America
have, in addition, agreed on the following provisions which should be
regarded as an integral part of the Treaty:
1. Each
Party reserves the right to deny the benefits of this Treaty to any
company of either Party, or its affiliates or subsidiaries, if nationals
of any third country control such company, affiliate or subsidiary;
provided that, whenever one Party concludes that the benefits of this
Treaty should not be extended for this reason, it shall promptly consult
with the other Party to seek a mutually satisfactory resolution of this
matter.
2. "Control"
means to have a substantial share of ownership rights and the ability to
exercise decisive influence. Differences as to the existence of control
shall be resolved according to the provisions of Article VIII.
3. (a) The
treatment accorded by the United States to nationals or companies of
Egypt under the provisions of Article II (1) and (2) shall in any State
of the United States or other territory, possession, or political or
administrative subdivision of the United States be the treatment
accorded therein to residents of or companies incorporated, constituted
or otherwise duly organized in other States of the United States or
territories, possessions, or political or administrative subdivisions of
the United States.
(b) The
treatment accorded by Egypt to nationals and companies of the United
States with respect to the establishment and acquisition of investments
in limited sensitive geographic areas designated for exclusive Egyptian
investment shall be no less favorable than the treatment it accords to
investments of nationals and companies of any third country. Egypt
reserves the right to modify the areas covered, provided that such areas
will be kept to a minimum and will not substantially impair the
investment opportunities of United States nationals and companies.
4. The
provisions of Article II, paragraph 3, relating to most favored nation
treatment, shall not apply to advantages accorded by either Party to
nationals or companies of a third country by virtue of a special
security or regional arrangement, including regional customs unions or
free trade areas. Further, these provisions do not apply to the
ownership of real estate. The provisions of Article II paragraph 1,
relating to most favored nation treatment, shall not be construed to
oblige one Party to extend to nationals or companies of the other the
benefit of any treatment, preference or privilege which may be extended
by the former Party by virtue of a customs union or in the field of
housing. Moreover, with regard to rights to engage in mining on the
public domain, each Party retains the right to accord to nationals or
companies of the other Party treatment which is like or similar to that
accorded by the other Party to nationals or companies of the first
Party.
5. It is
understood that this Treaty does not derogate from the rights of either
Party regarding the establishment of qualifications as for the practice
of professions, including law and accountancy. These qualifications may
confine the practice of such professions to nationals or companies of a
Party, provided that they are applied on a nondiscriminatory basis; and
provided, further, that such nationality requirements do not derogate
from the right of nationals and companies of either Party, pursuant to
Article II (5)(b) to engage professional and technical personnel of
their choice to render professional and technical services necessary for
the internal planning and operation of the investment.
6. This
Treaty, and in particular, the provisions of Article II, paragraph 5 (b)
shall be subjected to the provisions of Article X.
7. With
respect to Article II (6), performance requirements are conditions
imposed which would require an investor to export a minimum percentage
of final product or to source some inputs locally.
8. With
regard to Article III, Paragraph 1(d) the term "prompt" does
not necessarily mean instantaneous. The intent is that the Party
diligently and expeditiously carry out any necessary formalities.
9. With
regard to Article III, paragraph 1, the phrase "events that
constituted or resulted in the expropriatory action" refers to
conduct attributable to the expropriatory Party and not to conduct of
the national or company, The inclusion of subparagraph (e) in Article
III, paragraph 1, is without prejudice to the measure of compensation
due in the event of expropriation.
10. The
Parties recognize that restrictions on transfers abroad of sales or
liquidation proceeds of an investment will adversely affect future
capital inflows, contrary to the spirit of this Treaty and the
interests of the Party imposing those restrictions. Nevertheless, the
Parties recognize that it is possible that the Arab Republic of Egypt
may find its foreign exchange reserves at a very low level. In these
circumstances, the Arab Republic of Egypt may temporarily delay
transfers required under Article V, Paragraph 1(f), but only: (i) in a
manner not less favorable that accorded to comparable transfers to
investors of third countries; (ii) to the extent and for the time period
necessary to restore its reserves to a minimally acceptable level, but
in no case for period of time longer than that permitted by the
provisions of Law 43 in force on the date of signature of this Treaty;
and (iii) after providing the investor an opportunity to invest the
sales or liquidation proceeds in a manner which will preserve their real
value free of exchange risk until transfer occurs.
11.
Concerning Article VII (3)(a)(ii), it is understood that the Parties to
the dispute may previously agree to submission of the dispute to the
jurisdiction of domestic courts and tribunals. The Parties will maintain
a nondiscriminatory policy regarding the inclusion and implementation of
such provisions in any investment contract.
12. With
regard to the Annex, the exceptions noted by the Arab Republic of Egypt
under "commercial activity" do not include integrated
operations which combine production and sales activities for their
products.
13.
Recognizing that international financial markets and institutions
further stimulate the process of economic development through the
international transmission of investment and associated technology, each
Party undertakes to maintain a favorable environment for investment by
nationals or companies of the other Party in the insurance and banking
sectors. Therefore, each Party accords to investments by nationals or
companies of the other Party in investment banks, merchant-banks and
reinsurance companies whose activities are confined to transactions in
foreign currencies treatment no less favorable than that accorded under
existing laws and regulations to investments by its own nationals and
companies or to investments by nationals or companies of any third
country, whichever is the more favorable. Both Parties agree to hold
future discussions concerning the expansion of investment possibilities
in these sectors by nationals or companies of either Party in the
territory of the other Party.
DONE in
duplicate at Cairo this 11th day of March 1986 in the English and Arabic
languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the
Government of the United States of America:
NICHOLAS
A. VELIOTES,
Ambassador.
For the
Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt:
Sultan
ABOU ALI,
Minister of Economy and Trade.
* Text as
agreed in Supplementary Protocol, signed at Cairo. March 11, 1986. This
replaces the protocol of September 29, 1982
THE
TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF
EGYPT CONCERNING THE RECIPROCAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF
INVESTMENTS
Whereas,
the United States of America and the Arab Republic of EGYPT (each herein
referred to as a "Party"), both recognize the importance of
providing mutually beneficial support for the major efforts that has
contributed in fostering international peace both within and beyond
their respective regions, and
Whereas,
each Party recognizes that economic expansion and development are basic
elements in the process of strengthening the efforts for and the bonds
of international peace and friendship within an atmosphere of stability
and security, and
Whereas,
each agrees that economic cooperation through the pursuit of policies
and practices which foster bilateral trade and investment, will
contribute substantially to the long-term benefit and welfare of the
peoples of each Party, and
Recognizing that agreement on a general framework for the encouragement
and nondiscriminatory treatment of investments will stimulate the flow
of productive capital and technology and thereby provide for a more
effective use of capital and technical resources for development needs,
further promoting economic stability and durable peace,
Both have
resolved to conclude a bilateral Treaty pertaining to the reciprocal
encouragement and protection of investments, and Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1. (a) "Company"
means any kind of juridical entity, including any corporation, company
association, or other organization, that is duly incorporated,
constituted, or otherwise duly organized, regardless of whether or not
the entity is organized for pecuniary gain, privately or governmentally
owned, or organized with limited or unlimited liability.
(b) "company
of a Party" means a company duly incorporated, constituted or
otherwise duly organized under the applicable laws and regulations of a
Party or its political subdivisions in which
(i)
natural persons who are nationals of such Party, or
(ii) such
Party or its subdivision or its agencies or instrumentalities
have a
substantial interest.
Each
Party reserves the right to deny to any of its own companies or to a
company of the other Party the advantages of this Treaty, if nationals
of any third country own or control such company; provided that whenever
one Party believes that the benefits of this Treaty should not be
extended to a company of the other Party for this reason, it shall first
consult with the other Party to seek a mutually satisfactory resolution
of this matter.
The
juridical status of a company of a Party shall be recognized by the
other Party and its subdivisions.
(c) "Investment"
means every kind of asset owned or controlled and includes but is note
limited to:
(i)
tangible and intangible property, including rights, such as mortgages,
liens and pledges;
(ii) a
company or shares, stock, or other interests in a company or interests
in the assets thereof;
(iii) a
claim to money or a claim to performance having economic value, and
associated with an investment;
(iv)
intellectual property, including rights with respect copyrights and
related patents, trade marks and trade names, industrial designs, trade
secrets and know-how, and goodwill.
(v)
licenses and permits issued pursuant to law, including those issued for
manufacture and sale of products.
(vi) any
right conferred by law or contract, including rights to search for or
utilize natural resources, and rights to manufacture, use and sell
products;
(vii)
returns which are reinvested.
(d) "own
or control" means ownership or control that is direct of indirect,
including ownership or control exercised through subsidiaries or
affiliates.
(e)
'national' or a Party means a natural person who is a national of a
party under its applicable law.
(f) "return"
means an amount derived from or associated with an investment, including
profit; dividend; interest; capital gain; royalty payment; management,
technical assistance or other fee; and payment in kind.
ARTICLE
II
ENCOURAGEMENT
AND PROMOTION OF INVESTMENTS
1. Each
Party undertakes to provide and maintain a favorable environment for
investments in its territory by nationals and companies of the other
Party and shall, in applying its laws, regulations, administrative
practices and procedures, permit such investments to be established and
acquired on terms and conditions that accord treatment no less favorable
than the treatment it accords to investments of its own nationals or
companies or to nationals and companies of any third country, whichever
is the most favorable.
