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CAFTA

In Honduras, libertarians and legal claims threaten to bankrupt a nation
17-Sep-2024 Inside Climate News
One of Latin America’s poorest countries faces a wave of claims from foreign investors seeking billions of dollars. Chief among them is an American company looking to build a semi-autonomous “startup city.”
The for-profit city that might come crashing down
29-Aug-2024 New York Times
The dream of Próspera, founded by a US corporation off the coast of Honduras, was to escape government control. The Honduran government wants it gone but Próspera filed an astronomical $10.775 billion lawsuit against the state.
When investors subvert states
18-Jul-2024 The Jordan Times
Imagine a scenario where a private company effectively creates and controls its own jurisdiction within a sovereign country. This company introduces its own currency, enacts laws, and establishes courts, prisons, police forces and even intelligence services.
US company battles Nicaragua in arbitration tribunal
8-Jul-2024 Havana Times
The US company is appealing under CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) for the invasion of its property in Jinotega and the destruction of its avocado and other orchards.
Sánchez, Doggett call for Biden Administration to reform the CAFTA-DR trade agreement
26-Mar-2024 Linda Sánchez
Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez and Congressman Lloyd Doggett led 45 of their colleagues in calling on the Biden Administration to work to remove the Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanism from the Central America – Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement.
Honduras ratchets up battle with crypto-libertarian investors, rejects World Bank court
20-Mar-2024 The Intercept
After the Honduran president repealed a law granting unfettered authority to outside investors, the cryptoquistadors took the dispute to a World Bank arbitration court.
Government reforms face corporate backlash in Honduras
9-Jan-2024 NACLA Report on the Americas
As President Xiomara Castro’s administration works to mitigate the fallout of the post-coup years, transnational companies are lining up to sue the state for lost profits.
Why is Biden endorsing corporate colonialism in Honduras?
15-Dec-2023 LPE Project
The stakes for Honduras are not simply the billions of dollars otherwise destined for health, housing, and education. They are the very existence of Crawfish Rock: the past and future of the families who have inhabited the island for centuries.
When investors subvert states
1-Dec-2023 Project Syndicate
The ongoing lawsuit brought against Honduras by an American company underscores the unjust and undemocratic nature of the investor-state dispute settlement system.
Honduras is fighting back against corporate colonialism
24-Nov-2023 Tribune
American billionaires are suing the Honduran government for blocking the creation of a libertarian city-state in the country. If they win, it will be a devastating victory for corporate colonialism over democracy.
Honduras threatens ICSID withdrawal over $11 billion ‘neo-colonial’ special economic zone claim
20-Jul-2023 Bretton Woods Project
Honduras is threatening to withdraw from the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes over an $11 billion claim by Honduras Prospera, a US company.
Stand with the people of Honduras against corporate greed
30-Jun-2023 Public Citizen
We stand in solidarity with the people of Honduras and condemn US company Próspera’s $11 billion case against the will of the people.
Honduras advocates to defend its territorial integrity
2-Jun-2023 Prensa Latina
This is related to the complaint made the day before by government functionaries on the absence of legality in the litigation that the ICSID opened on the case of the Employment and Economic Development Zone (ZEDE) against the Government.
33 Democrats urge ban on investor-state dispute provisions in all US trade deals
4-May-2023 Reuters
Democratic U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday urged the U.S. Trade Representative and State Department to eliminate investor-state dispute settlement provisions from current and future trade deals
$10.775 billion claim filed against Government of Honduras
6-Apr-2023 Prospera
US investors Honduras Próspera Inc. and its affiliates filed claims with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes against the State of Honduras.
Free trade zone workers in Nicaragua are without rights
17-Jan-2023 Havana Times
The entry into force in 2006 of the CAFTA-DR represented a notable boost to Nicaraguan exports of products made in companies that operate under the free trade zone regime, which required the hiring of a lot of labor.
A mining lawsuit in Guatemala shows how trade courts put big corporations first
6-Dec-2022 Inequality.org
Local resisters are calling for a different economic model — one that prioritizes clean water and soil, healthy communities, peace, dignity, and self-determination.
Notice of intent to submit claims to arbitration pursuant to article 10.16 of the CAFTA-DR
10-Nov-2022 Prospera
In accordance with the Dominican Republic–Central America–United States Free Trade Agreement, Honduras Próspera Inc. and its affiliates submit to the Republic of Honduras this written notice of their intention to submit claims to arbitration.
US pressuring new left-wing Honduras government over privatized cities
3-Nov-2022 The Real News Network
US senators argue that abolishing special economic zones known as ZEDEs would violate the provisions of CAFTA-DR, including the provision ensuring “fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security.”
KCA, a Reno Nevada based mining company, suspended gold mine in Guatemala
28-Jul-2022 Sierra Nevada Ally
However, locals feel latent tension that the imminent consultation process or the arbitration suit could revive earlier threats, violence, and legal persecution from company employees and contractors.