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investor-state disputes | ISDS

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

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

Luxembourg leads EU push to climate-proof Energy Charter Treaty
4-Sep-2019 Euractiv
Critics say the Energy Charter provides excessive legal protection for oil and gas companies, which can claim uncapped reparations from governments who frustrate investments in fossil fuel projects.
Glencore awarded just $19 mln by tribunal in Colombia lawsuit
28-Aug-2019 Reuters
A World Bank tribunal has ordered Colombia to repay a $19 million fine it levied on Glencore’s coal mining subsidiary Prodeco.
Lydian’s gold project in Armenia faces yet another environmental review
27-Aug-2019 Mining
Lydian International’s Amulsar gold project in Armenia may have to go through a fourth environmental review in less than a year.
Multi-billion dollar fine on Pakistan puts the spotlight on a secret court
26-Aug-2019 TRT
The Reko Diq mine case shows the overreach of a secretive arbitration system.
Armenia gives go-ahead to gold mine blocked by green activists
22-Aug-2019 Reuters
Lydian had threatened to go to arbitration if forced to shut it down.
African states launch the operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, creating one of the largest common markets in the world
16-Aug-2019 Mondaq
The AfCFTA entered into force on May 30, 2019 for all States that have ratified the Agreement. Trading under the agreement will begin on July 1, 2020.
TCC moves US court for enforcement of $6bn award in Reko Diq case
16-Aug-2019 Express Tribune
Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) has approached a court in the United States for enforcement of US$6 billion penalty imposed on Pakistan
Spain loses another dispute over premium cuts on renewables
7-Aug-2019 Renewables Now
Spain will have to pay EUR 41 million to German solar investor SolEs Badajoz GmbH for retroactively cutting long-term premiums for renewable energy projects.
More precious than gold: community resistance v corporate courts
5-Aug-2019 War on Want
UK registered mining company Lydian is using corporate courts to bully the Armenian government into cracking down on public protests that have successfully resisted a gold mine.
If a no-deal Brexit happens, mega corporations could sue the government for billions in secret courts
5-Aug-2019 The Independent
The Armenian government is currently being sued by a corporation for two thirds of its entire government budget. If the UK crashes out on 31 October, it could suffer a similar fate.
Concern grows over ‘corporate courts’ being set up after Brexit
1-Aug-2019 Morning Star
Parliament’s trade committee says it is alarmed by government’s failure ‘to set out even basic lines of policy’ on how international arbitration will work after Brexit.
10th ISDS case against South Korea
1-Aug-2019 Occupy FTA
Reportedly, Berjaya, Malaysian investor initiated ISDS dispute against South Korea.
Trade Minister of South Korea should not undermine the ISDS reform objectives pursued by the Prime Minister
1-Aug-2019 Occupy FTA
CSOs call for Trade Minister of South Korea should not undermine the ISDS reform objectives pursued by the Prime Minister
Is NZ about to accept investment disputes in RCEP?
31-Jul-2019 Scoop Politics
There is a high risk that New Zealand would still allow the investor to sue New Zealand in this expensive and discredited system of international investment arbitration
ReqoDiq Case II: Defending the Supreme Court
30-Jul-2019 Daily Times
It is astounding that the Supreme Court judgment is being criticised due to an unfair award by the ICSID tribunal against Pakistan when that judgment is completely defensible.
Nord Stream 2 takes unusual legal step against the Commission
29-Jul-2019 Euractiv
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline company has asked the Court of Justice of the EU to annul the amendments to the Gas Directive but Nord Stream 2 reserves itself this option of resorting to legal arbitration as well.
Reko Diq Case I: an indictment against ICSID
25-Jul-2019 Daily Times
Pakistan has suffered at the hands of an unaccountable and defective dispute resolution mechanism at the hands of the ICSID, and following the examples of India, South Africa and Brazil, should never have become a part of the ICSID.
UN warned corporate courts could thwart climate efforts
24-Jul-2019 Climate Home News
Campaigners are urging reform of an obscure system that allows coal, oil and gas companies to sue governments if climate policies hit their profits.
World Bank ruling against Pakistan shows global economic governance is broken
23-Jul-2019 The Conversation
Abolishing ISDS won’t solve all of the problems of global economic governance. But it seems a very good place to start.
Pakistan and World Bank Settlement of Investment Disputes – Do not pay the unfair fine; oppose the unjust decision of ICSID
23-Jul-2019 ESSF
This is a story of the dodgy deal by a multi national company and then earning massive amount of money through a World Bank institution acting against developing countries.