2. (a)
Each Party shall accord investments in its territory, and associated
activities related to these investments, of nationals or companies of
the other Party treatment no less favorable than that which it accords
in like situations to investments and associated activities of its own
nationals or companies, or nationals or companies of any third country,
whichever is the most favorable. Associated activities related to an
investment include, but are not limited to:
(i) the
establishment, control and maintenance of branches, agencies, offices,
factories or other facilities for the conduct of business;
(ii) the
organization of companies under applicable laws and regulations; the
acquisition of companies or interests in companies or in their property;
and the management, control, maintenance, use, enjoyment and expansion,
and the sale, liquidation, dissolution or other disposition, of
companies organized or acquired;
(iii) the
making, performance and enforcement of contracts related to investment;
(iv) the
acquisition (whether by purchase, lease or any other legal means),
ownership and disposition (whether by sale, testament or any other legal
means) of personal property of all kinds, both tangible and intangible.
(v) the
leasing of real property appropriate for the conduct of business;
(vi) the
acquisition, maintenance and protection of copyrights, patents,
trademarks, trade secrets, trade names, licenses and other approvals of
products and manufacturing processes, and other industrial property
rights; and,
(vii) the
borrowing of funds at market terms and conditions from local, financial
institutions, as well as the purchase and issuance of equity shares in
the local financial markets, and, in accordance with national
regulations and practices, the purchase of foreign exchange for the
operation of the enterprise.
2. (b)
Consistent with paragraph 4 to this Article, each Party shall apply the
present Treaty to investments in its territory by nationals or companies
of the other Party made prior to the entry into force of this Treaty
provided such application is not inconsistent with agreements,
contractual arrangements, investment authorizations and licenses made
under legislation existing at the time the concerned investments were
made.
3.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, each Party
reserves the right to maintain limited exceptions to the standard of
national treatment otherwise required concerning investments or
associated activities if such exceptions fall within one of the sectors
listed in the Annex to this Treaty. Both parties hereby agree to
maintain the number of such exceptions to a minimum. In addition, each
Party shall notify the other Party of any specific measures which
constitute exceptions to the standard of national treatment provided
herein. In no event, however, shall the treatment to be accorded
pursuant to any exception be less favorable than that accorded in like
situations to investments and associated activities of nationals or
companies of any third country. Moreover, no exception, within the
sectors contained in the Annex, introduced after the date of entry into
force of this Treaty shall apply to investments of nationals or
companies of the other Party existing in that sector at the time the
exception becomes effective.
4. The
treatment, protection and security of investments shall never be less
than that required by international law and national legislation.
5. (a)
Subject to the laws relating to the entry and sojourn of aliens,
nationals of either Party shall be permitted to enter and to remain in
the territory of the other Party for the purpose of establishing,
developing, directing, administering or advising on the operations of an
investment to which they or the companies that employ them have
committed or are in the process of committing a substantial amount of
capital or other resources.
(b)
Nationals and companies of either Party, and their companies which they
own or control in the territory of the other Party, shall be able to
engage the managing director of their choice. Further, subject to
employment laws of each Party, nationals and companies of either Party
shall be permitted to engage, within the territory of the other Party,
professional and technical personnel of their choice, for the particular
purpose of rendering professional, technical and managerial assistance
necessary for the planning and operation of investments.
6. In the
context of national economic policies and the desire to promote
investment of all types, both private an public, the Parties recognize
that conditions of competitive equality be should be maintained where
investments owned or controlled within the territory of such Party, are
in competition under similar conditions with privately owned or
controlled investments of nationals and companies of the other Party.
7. In the
context of its national economic policies and objectives, each Party
shall seek to avoid the imposition of performance requirements on the
investments of nationals and companies of the other Party.
8. Each
Party recognizes that in order to maintain a favorable environment for
investments in its territory by nationals or companies of the other
Party, it should provide effective means of asserting claims and
enforcing rights with respect to investment agreements, investment
authorizations and properties. Each Party shall grant to nationals or
companies of the other Party, on terms and conditions no less favorable
than those which it grants in like situations to its own nationals or
companies or to nationals or companies of any third country, whichever
is the most favorable treatment, the right of access to its courts of
justice, administrative tribunals and agencies, and all other bodies
exercising adjudicatory authority, and the right to employ persons of
their choice, who otherwise qualify under applicable laws and
regulations of the forum for the purpose of asserting claims, and
enforcing rights, with respect to their investments.
9. Each
Party and its political or administrative subdivisions shall make public
all laws, regulations, administrative practices and procedures, and
adjudicatory decisions that pertain to or affect investments in its
territory of nationals or companies of the other Party.
ARTICLE
III
COMPENSATION FOR EXPROPRIATION
1. No
investment or any party of an investment of a national or a company of
either Party shall be expropriated or nationalized by the other Party or
a political or administrative subdivision thereof or subjected to any
other measure, direct or indirect (including, for example, the levying
of taxation, the compulsory sale of all or part of such an investment,
or impairment or deprivation of management, control or economic value of
such an investment by the national or company concerned), if the effect
of such other measure, or a series of such other measures, would be
tantamount to expropriation or nationalization (all expropriations, all
nationalizations and all such other measures hereinafter referred to as
"expropriation") unless the expropriation
(a) is
done for a public purpose;
(b) is
accomplished under due process of law;
(c) is
not discriminatory;
(d) is
accompanied by prompt and adequate compensation, freely realizable; and
(e) does
not violate any specific provision on contractual stability or
expropriation contained in an investment agreement between the national
or company concerned and the Party making the expropriation.
Compensation
shall be equivalent to the fair market value of the expropriated
investment on the date of expropriation. The calculation of such
compensation shall not reflect any reduction in such fair market value
due to either prior public notice or announcement of the expropriatory
action, or the occurrence of the events that constituted or resulted in
the expropriatory action. Such compensation shall include payments for
delay as may be considered appropriate under international law, and
shall be freely transferable at the prevailing rate of exchange for
current transactions on the date of the expropriatory action.
2. If
either Party or a political or administrative subdivision thereof
expropriates the investment of any company duly incorporated,
constituted or otherwise duly organized in its territory, and if
nationals or companies of the other Party, directly or indirectly, own,
hold or have other rights with respect to the equity of such company,
then the Party within whose territory the expropriation occurs shall
ensure that such nationals or companies of the other Party receive
compensation in accordance with the provisions of the preceding
paragraph.
3. Except
as otherwise provided in an agreement between the Parties, or between a
Party and a national or company of the other Party, a national or
company of either Party that asserts that all or part of its investment
in the territory of the other Party has been expropriated shall have a
right to prompt review by the appropriate judicial or administrative
authorities of such other Party to determine whether any such
expropriation has occurred and, if so, whether such expropriation, and
any compensation thereof, conforms to the principles of international
law as set forth in this Article.
ARTICLE
IV
COMPENSATION
FOR DAMAGES DUE TO WAR AND SIMILAR EVENTS
Nationals
or companies of either Party whose investments or returns in the
territory of either Party suffer
(a)
damages due to war or other armed conflict between such other Party and
a third country or
(b)
damages due to any kind of civil disturbance or insurrection in the
territory of such other party, shall be accorded treatment no less
favorable than that which such other Party accords to its own nationals
or companies or to nationals or companies of any third country,
whichever is the most favorable treatment, when making restitution,
indemnification, compensation or other appropriate settlement with
respect to such damages.
ARTICLE V
TRANSFERS
1. Either
Party shall in respect to investments by nationals or companies of the
other Party grant to those nationals or companies the free transfer of:
a.
returns.
b.
royalties and other payments deriving from licenses, franchises and
other similar grants or rights.
c.
installments in repayment of loans.
d.
amounts spent for the management of the investment in the territory of
the other Party or a third country.
e.
Additional funds necessary for the maintenance of the investment.
f. the
proceeds of partial or total sale or liquidation of the investment,
including a liquidation effected as a result of any event mentioned in
Article IV; and
g.
compensation payments pursuant to Article III.
2. To the
extent a national or company of either Party has not made another
arrangement with the appropriate authorities of the other Party in whose
territory the investment of such national or company is situated,
currency transfers made pursuant to Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be
permitted in the currency of the original investment or in any other
freely convertible currency. Such transfers shall be made at the
prevailing rate of exchange on the date of transfer with respect to
current transactions in the currency to be transferred.
3.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs, either Party may maintain laws
and regulations: (a) requiring reports of currency transfer; and (b)
imposing income taxes by such means as a withholding tax applicable to
dividends or other transfers. Furthermore, either Party may protect the
rights of creditors, or ensure the satisfaction of judgments in
adjudicatory proceedings, through the equitable, nondiscriminatory and
good faith application of its law.
ARTICLE
VI
CONSULTATIONS AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
1. The
Parties shall, upon the written request of either of them, promptly hold
consultations to discuss the interpretation or application of this
Treaty or to resolve any disputes in connection therewith. Consultations
shall be held should one Party request consultations to discuss the
effects on its national interests of laws, regulations, decisions,
administrative practices or procedures, or that pertain to or affect
investments of in the territory of such other Party, including
conditions imposed on establishment of investments. The consultations will
seek to avoid or ameliorate the adverse effects .that these laws,
regulations, decisions, administrative practices or procedures, or
policies may have on the Party requesting the consultations.
