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Quantifying the policy space for regulating capital flows in trade and investment treaties
10-Apr-2019 The Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four
The international trade and investment treaty regime is increasingly restricting the policy space for regulating cross-border financial flows, study finds.
Building a mirage: The effectiveness of tax carve-out provisions in international investment agreements
7-Mar-2019 South Centre
The broad language in investment agreements has allowed investor-state dispute settlement tribunals to scrutinize tax measures adopted by States, and determine that such measures resulted in a breach of State’s obligations under the agreement.
The EU-Singapore investment protection agreement
11-Feb-2019 SOMO
An analysis of its impact on managing government bonds and capital flows.
MEPs take note: EU-Singapore deal could hinder fight against fraud and corruption.
11-Feb-2019 Stop ISDS
The most worrying thing about the EU-Singapore deal is not the risk that Singapore firms themselves pose, but the fact that the agreement looks set to be used as a model for reinvigorating ISDS.
There’s a hidden cost in Trump’s new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico
3-Jan-2019 Washington Post
Investment treaties with ISDS provisions make it hard to tax foreign firms and worsen human rights and labor practices.
MERCO-SCAM - How the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement would encourage illicit financial flows
6-Dec-2018 GUE/NGL
New study looks into EU taxation, with the focus shifting onto the problems that could arise under a free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur.
New trade deals restrain governments on financial regulation
30-Oct-2018 Finance Watch
The new generation of trade agreements currently being negotiated by the EU endangers financial regulation. Worse, they rein in the capacity of states to regulate in the future.
US to seek currency chapters in trade talks with Japan, others: Mnuchin
14-Oct-2018 Reuters
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says that Washington wants to include a provision to deter currency manipulation in future trade deals, including with Japan, based on the currency chapter in the new deal to revamp NAFTA.
Financial regulation challenged by European trade policy
2-Oct-2018 Financial Watch
Trade agreements currently being negotiated or already approved introduce numerous restrictions over the right of states to regulate, especially in the field of financial regulation, and limits their capacity to react to ensure financial stability.
Spain sued over Popular resolution
28-Aug-2018 IFR
Mexican billionaire Antonio del Valle has launched actions against the Spanish government for its role in the process of putting Banco Popular into resolution and subsequent sale for €1 to Santander.
Dar faces legal suit at international tribunals over tax, investment policies
30-Jul-2018 East African
Civil society organisations are pushing for a review of the BIT between Tanzania and The Netherlands which they say does not serve the best interests of Tanzania.
NAFTA: New protections for "too big to fail" banks
11-Apr-2018 IATP
The financial industry’s demands for a “modernized” financial services chapter of the North American Free Trade Agreement have been overlooked
Singapore signs Belt and Road deal
11-Apr-2018 Asean Economist
Singapore has signed an agreement with China to strengthen cooperation on its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to expand the city-state’s involvement.
Banks line up behind British government in EU trade battle
8-Mar-2018 Reuters
Banks and insurers lined up to back the British government’s demand that a future trade deal with the European Union must include financial services, putting them on a collision course with Brussels.
France rules out UK bid to include banks in EU trade deal
7-Mar-2018 Bloomberg
French Economy Minister rejects financial services to be part of a free-trade deal with the European Union after Brexit.
How international investment agreements have made debt restructuring even more difficult and costly
19-Feb-2018 South Centre
Inconsistencies and even contradictions have emerged in dispute settlement decisions, sometimes at the expense of public good, sovereignty and financial and economic stability.
Congolese mines minister mum on whether controversial new code has been made law
7-Feb-2018 Business Day
International mining companies, which include Randgold, Glencore and China Molybdenum, have said they will challenge the new law through international arbitration, and are lobbying Kabila not to sign it.
Lawyers ask for prompt decision on Lone Star case
9-Jan-2018 Korea Times
Lawyers for a Democratic Society sent a letter to the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes, demanding a speedy settlement of the dispute between the Korean government and the U.S. buyout fund Lone Star Funds.
India’s top court allows Vodafone to initiate second arbitration over $2 bln tax demand
14-Dec-2017 Reuters
India’s top court allowed Britain’s Vodafone to initiate a second arbitration process under an India-UK investment pact .
EU-Japan trade agreement not compatible with EU data protection
11-Dec-2017 FFII
The implicit cross-border data flow commitments do not have a sufficient safeguard. This is not compatible with the EU Fundamental rights system.