2.
Further, for the purpose of reviewing the operation of this Treaty in
encouraging investments, consultations should be held biennially between
the two Parties. Those consultations should aim at exchanging
information and views on the progress regarding investments.
3. If one
Party requests in writing that the other Party supply information in its
possession concerning investments in its territory by nationals or
companies of the Party making the request, then the other Party shall,
consistent with its applicable laws and regulations and with due regard
for business confidentiality, endeavor to establish appropriate
procedures and arrangements for the provision of any such information.
ARTICLE
VII
SETTLEMENT
OF LEGAL INVESTMENT DISPUTES BETWEEN ONE PARTY AND A NATIONAL OR COMPANY
OF THE OTHER PARTY
1. For
purposes of this Article, a legal investment dispute is defined as a
dispute involving (i) the interpretation or application of an investment
agreement between a Party and a national or company of the other Party;
or (ii) an alleged-breach of any right conferred or created by this
Treaty with respect to an investment.
2. In the
event of a legal investment dispute between a Party and a national or
company of the other Party with respect to an investment of such
national or company m the territory of such Party, the parties shall
initially seek to resolve the dispute by consultation and negotiation.
The Parties may, upon the initiative of either of them and as part of
their consultation and negotiation, agree to rely upon non-binding,
third-Party procedures. If the dispute cannot be resolved through
consultation and negotiation, then the dispute shall be submitted for
settlement in accordance with the applicable dispute-settlement
procedures upon which a Party and national or company of the other Party
have previously agreed. With respect to expropriation by either Party,
any dispute-settlement procedures specified in an investment agreement
between such Party and such national or company shall remain binding and
shall be enforceable in accordance with the terms of the investment
agreement and relevant provisions of domestic laws of such Party and
treaties and other international agreements regarding enforcement of
arbitral awards to which such Party has subscribed.
3. (a) In
the event that the legal investment dispute is not resolved under
procedures specified above, the national or company concerned may choose
to submit the dispute to the International Centre for the Settlement of
Investment Disputes ("Centre") for settlement by conciliation
or binding arbitration, if, within six (6) months of the date upon which
it arose: (i) the dispute has not been settled through consultation and
negotiation; or (ii) the dispute has not, for any good faith reason,
been submitted for resolution in accordance with any applicable
dispute-settlement procedures previously agreed to by the Parties to the
dispute; or (iii) the national or company concerned has not brought the
dispute before the courts of justice or administrative tribunals or
agencies of competent jurisdiction of the Party that is a Party to the
dispute.
(b) Each
Party hereby consents to the submission of an investment dispute to the
Centre for settlement by conciliation or binding arbitration.
(c)
Conciliation or binding arbitration of such disputes shall be done in
accordance with the provisions of the Convention on the Settlement of
Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States ("Convention")
and the Regulations and Rules of the Centre.
4. In any
proceeding, judicial, arbitral or otherwise, concerning a legal
investment dispute between it and a national or company of the other
Party, a Party shall not assert, as a defense, counterclaim right of
set-off or otherwise, that the national or company concerned has
received or will receive, pursuant to an insurance contract,
indemnification or other compensation for all or part of its alleged
damages from any third Party whatsoever, whether public or private,
including such other Party and its political or administrative
subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a national or company of the other Party shall not be
entitled to compensation for more than the value of its affected assets,
taking into account all sources of compensation within the territory of
the Party liable for the compensation.
5. For the
purpose of any proceedings initiated before the Centre in accordance
with this Article, any company that, immediately prior to the occurrence
of the event or events giving rise to the dispute, was a company of the
other Party, shall be treated as a national or company of such other
Party.
6. The
provisions of this Article shall not apply to a dispute arising under an
official export credit, guarantee, or insurance arrangement, pursuant to
which the Parties have agreed to other means of settling disputes.
ARTICLE
VIII
SETTLEMENT
OF DISPUTES BETWEEN THE PARTIES CONCERNING INTERPRETATION OR APPLICATION
OF THIS TREATY
1. Any
dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation or application
of this Treaty should, if possible, be resolved through diplomatic
channels.
2. If the
dispute cannot be resolved through diplomatic channels, it shall, upon
the agreement of the Parties, be submitted to the International Court of
Justice.
3. (a) In
the absence of such agreement, the dispute shall, upon the written
request of either Party, be submitted to an arbitral tribunal for
binding decision in accordance with the applicable rules and principles
of international law.
(b) The
Tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators, one appointed by each
Party, and a Chairman appointed by agreement of the other two
arbitrators. The Chairman shall not be a national of either Party. Each
Party shall appoint an arbitrator within 60 days, and the Chairman shall
be appointed within 90 days, after a Party has requested arbitration of
a dispute.
(c) If
the periods set forth in (b) above are not met, and in the absence of
some other arrangement between the Parties, either Party may invite the
President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary
appointment. If the President is a national of either of the Parties or
is unable to act for any reason, either Party may invite the Vice
President, or if he is a national of either Party or otherwise unable to
act, the next most senior member of the International Court of Justice,
to make the appointment.
(d) In
the event that an arbitrator is for any reason unable to perform his
duties, a replacement shall be appointed within thirty (30) days of
determination thereof, utilizing the same method by which the arbitrator
being replaced was appointed. If a replacement is not appointed within
the time limit specified above, either Party may invite the President of
the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointment. If
the President is a national of either of the Parties or is unable to act
for any reason, either Party may invite the Vice President, or if he is
also a national of either Party or otherwise unable to act, the next
most senior member of the International Court of Justice, to make the
appointment.
(e)
Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties to the dispute, all
submissions shall be made and all hearings shall be completed within one
hundred and twenty (120) days of the date of the selection of the third
arbitrator, and the Tribunal shall render its decision within thirty
(30) days of the date of the final submissions or the date of the
closing of the hearings, whichever is later, and such decisions shall be
binding on each Party.
(f)
Except as otherwise agreed to by the Parties, arbitration proceedings
shall be governed by the Model Rules on Arbitral Procedure adopted by
the United Nations International Law Commission in 1958 ("Model
Rules"), and commended to Member States by the United Nations
General Assembly in Resolution 1262 (XIII). To the extent that
procedural questions are not resolved by this Article or the Model Rules
they shall be resolved by the Tribunal. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Treaty or the Model Rules, the Tribunal shall in all
cases act by majority vote.
(g) Each
Party shall bear the costs of its own arbitrator and counsel in the
arbitral proceeding. The cost of the Chairman and remaining expenses
shall be borne in equal parts by the Parties.
4. The
provisions of this Article shall not apply to a dispute arising under an
official export credit, guarantee, or insurance arrangement, pursuant to
which the Parties have agreed to other means of settling disputes.
ARTICLE
IX
PRESERVATION OF RIGHTS
1. This
Treaty shall not supersede, prejudice, or otherwise derogate from (a)
laws, regulations, administrative practices or procedures, or
adjudicatory decisions of either Party, (b) international legal
obligations, or (c) obligations assumed by either Party, including those
contained in an investment agreement or an investment authorization,
whether extant at the time of entry into force of this Treaty or
thereafter, that entitle investments or associated activities of
nationals or companies of the other Party to treatment more favorable
than that accorded by this Treaty in like situations.
2. This
Treaty shall not derogate from or terminate any other agreement entered
into by the two Parties and in force as between the two Parties on the
date on which this Treaty enters into force.
ARTICLE X
MEASURES
NOT PRECLUDED BY TREATY
1. This
Treaty shall not preclude the application by either Party or any
subdivision thereof of any and all measures
necessary for the maintenance of public order and morals, the
fulfillment of its existing international obligations, the protection of
its own security interests, or such measures deemed appropriate by the
Parties to fulfill future international obligations.
2. This
Treaty shall not preclude either Party from prescribing special
formalities in connection with the establishment of investments in its
territories of nationals and companies of the other Party, but such
formalities shall not impair the substance of any of the rights set
forth in this Treaty.
ARTICLE
XI
TAXATION
With
respect to its tax policies, each Party should strive to accord fairness
and equity in the treatment of investments of nationals or companies of
the other Party. Nevertheless, all matters relating to the taxation of
nationals or companies of a Party, or their investments in the
territories of the other Party or a
subdivision thereof shall be excluded from this Treaty, subject,
except with regard to measures covered by Article III and the specific provisions of Article V.
ARTICLE
XII
APPLICATION OF TREATY TO POLITICAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE
PARTIES
This
Treaty shall apply to the political and/or administrative subdivisions
of each Party.
ARTICLE
XIII
ENTRY INTO
FORCE AND DURATION AND TERMINATION
1. This
Treaty shall be ratified by each of the Parties, and the instruments of
ratification thereof shall be exchanged as soon as possible.
2. This
Treaty shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the date of
exchange of the instruments of ratification. It shall remain in force
for a period of ten (10) years and shall continue in force unless
terminated in accordance with Paragraph 3 of this Article.
3. Either
Party may, by giving one (1) year's written notice to the other Party,
terminate this Treaty at the end of the initial ten (10) year period or
at any time thereafter.
4. With
respect to investments made or acquired prior to the date of termination
of this Treaty and to which this Treaty otherwise applies, the
provisions of all of the other Articles of this Treaty shall continue to
be effective for a further period of ten (10) years from such date of
termination.
5. The
attached Annex and Protocol are integral parts of this Treaty.
DONE in
duplicate at Washington this twenty-ninth day of September 19822 in the
English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the
United States of America:
WILLIAM
E. BROCK, Jr.
For the
Arab Republic of Egypt:
WAJIH
SHINDY.
2 As modified by the Supplementary Protocol, signed at Cairo, March 11, 1986.
ANNEX
Consistent
with Article II Paragraph 3, each Party reserves the right to maintain
limited exceptions in the sectors it has indicated below:
THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Air
transportation, ocean and coastal shipping; banking; insurance;
government grants; government insurance and loan programs; energy and
power production; use of land and natural resources; custom house
brokers; ownership of real estate; radio and television broadcasting,
telephone and telegraph services; submarine cable services; satellite
communications.
THE ARAB
REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
Air and
sea transportation; maritime agencies; land transportation other than
that of tourism; mail, telecommunication, telegraph services and other
public services which are state monopolies; banking and insurance;
commercial activity such as distribution, wholesaling, retailing, import
and export activities; commercial agency and broker activities;
ownership of real estate; use of land; natural resources; national
loans; radio, television, and the issuance of newspapers and magazines.
PROTOCOL 3
3 Text as agreed in Supplementary Protocol, signed at
Cairo, March 11, 1986. This replaces the protocol of September 29,
1982.
On signing the Treaty concerning the Reciprocal
Encouragement and Protection of Investments, the Arab Republic of
Egypt and the United States of America have, in addition, agreed on
the following provisions which should be regarded as an integral part
of this Treaty:
1. Each Party reserves the right to deny the
benefits of this Treaty to any company of either Party, or its
affiliates or subsidiaries, if nationals of any third country control
such company, affiliate or subsidiary; provided that, whenever one
Party concludes that the benefits of this Treaty should not be
extended for this reason, it shall promptly consult with the other
Party to seek a mutually satisfactory resolution of this matter.
2. "Control" means to have a substantial share or
ownership rights and the ability to exercise decisive influence.
Differences as to the existence of control shall be resolved according
to the provisions of Article VIII.
3. (a) The treatment accorded by the United States to
nationals or companies of Egypt under the provisions of Article II (1)
and (2) shall in any state of the United States of other territory,
possession, or political or administrative subdivision of the United
States be the treatment accorded therein to residents of or companies
incorporated, constituted or otherwise duly organized in other States
of the United States or territories, possessions, or political or
administrative subdivisions of the United States.
(b) The treatment accorded by Egypt to nationals and
companies of the United States with respect to the establishment and
acquisition of investments in limited sensitive geographic areas
designated for exclusive Egyptian investment shall be no less
favorable than the treatment it accords to investments of nationals
and companies of any third country. Egypt reserves the right to modify
the areas covered, provided that such areas will be kept to a minimum
and will not substantially impair the investment opportunities of
United States nationals or companies.
4. The provisions of Article II, paragraph 3, relating to most favored nation treatment, shall not apply to advantages accorded by either Party to nationals or companies of a third country by virtue of a special security or regional arrangement, including regional customs unions or free trade areas. Further, these provisions do not apply to the ownership of real estate. The provisions of Article II paragraph 1, relating to most favored nation treatment, shall not be construed to oblige one Party to extend to nationals or companies of the other the benefit of any treatment, preference or privilege which may be extended by the former Party by virtue of a customs union or in the field of housing. Moreover, with regard to rights to engage in mining on the public domain, each Party retains the right to accord to nationals or companies of the other Party treatment which is like or similar to that accorded by the other Party to nationals or companies of the first Party.
5. It is understood that this Treaty does not derogate from the rights of either Party regarding the establishment of qualifications as for the practice of professions, including law and accountancy. These qualifications may confine the practice of such professions to nationals or companies of a Party, provided that they are applied on a nondiscriminatory basis; and provided, further, that such nationality requirements do not derogate from the right of nationals and companies. of either Party, pursuant to Article II (5)(b) to engage professional and technical personnel of their choice to render professional and technical services necessary for the internal planning and operation of the investment.
6. This Treaty, and in particular, the provisions of Article II, paragraph 5(b) shall be subject to the provisions of Article X.
7. With respect to Article II (6), performance requirements are conditions imposed which would require an investor to export a minimum percentage of final product or to source some inputs locally.
8. With regard to Article III, Paragraph 1(d) the term "prompt" does not necessarily mean instantaneous. The intent is that the Party diligently and expeditiously carry out any necessary formalities.
9. With regard to Article III, paragraph 1, the phrase "events that constituted or resulted in the expropriatory action" refers to conduct attributable to the expropriatory Party and not to conduct of the national or company. The inclusion of subparagraph (e) in Article III, paragraph 1, is without prejudice to the measure of compensation due in the event of expropriation.
10. The Parties recognize that restrictions on transfers abroad of sales or liquidation proceeds of an investment will adversely affect future capital inflows, contrary to the spirit of this Treaty and the interests of the Party imposing those restrictions. Nevertheless, the Parties recognize that it is possible that the Arab Republic of Egypt may find its foreign exchange reserves at a very low level. In these circumstances, the Arab Republic of Egypt may temporarily delay transfers required under Article V, Paragraph 1(t), but only: (i) in a manner not less favorable that that accorded to comparable transfers to investors of third countries; (ii) to the extent and for the time period necessary to restore its reserves to a minimally acceptable level, but in no case for period of time longer than that permitted by the provisions of Law 43 in force on the date of signature of this Treaty; and (ill) after providing the investor an opportunity to invest the sales or liquidation proceeds in a manner which will preserve their real value free of exchange risk until transfer occurs.
11. Concerning Article VII (3)(a)(ii), it is understood that the Parties to the dispute may previously agree to submission of the dispute to the jurisdiction of domestic courts and tribunals. The Parties will maintain a nondiscriminatory policy regarding the inclusion and implementation of such provisions in any investment contract.
12. With regard to the Annex, the exceptions noted by the Arab Republic of Egypt under "commercial activity" do not include integrated operations which combine production and sales activities for their products.
13. Recognizing that international financial markets and institutions further stimulate the process of economic development through the international transmission of investment and associated technology, each Party undertakes to maintain a favorable environment for investment by nationals or companies of the other Party in the insurance and banking sectors. Therefore, each Party accords to investments by nationals or companies of the other Party in investment banks, merchant-banks and reinsurance companies whose activities are confined to transactions in foreign currencies treatment no less favorable than that accorded under existing laws and regulations to investments by its own nationals and companies or to investments by nationals or companies of any third country, whichever is the more favorable. Both Parties agree to hold future discussions concerning the expansion of investment possibilities in these sectors by nationals or companies of either Party in the territory of the other Party.
DONE in duplicate at Cairo this 11th day of March 1986 in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the Government of the United States of America:
NICHOLAS A. VELIOTES,
Ambassador.
For the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt:
Sultan Abou Ali,
Minister of Economy and Trade.
TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT CONCERNING THE RECIPROCAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS
Whereas, the United States of America and the Arab Republic of Egypt (each hereinafter referred to as a "Party"), both recognize the importance of providing mutually beneficial support for the major efforts that each has contributed in fostering international peace both within and beyond their respective regions, and
Whereas, each Party recognizes that economic expansion and development are basic elements in the process of strengthening the efforts for and the bonds of international peace and friendship within an atmosphere of stability and security, and
Whereas, each agrees that economic cooperation through the pursuit of policies and practices which foster bilateral trade and investment, will contribute substantially to the long-term benefit and welfare of the peoples of each Party, and
Recognizing that agreement on a general framework for the encouragement and nondiscriminatory treatment of investments will stimulate the flow of productive capital and technology and there by provide for a more effective use of capital and technical resources for development needs, further promoting economic stability and durable peace,
Both have resolved to conclude a bilateral Treaty pertaining to the reciprocal encouragement and protection of investments, and
Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1. For the purposes of this Treaty, (a) "company" means any kind of juridical entity; including any corporation, company, association, or other organization, that is duly incorporated, constituted, or otherwise duly organized, regardless of whether or not the entity is duly organized for pecuniary gain, privately or publicly owned, or organized with limited or unlimited liability.
(b) "company of a Party" means a company duly incorporated, constituted, or otherwise duly organized under the applicable laws and regulations of a Party or a political or administrative subdivision thereof in which
(i) natural persons who are nationals of such Party, or
(ii) such Party or a; political or administrative subdivision thereof or their agencies or instrumentalities have a substantial interest.
Each Party reserves the right to deny to any of its own companies or to a company of the other Party the advantages of this Treaty, if nationals of any third country own or control such company; provided that whenever one Party believes that the benefits of this Treaty should not be extended to a company of the other Party for this reason, it shall first consult with the other Party to seek a mutually satisfactory resolution of this matter.
The juridical status of a company of a Party shall be recognized by the other Party and its political or administrative subdivisions.
(c) "investment" means every kind of investment, owned or controlled, including equity, debt, service and investment contracts; and includes, but is not limited to:
(i) tangible and intangible property, including rights, such as mortgages, liens and pledges;
(ii) a company or shares of stock in a company or interests in the assets thereof;
(iii) a claim to money or a claim to performance having economic value due under an investment agreement;
(iv) valid intellectual and industrial property rights, including, but not limited to, rights with respect to copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade names, industrial designs, trade secrets and know-how, and goodwill;
(v) licenses and permits issued pursuant to law, including those issued for manufacture and sale of products;
(vi) any right conferred by law or contract including, but not limited to, rights, within the confines of law, to search for or utilize natural resources, and rights to manufacture, use and sell products;
(vii) returns which are reinvested.
(d) "own or control" means ownership or control that is direct or indirect, including ownership or control exercised through subsidiaries or affiliates, wherever located.
(e) "national" of a Party means a natural person who is a national of a Party under its applicable law.
(f) "return" means an amount derived from an investment, including but not limited to, profit; dividend; interest; royalty payment; management, technical assistance or other fee; and payment in kind.
ARTICLE II
ENCOURAGEMENT AND PROMOTION OF INVESTMENTS
1. Each Party undertakes to provide and maintain a favorable environment for investments in its territory by nationals and companies of the other Party and shall, in applying its laws, regulations, administrative practices and procedures, permit such investments to be established and acquired on terms and conditions that accord treatment no less favorable than the treatment it accords to investments of its own nationals or companies or to nationals and companies of any third country, whichever is the most favorable.
2. (a) Each Party shall accord investments in its territory, and associated activities related to these investments, of nationals or companies of the other Party treatment no less favorable than that which it accords in like situations to investments and associated activities of its own nationals or companies, or nationals or companies of any third country, whichever is the most favorable. Associated activities related to an investment include, but are not limited to:
(i) the establishment, control and maintenance of branches, agencies, offices, factories or other facilities for the conduct of business;
(ii) the organization of companies under applicable laws and regulations; the acquisition of companies or interests in companies or in their property; and the management, control, maintenance, use, enjoyment and expansion, and the sale, liquidation, dissolution or other disposition, of companies organized or acquired;
(iii) the making, performance and enforcement of contracts related to investment;
(iv) the acquisition (whether by purchase, lease or any other, legal means), ownership and disposition (whether by sale, testament or any other legal means) of personal property of all kinds, both tangible and intangible.
(v) the leasing of real property appropriate for the conduct of business;
(vi) the acquisition, maintenance and protection of copyrights, patents, trademarks; trade secrets, trade names, licenses and other approvals of products and manufacturing processes, and other industrial property rights; and,
(vii) the borrowing of funds at market terms and conditions from local financial institutions, as well as the purchase and issuance of equity shares in the local financial markets, and, in accordance with national regulations and practices, the purchase of foreign exchange for the operation of the enterprise.
2. (b) Consistent with paragraph 4 of this Article, each Party shall apply the present Treaty to investments in its territory by nationals or companies of the other Party made prior to the entry into force of this Treaty provided such application is not inconsistent with agreements, contractual arrangements, investment authorizations and licenses made under legislation existing at the time the concerned investments were made.
3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, each Party reserves the right to maintain limited exceptions to the standard of national treatment otherwise required concerning investments or associated activities if such exceptions fall within one of the sectors listed in the Annex to this Treaty, Both parties hereby agree to maintain the number of such exceptions to a minimum. In addition, each Party shall notify the other Party of any specific measures which constitute exceptions to the standard of national treatment provided herein. In no event, however, shall the treatment to be accorded pursuant to any exception be less favorable than that accorded in like situations to investments and associated activities of nationals or companies of any third country. Moreover, no exception, within the sectors contained in the Annex, introduced after the date of entry into force of this Treaty shall apply to investments of nationals or companies of the other Party existing in that sector at the time the exception becomes effective.
4. The treatment, protection and security of investments shall never be less than that required by international law and national legislation.
5. (a) Subject to the laws relating to the entry and sojourn of aliens, nationals of either Party shall be permitted to enter and to remain in the territory of the other Party for the purpose of establishing, developing, directing, administering or advising on the operations of an investment to which they or the companies that employ them have committed or are in the process of committing a substantial amount of capital or other resources.
b) Nationals and companies of either Party, and their companies which they own or control in the territory of the other Party, shall be able to engage the managing director of their choice. Further, subject to employment laws of each Party, nationals and companies of either Party shall be permitted to engage, within the territory of the other Party, professional and technical personnel of their choice, for the particular purpose of rendering professional, technical and managerial assistance necessary for the planning and operation of investments.
6. In the context of national economic policies and the desire to promote investment of all types, both private and public, the Parties recognize that conditions of competitive equality should be maintained where investments owned or controlled by a Party or its agencies or instrumentalities, within the territory of such Party, are in competition under similar conditions and situations with privately owned or controlled investments of nationals or companies of the other Party.
7. In the context of its national economic policies and objectives, each Party shall seek to avoid the imposition of performance requirements on the investments of nationals and companies of the other Party.
8. Each Party recognizes that in order to maintain a favorable environment for investments in its territory by nationals or companies of the other Party, it should provide effective means of asserting claims and enforcing rights with respect to investment agreements, investment authorizations and properties. Each Party shall grant to nationals or companies of the other Party, on terms and conditions no less favorable than those which it grants in like situations to its own nationals or companies or to nationals or companies of any third country, whichever is the most favorable treatment, the right of access to its courts of justice, administrative tribunals and agencies, and all other bodies exercising adjudicatory authority, and the right to employ persons of their choice, who otherwise qualify under applicable laws and regulations of the forum for the purpose of asserting claims, and enforcing rights, with respect to their investments.
9. Each Party and its political or administrative subdivisions shall make public all laws, regulations, administrative practices and procedures, and adjudicatory decisions that pertain to or affect investments in its territory of nationals or companies of the other Party.
ARTICLE III
COMPENSATION FOR EXPROPRIATION
No investment or any party of an investment of a national or a company of either Party shall be expropriated or nationalized by the other Party or a political or administrative subdivision thereof or subjected to any other measure, direct or indirect (including, for example, the levying of taxation, the compulsory sale of all or part of such an investment, or impairment or deprivation of management, control or economic value of such an investment by the national or company concerned), if the effect of such other measure, or a series of such other measures, would be tantamount to expropriation or nationalization (all expropriations, all nationalizations and all such other measures hereinafter referred to as "expropriation") unless the expropriation
(a) is done for a public purpose;
(b) is accomplished under due process of law;
(c) is not discriminatory;
(d) is accompanied by prompt and adequate compensation, freely realizable; and
(e) does not violate any specific provision on contractual stability or expropriation contained in an investment agreement between the national or company concerned and the Party making the expropriation.
Compensation shall be equivalent to the fair market value of the expropriated investment on the date of expropriation. The calculation of such compensation shall not reflect any reduction in such fair market value due to either prior public notice or announcement of the expropriatory action, or the occurrence of the events that constituted or resulted in the expropriatory action. Such compensation shall include payments for delay as may be considered appropriate under international law, and shall be freely transferable at the prevailing rate of exchange for current transactions on the date of the expropriatory action.
2. If either Party or a political or administrative subdivision thereof expropriates -the investment of any company duly incorporated, constituted or otherwise duly organized in its territory, and if nationals or companies of the other Party, directly or indirectly, own, hold or have other rights with respect to the equity of such company, then the Party within whose territory the expropriation occurs shall ensure that such nationals or companies of the other Party receive compensation in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
3. Except as otherwise provided in an agreement between the Parties, or between a Party and a national or company of the other Party, a national or company of either Party that asserts that all or part of its investment in the territory of the other Party has been expropriated shall have a right to prompt review by the appropriate judicial or administrative authorities of such other Party to determine whether any such expropriation has occurred and, if so, whether such expropriation, and any compensation thereof, conforms to the principles of international law as set forth in this Article.
ARTICLE IV
COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES DUE TO WAR AND SIMILAR EVENTS
Nationals or companies of either Party whose investments or returns in the territory of either Party suffer
(a) damages due to war or other armed conflict between such other Party and a third country or
(b) damages due to any kind of civil disturbance or insurrection in the territory of such other party, shall be accorded treatment no less favorable than that which such other Party accords to its own nationals or companies or to nationals or companies of any third country, whichever is the most favorable treatment, when making restitution, indemnification, compensation or other appropriate settlement with respect to such damages.
ARTICLE V
1. Either Party shall in respect to investments by nationals or companies of the other Party grant to those nationals or companies the free transfer of:
a. returns.
b. royalties and other payments deriving from licenses, franchises and other similar grants or rights.
c. installments in repayment of loans.
d. amounts spent for the management of the investment in the territory of the other Party or a third country.
e. Additional funds necessary for the maintenance of the investment.
f. the proceeds of partial or total sale or liquidation of the investment, including a liquidation effected as a result of any event mentioned in Article IV; and
g. compensation payments pursuant to Article III.
2. To the extent a national or company of either Party has not made another arrangement with the appropriate authorities of the other Party in whose territory the investment of such national or company is situated, currency transfers made pursuant to Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be permitted in the currency of the original investment or in any other freely convertible currency. Such transfers shall be made at the prevailing rate of exchange on the date of transfer with respect to current transactions in the currency to be transferred.
3. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs, either Party may maintain laws and regulations: (a) requiring reports of currency transfer; and (b) imposing income taxes by such means as a withholding tax applicable to dividends or other transfers. Furthermore, either Party may protect the rights of creditors, or ensure the satisfaction of judgments in adjudicatory proceedings, through the equitable, nondiscriminatory and good faith application of its law.
ARTICLE VI
CONSULTATIONS AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
1. The Parties shall, upon the written request of either of them, promptly hold consultations to discuss the interpretation or application of this Treaty or to resolve any disputes in connection therewith. Consultations shall be held should one Party request consultations to discuss the effects on its national interests of laws, regulations, decisions, administrative practices ,or procedures, or policies of the other Party that pertain to or affect investments of its nationals or companies in the territory of such other Party, including conditions imposed on establishment of investments. The consultations, will seek to avoid or ameliorate the adverse effects that these laws, regulations, decisions, administrative practices procedures, or policies may have on the Party requesting the consultations.
2. Further, for the purpose of reviewing the operation of this Treaty in encouraging investments, consultations should be held biennially between the two Parties. Those consultations should aim at exchanging information and views on the progress regarding investments.
3. If one Party requests in writing that the other Party supply information in its possession concerning'" investments. in its territory by nationals or companies of the Party making the request, then the other Party shall, consistent with its applicable laws and regulations and with due regard for business confidentiality, endeavor to establish appropriate procedures and arrangements for the provision of any such information.
ARTICLE VII
SETTLEMENT OF LEGAL INVESTMENT DISPUTES BETWEEN ONE PARTY AND A NATIONAL OR COMPANY OF THE OTHER PARTY
1. For purposes of this Article, a legal investment dispute is de fined as a dispute involving (i) the interpretation or application of an investment agreement between a Party and a national or company of the other Party; or (ii) an alleged breach of any right conferred or created by this Treaty with respect to an investment.
2. In the event of a legal investment dispute between a Party and a national or company of the other Party with respect to an investment of such national or company-in the territory of such Party, the parties shall initially seek to resolve the dispute by consultation and negotiation. The Parties may, upon the initiative of either of them and as part of their consultation and negotiation, agree to rely upon non-binding, third-Party procedures. If the dispute cannot be resolved through consultation and negotiation, then the dispute shall be submitted for settlement in accordance with the applicable dispute-settlement procedures upon which a Party and national or company of the other Party have previously agreed. With respect to expropriation by either Party, any dispute-settlement procedures specified in an investment agreement between such Party and such national or company shall remain binding and shall be enforceable in accordance with the terms of the investment agreement and relevant provisions of domestic laws of such Party and treaties and other international agreements regarding enforcement of arbitral awards to which such Party has subscribed.
3. (a) In the event that the legal investment dispute is not ref solved under procedures' specified above, the national or company concerned may choose to submit the dispute to the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes ("Centre") for settlement by conciliation or binding arbitration, if, within six (6) months of the date upon which it arose: (i) the dispute has not been settled through consultation and negotiation; or (ii) the dispute has not, for any good faith reason, been submitted for resolution in accordance with any applicable dispute settlement procedures previously agreed to by the Parties. to. the dispute; or (iii) the national or company concerned has not brought the dispute before the courts of justice or administrative tribunals or agencies of competent jurisdiction of the Party that is a Party to the dispute.
(b) Each Party hereby consents to the submission of an investment dispute to the Centre for settlement by conciliation or binding arbitration.
(c) Conciliation or binding arbitration of such disputes shall be done in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States (“Convention”) and the Regulations and Rules of the Centre.
4. In any proceeding, judicial, arbitral or otherwise, concerning a legal investment dispute between it and a national or company of the other Party, a Party shall not assert, as a defense, counter claim right of set-off or otherwise, that the national or company concerned has received or will receive, pursuant to an insurance contract, indemnification or other compensation for all or part of its alleged damages from any third Party whatsoever, whether public or private, including such other Party and its political or administrative subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a national or company of the other Party shall not be entitled to compensation for more than the value of its affected assets, taking into account all sources of compensation within the territory of the Party liable for the compensation.
5. For the purpose of any proceedings initiated before the Centre in accordance with this Article, any company that, immediately prior to the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the dispute, was a company of the other Party, shall be treated as a national or company of such other Party.
6. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to a dispute arising under an official export credit, guarantee, or insurance arrangement, pursuant to which the Parties have agreed to other means of settling disputes.
ARTICLE VIII
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES BETWEEN THE PARTIES CONCERNING INTERPRETATION OR APPLICATION OF THIS TREATY
1. Any dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Treaty should, if possible, be resolved through diplomatic channels.
2. If the dispute cannot be resolved through diplomatic channels, shall, upon the agreement of the Parties, be submitted to the international Court of Justice.
3.(a) In the absence of such agreement, the dispute shall, upon the written request of either Party, be submitted to an arbitral tribunal for binding decision in accordance with the applicable rules and principles of international law.
(b) The Tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators, one appointed by each Party, and a Chairman appointed by agreement of the other two arbitrators. The Chairman shall not be a national of either Party. Each Party shall appoint an arbitrator within 60 days, and the Chairman shall be appointed within 90 days, after a Party has requested arbitration of a dispute.
(c) If the periods set forth in (b) above are not met, and in the absence of some other arrangement between the Parties, either Party may invite the President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointment. If the President is a national of either of the Parties or is unable to act for any reason, either Party may invite the Vice President, or if he is also a national of either Party or otherwise unable to act, the next most senior member of the International Court of Justice, to make the appointment.
(d) In the event that an arbitrator is for any reason unable to perform his duties, a replacement shall be appointed within thirty (30) days of determination thereof, utilizing the same method by which the arbitrator being replaced was appointed. If a replacement is not appointed within the time limit specified above, either Party may invite the President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointment. If the President is a national of either of the Parties or is unable to act for any reason, either Party may invite the Vice President, or if he is also a national of either Party or otherwise unable to act, the next most senior member of the International Court of Justice, to make the appointment.
(e) Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties to the dispute, all submissions shall be made and all hearings shall be, completed within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date of the selection of the third arbitrator, and the Tribunal shall render its decision within thirty (30) days of the date of the final submissions or the date of the closing of the hearings, whichever is later, and such decisions shall be binding on each Party.
(f) Except as otherwise agreed to by the Parties, arbitration proceedings shall be governed by the Model Rules on Arbitral Procedure adopted by the United Nations International Law Commission in 1958 ("Model Rules"), and commended to Member States by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 1262 (XITI). To the extent that procedural questions are not resolved by this Article or the Model Rules they shall be resolved by the Tribunal. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Treaty.. or the Model Rules, the Tribunal shall in all cases act by majority vote.
(g) Each Party shall bear the costs of its own arbitrator and counsel in the arbitral proceeding. The cost of the Chairman and remaining expenses shall be borne in equal parts by the Parties.
4. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to a dispute arising under an official export credit; guarantee, or insurance arrangement, pursuant to which the Parties have agreed to other means of settling disputes.
ARTICLE IX
PRESERVATION OF RIGHTS
1. This Treaty shall not supersede, prejudice, or otherwise derogate from (a) laws, regulations, administrative practices or procedures, or adjudicatory decisions of either Party, (b) international legal obligations, or (c) obligations assumed by either Party, including those contained in an investment agreement or an investment authorization, whether extant at the time of entry into force of this Treaty or thereafter, that entitle investments or associated activities of nationals or companies of the other Party to treatment more favorable that that accorded by this Treaty in like situations.
2. This Treaty shall not derogate from or terminate any other agreement entered into by the two Parties and in force as between the two Parties on the date on which this Treaty enters into force.
ARTICLE X
MEASURES NOT PRECLUDED BY TREATY
1. This Treaty shall not preclude the application by either Party or any political or administrative subdivision thereof of any and all measures necessary for the maintenance of public order and morals, the fulfillment of its existing international obligations, the protection of its own security interests, or such measures deemed appropriate by the Parties to fulfill future international obligations.
2. This Treaty shall not preclude either Party from prescribing special formalities in connection with the establishment of investments in its territories of nationals and companies of the other Party, but such formalities shall not impair the substance of any of the rights set forth in this Treaty.
ARTICLE XI
Taxation
With respect to its tax policies, each Party should strive to accord fairness and equity in the treatment of investments of nationals or companies of the other Party. Nevertheless, all matters relating to the taxation of nationals or companies of a Party, or their investments in the territories of the other Party or a political or administrative subdivision thereof shall be excluded from this Treaty, subject, however, to specific provisions of Articles III and V.
ARTICLE XII
APPLICATION OF TREATY TO POLITICAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE PARTIES
This Treaty shall apply to the political and/or administrative subdivisions of each Party.
ARTICLE XIII
ENTRY INTO FORCE AND DURATION AND TERMINATION
1. This Treaty shall be ratified by each of the Parties, and the instruments of ratification thereof shall be exchanged as soon as possible.
2. This Treaty shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the date of exchange of the instruments of ratification. It shall remain in force for a period of ten (10) years and shall continue in force unless terminated in accordance with Paragraph 3 of this Article.
3. Either Party may, by giving one (1) year's written notice to the other Party, terminate this Treaty at the end of the initial ten (10) year period or at any time thereafter.
4. With respect to investments made or acquired prior to the date of termination of this Treaty and to which this Treaty other wise applies, the provisions of all of the other Articles of this Treaty shall continue to be effective for a further period of ten (10) years from such date of termination.
5. The attached Annex and Protocol are integral parts of this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Washington this twenty-ninth day of September 1982 in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the United States of America:
WILLIAM E. BROCK, Jr.
For the Arab Republic of Egypt:
WAJIH SHINDY.
ANNEX
Consistent with Article II paragraph 3, each Party reserves the right to maintain limited exceptions in the sectors it has indicated below:
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Air transportation, ocean and coastal shipping; banking; insurance; government grants; government insurance and loan programs; energy and power production; use of land and natural resources; custom house brokers; ownership of real estate; radio and television broadcasting; telephone and telegraph services; submarine cable services; satellite communications.
THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
Air and sea transportation; maritime agencies; land transportation other than that of tourism; mail, telecommunication, telegraph services and other public services which are state monopolies; banking and insurance; commercial activity such as distribution of wholesaling, retailing, import and export activities; commercial agency and broker activities; ownership of real estate; use of land; natural resources; national loans; radio, television, and the issuance of newspapers and magazines.
SUPPLEMENTARY
PROTOCOL
The duly
authorized Plenipotentiaries of the Parties have agreed upon the
following provisions regarding the Treaty between the United States of
America and the Arab Republic of Egypt concerning the Reciprocal
Encouragement and Protection of Investments, signed in Washington, D.C.
on September 29, 1982. The following changes will form an integral part
of the Treaty. Upon the completion of the Parties' respective
constitutional procedures for approval, these changes will be integrated
into a single unified text of the Treaty which will, as modified, be
published as the official Treaty text.
ARTICLE I
Paragraph
1(a) is changed to read as follows:
(a) "company"
means any kind of juridical entity; including any corporation, company,
association, or other juridical entity, that is duly incorporated,
constituted, or otherwise duly organized, regardless of whether or not
the entity is duly organized for pecuniary gain, privately or publicly owned
or organized with limited or unlimited liability.
Paragraph
1(b) is changed to read as follows:
(b) "company
of a Party" means a company duly incorporated, constituted, or
otherwise duly organized under the applicable laws and regulations of a
Party or its subdivisions in which
(i)
natural persons who are nationals of such Party, or
(ii) such
Party or its subdivisions or their agencies or instrumentalities have a
substantial interest. The Juridical status of a company of a Party shall
be recognized by the other Party and its subdivisions.
Paragraph
1(c) is changed to read as follows:
(c)
investment means every kind of asset, owned or controlled, and includes
but is not limited to:
(i)
tangible and intangible property, including rights, such as mortgages,
liens and pledges;
(ii) a
company or shares of stock in a company or interests in the assets
thereof,
(iii) a
claim to money or a claim to performance having economic value due under
an investment agreement;
(iv)
valid intellectual and industrial property rights, including, but not
limited to, rights with respect to copyrights, patents, trademarks,
trade names, industrial designs, trade secrets, know-how, and goodwill;
(v)
licenses and permits issued pursuant to law, including those issued for
manufacture and sale of products;
(vi) any
right conferred by law or contract including, but not limited to,
rights, within the confines of law, to search for or utilize natural
resources, and rights to manufacture, use and sell products;
(vii)
returns which are reinvested.
Paragraph
1(d) is changed to read as follows:
(d) "own
or control" includes ownership or control exercised through
subsidiaries or affiliates.
ARTICLE
II
Paragraph 2 is changed to read as follows:
2. (a)
Each Party shall accord investments in its territory, and associated
activities in connection with these investments, of nationals or
companies of the other Party treatment no less favorable than that which
it accords in like situations to investments and associated activities
of its own nationals or companies, or nationals or companies of any
third country, whichever is the most favorable. Associated activities in
connection with an investment include, but are not limited to:
(i) the
establishment, control and maintenance of branches, agencies, offices,
factories or other facilities for the conduct of business;
(ii) the
organization of companies under applicable laws and regulations; the
acquisition of companies or interests in companies or in their property;
and the management, control, maintenance, use, enjoyment and expansion,
and the sale, liquidation, dissolution or other disposition, of
companies organized or acquired;
(iii) the
making, performance and enforcement of contracts related to investment;
(iv) the
acquisition (whether by purchase, lease or any other legal means),
ownerships and disposition (whether by sale, testament or any other
legal means) of personal property of all kinds, both tangible and
intangible.
(v) the
leasing of real property appropriate for the conduct of business;
(vi) the
acquisition, maintenance and protection of copyrights, patents,
trademarks, trade secrets, trade names, licenses and other approvals of
products and manufacturing processes, and other industrial property
rights; and,
(vii) the
borrowing of funds at market terms and conditions from local financial
institutions, as well as the purchase and issuance of equity shares in
the local financial markets, and, in accordance with national
regulations and practices, the purchase of foreign exchange for the
operation of the enterprise.
(b) This
Treaty shall also apply to investments by nationals or companies of
either Party, made prior to the entering into force of this Treaty and
accepted in accordance with the respective prevailing legislation of
either Party.
Paragraph
3 is renumbered as paragraphs 3(a) and 3(b) and changed to read as
follows:
3. (a)
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, each Party
reserves the right to maintain limited exceptions to the standard of
national treatment otherwise required concerning investments or
associated activities if exceptions fall within one of the sectors
listed in the Annex to this Treaty. Both Parties hereby agree to
maintain the number of such exceptions to a minimum. In addition, each
Party shall notify the other Party of any specific measures which
constitute exceptions to the standard of national treatment provided
herein. In no event, however, shall the treatment to be accorded
pursuant to any exception-be less favorable than that accorded in like
situations to investments and associated activities of nationals or
companies of any third country. Moreover, no exception, within the
sectors contained in the Annex, introduced after the date of entry into
force of this Treaty shall apply to investments of nationals or
companies of the other Party existing in that sector at the time the
exception becomes effective.
(b) Each
Party retains the discretion to approve investments according to
national plans and priorities on a nondiscriminatory basis consistent
with paragraphs (1) and (3)(a) of this Article.
Paragraph
5(a) is changed to read as follows:
5. (a)
Subject to the laws relating to the entry and sojourn of aliens,
nationals of either Party shall be permitted to enter and reside in the
territory of the other Party for the purpose of establishing,
developing, directing, administering or advising on the operations of an
investment to which they or the companies that employ them have
committed or are in the process of committing a substantial amount of
capital or other resources. Paragraph 6 is deleted and paragraphs 7, 8,
and 9 are renumbered as paragraphs 6, 7, and 8, respectively.
Paragraph
8 (formerly paragraph 9) is changed to read as follows:
8. Each
Party and its subdivisions shall make public all laws, regulations,
administrative practices and procedures, and adjudicatory decisions that
pertain to affect investments in its territory of the other Party.
ARTICLE
III
Paragraph
1 is changed to read as follows:
1. No
investment or any part of an investment of a national or company of
either Party shall be expropriated or nationalized by the other Party or
by a subdivision thereof-or subjected to any other measure, direct or
indirect, if the effect of such other measure, or a series of such other
measures, would be tantamount to expropriation or nationalization (all
expropriations, all nationalizations and all such other measures
hereinafter referred to as "expropriation")-unless the
expropriation
(a) is
done for a public purpose;
(b) is
accomplished under due process of law;
(c) is
not discriminatory;
(d) is
accompanied by prompt and adequate compensation, freely realizable; and
(e) does
not violate any specific contractual engagement.
Compensation shall be equivalent to the fair market value of the
expropriated investment on the date of expropriation. The calculation of
such compensation shall not reflect any reduction in such fair market
value due to either prior public notice or announcement of the
expropriatory action, or the occurrence of the events that constituted
or resulted in the expropriatory action. Such compensation shall include
payments for delay as may be considered appropriate under international
law, and shall be freely transferable at the prevailing rate of exchange
for current transactions on the date of the expropriatory action.
Paragraph
2 is changed to read as follows:
2. If
either Party or a subdivision thereof expropriates the investment duly
incorporated, constituted or otherwise duly organized in its territory,
and if nationals or companies of the other Party, directly or
indirectly, own, hold or have other rights with respect to the equity of
such company, then the Party within whose territory the expropriation
occurs shall ensure that such nationals or companies of the other Party
receive compensation in accordance with the provisions of the preceding
paragraph.
Paragraph
3 is changed to read as follows:
3. Except
as otherwise provided in an agreement between the Parties, or between a
Party and a national or company of the other Party, a national or
company of either Party that asserts that all or part of its investment
in the territory of the other Party has been expropriated shall have a
right to prompt review by the appropriate judicial or administrative
authorities of such other party to determine whether any such
expropriation has occurred and, if so, whether any such expropriation,
and any compensation thereof, conforms to the principles of
international law.
ARTICLE
VI
Paragraph
1 is changed to read as follows:
1. The
Parties shall, upon the written request of either of them, promptly hold
consultations to discuss the interpretation or application of this
Treaty or to resolve any disputes in connection therewith.
ARTICLE
VII
Paragraph
4 is changed to read as follows:
4. In any
proceeding, judicial, arbitral or otherwise, concerning a legal
investment dispute between it and a national or company of the other
Party, a Party shall not assert, as a defense, counterclaim, right of
set-off or otherwise, that the national or company concerned has
received or will receive, pursuant to an insurance contract,
indemnification or other compensation for all or part of its alleged
damages from any third party whatsoever, whether public or private,
including such other Party and its subdivisions, agencies and
instrumentalities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a national or company
of the other Party shall not be entitled to compensation for more than
the value of its affected assets, taking into account all sources of
compensation within the territory of the Party liable for the
compensation.
ARTICLE
VIII
Paragraph
3(g) is changed to read as follows:
(9) Each
Party shall bear the costs of its own arbitrator and counsel in the
arbitral proceeding. Expenses, incurred by the Chairman and other costs
of the proceedings shall be paid for equally by the Parties. The
Tribunal may, however, at its discretion, direct that a higher
proportion of the costs be paid by one of the Parties. Such a decision
shall be binding.
ARTICLE X
Paragraph
1 is changed to read as follows:
1. This
Treaty shall not preclude the application by either Party or any
subdivision thereof of any and all measures necessary for the
maintenance of public order and morals, the fulfillment of its existing
international obligations, the protection of its own security interests,
or such measures deemed appropriate by the Parties to fulfill future
international obligations.
ARTICLE
XI
The
paragraph is changed to read as follows:
With
respect to its tax policies, each Party should strive to accord fairness
and equity in the treatment of investments of nationals or companies of
the Party. Nevertheless, all matters relating to the taxation of
nationals or companies of a Party, or their investments in the
territories of the other Party or a subdivision thereof shall be
excluded from this Treaty, except with regard to measures covered by
Article III and the specific provisions of Article V.
The
Protocol is changed to read as follows:
On
signing the Treaty concerning the Reciprocal Encouragement and
Protection of Investments, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United
States of America, have, in addition, agreed on the following provisions
which should be regarded as an integral part of this Treaty:
1. Each
Party reserves the right to deny the benefits of this Treaty to any
company of either Party, or its affiliates or subsidiaries, if nationals
of any third country control such company, affiliate or subsidiary;
provided that, whenever one Party concludes that the benefits of this
Treaty should not be extended for this reason, it shall promptly consult
with the other Party to seek a mutually satisfactory resolution of this
matter.
2. "Control"
means to have a substantial share of ownership rights and the ability to
exercise decisive influence. Differences as to the existence of control
shall be resolved according to the provisions of Article VIII.
3. (a) The
treatment accorded by the United States to nationals or companies of
Egypt under the provisions of Article II(l) and (2) shall in any State
of the United States or other territory, possession, or political or
administrative subdivision of the United States be the treatment
accorded therein to residents of or companies incorporated, constituted
or otherwise duly organized in other States of the United States or
territories, possessions, or political or administrative subdivisions of
the United States.
(b) The
treatment accorded by Egypt to nationals and companies of the United
States with respect to the establishment and acquisition of investments
in limited sensitive geographic areas designated for exclusive Egyptian
investment shall be no less favorable then the treatment it accords to
investments of nationals and companies of any third country. Egypt
reserves the right to modify the areas covered, provided that such areas
will be kept to a minimum and will not substantially impair the
investment opportunities of United States nationals and companies.
4. The
provisions of Article II, paragraph 3, relating to most favored nation
treatment, shall not apply to advantages accorded by either Party to
nationals or companies of a third country by virtue of a specific
security or regional arrangement, including regional customs unions or
free trade areas. Further, these provisions do not apply to the
ownership of real estate. The provisions of Article II paragraph 1,
relating to most favored nation treatment, shall not be construed to
oblige one Party to extend to nationals or companies of the other the
benefit of any treatment, preference or privilege which may be extended
by the former Party by virtue of a customs union or in the field of
housing. Moreover, with regard to rights to engage in mining on the
public domain, each Party retains the right to accord to nationals or
companies of the other Party treatment which is like or similar to that
accorded by the other Party to nationals or companies of the first
Party.
5. It is
understood that this Treaty does not derogate from the rights of either
Party regarding the establishment of qualifications as for the practice
of professions, including law and accountancy. These qualifications may
confine the practice of such professions to nationals or companies of. a
Party, provided that they are applied on a nondiscriminatory basis; and
provided, further, that such nationality requirements do not derogate
from the right of nationals and companies of either Party, pursuant to
Article II (5)(b) to engage professional and technical personnel of
their choice to render professional and technical services necessary for
the internal planning and operation of the investment.
6 This
Treaty, and in particular, the provisions of Article II, paragraph 5(b)
shall be subject to the provisions of Article X.
7. With
respect to Article II (6), performance requirements are conditions
imposed which would require an investor to export a minimum percentage
of final product or to source some inputs locally.
8. With
regard to Article III, Paragraph 1(d) the term "prompt" does
not necessarily mean instantaneous. The intent is that the Party
diligently and expeditiously carry out any necessary formalities.
9. With
regard to Article III, paragraph 1, the phrase "events that
constituted or resulted in the expropriatory action" refers to
conduct attributable to the expropriatory Party and not to conduct of
the national or company. The inclusion of paragraph (e) in Article III,
paragraph 1, is without prejudice to the measure of compensation due in
the event of expropriation.
10. The
Parties recognize that restrictions on transfers abroad of sales or
liquidation proceeds of an investment will adversely affect future
capital inflows, contrary to the spirit of this Treaty and the interests
of the Party imposing those restrictions. Nevertheless, the Parties
recognize that it is possible that the Arab Republic of Egypt may find
its foreign exchange reserves at a very low level. In these
circumstances, the Arab Republic of Egypt may temporarily delay
transfers required under Article V, Paragraph 1(f), but only: (i) in a
manner not less favorable than that accorded to comparable transfers to
investors of third countries; (ii) to the extent and for the time period
n to restore its reserves to a minimally acceptable level, but in no
case for period of time longer than that permitted by the provisions of
Law 43 in force on the date of signature of this Treaty; and (iii) after
providing the investor an opportunity to invest the sales or liquidation
proceeds in a manner which will preserve their real value free of
exchange risk until transfer occurs.
11.
Concerning Article VII (3)(a)(ii), it is understood that the Parties to
the dispute may Previously agree to submission of the dispute to the
jurisdiction of domestic courts and tribunals. The Parties will maintain
a nondiscriminatory policy regarding the inclusion and implementation of
such provisions in any investment contract.
12. With
regard to the Annex, the exceptions noted by the Arab Republic of Egypt
under "commercial activity" do not include integrated
operations which combine production and sales activities for their
products.
13.
Recognizing that international financial markets and institutions
further stimulate the process of economic development through the
international transmission of investment and associated technology, each
Party undertakes to maintain a favorable environment for investment by
nationals or companies of the other Party in the insurance and banking
sectors. Therefore, each Party accords to investments by nationals or
companies of the other Party in investment banks, merchant-banks and
reinsurance companies whose activities are confined to transactions in
foreign currencies treatment no less favorable than that accorded under
existing laws and regulations to investments by its own nationals and
companies or to investments by nationals or companies of any third
country, whichever is the more favorable. Both Parties agree to hold
future discussions concerning the expansion of investment possibilities
in these sectors by nationals or companies of either Party in the
territory of the other Party.
DONE in
duplicate at Cairo this 11th day of March 1986 in the English and Arabic
languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the
Government of the United States of America:
NICHOLAS
A. VELIOTES
Ambassador.
For the
Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt:
Sultan
ABOU ALI,
Minister of Economy and Trade.
ARAB
REPUBLIC OF EGYPT,
MINISTER
OF PLANNING AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION,
March
11, 1985.
Hon.
WILLIAM E. BROCK,
US.
Trade Representative,
Washington,
D.C.
DEAR MR.
AMBASSADOR,
As part of the review of the signed Bilateral Investment Treaty prior
to its submission for ratification, our two Governments have discussed
the question of compensation for expropriation, under Article III. With
regard to the issue of compensation, the Government of Egypt understands
that in conformity with contemporary international law, compensation
pursuant to Article III paragraph 1 shall be determined in a manner
consistent with international legal norms and standards rather than
norms and standards that are particular to a specific domestic legal
system. I would appreciate confirmation that your government shares this
understanding.
Sincerely,
Dr. KAMAL
AHMED EL GANZOURI,
Minister of Planning and
International Cooperation.
THE
UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Washington, March 11, 1985.
Dr. KAMAL
AHMED EL GANZOURI,
Minister
of Planning and International Cooperation.
DEAR MR.
MINISTER: I have the honor to refer to your letter of March 11, 1985, in
which you state that: "With regard to the issue of compensation,
the Government of Egypt understands that in conformity with contemporary
international law, compensation pursuant to Article II paragraph 1 shall
be determined in a manner consistent with international legal norms and
standards rather than norms and standards that are particular to a
specific domestic legal system." The understanding you express
conforms to the understanding of the Government of the United States
regarding the determination of the amount of compensation due to an
investor pursuant to Article III of the Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Very
truly yours,
WILLIAM
E. BROCK.
I certify
this to be a true copy of the original.
EDWARD
ROZYNSKI.
agreements
electronically as a public service for general reference. Every effort
has been made to ensure that the text presented is complete and
accurate. However, copies needed for legal purposes should be obtained
from official archives maintained by the appropriate agency.
|
|