bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

finance | banking | taxes


Draft bilateral investment pact keeps tax disputes, contracts out of arbitration
The finance ministry has drafted a fresh bilateral investment protection treaty that would keep taxation measures and issuance of compulsory licences for intellectual property rights out of the sphere of arbitration while preventing foreign investors to drag India to arbitration for any dispute that has already been settled by the courts.
CBDT on Cairn: Tax matters not covered under UK-India BIT
According to sources ay India’s Central Board of Direct Taxes, tax matters are not covered under UK-India bilateral Investment treaty (BIT).
US, India plan joint investment treaty for easing business
"With India now having concluded its own model bilateral investment treaty (BIT) framework, we are poised to be able to engage with the Indians and commence in negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty," the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia said.
The ’Law 42’ arbitrations against Ecuador and the importance of BIT language
Three recent ICSID decisions involving Ecuador highlight the importance of language addressing the status of taxes in investment treaties.
Trade In Services Agreement: Goodbye privacy, hello censorship
Internet privacy and net neutrality would become things of the past if the secret Trade In Services Agreement comes to fruition.
Elizabeth Warren: Obama trade deal could undermine Wall Street reform
US Senator Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday warned that a major trade deal being negotiated by the Obama administration could hamstring Wall Street reform efforts.
Investor state dispute settlement and financial crises
The film explains how the settlement works and why it endangers necessary governmental rescue measures in financial crises as occurred in Greece, Cypress and Argentina.
Congressional Financial Services Committee leaders: Exclude ISDS from US-EU deal
US congressional leaders have just sent a letter to the Obama administration warning against TAFTA/TTIP provisions that could restrict Congress’ ability to prevent another financial crisis.
The increasing appeal and novel use of bilateral investment treaties
State measures that reduce or nullify existing creditor rights, such as the Argentine “Lock Law” or similar moratoria on repayment, may violate BIT rights and supply investors and creditors in other jurisdictions, particularly in the eurozone, with a basis for challenging similar measures.
Leaked documents on TTIP
Leaked TTIP negotiating documents show that the EU is trying to protect European banks from strong American financial regulations.
Korea-China FTA signaling tectonic upheaval in domestic financial industry
The Korean government and financial institutions are planning to more than double the ratio of yuan-based trade settlements next year after the conclusion of the Korea-China FTA.
EU trade pact could weaken Ottawa’s power to regulate banks
Under CETA, the scope for foreign banks to launch investor-state challenges is much broader than in Canada’s other major pact of this type: the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Irish regulator: put derivatives on TTIP agenda
The Central Bank of Ireland’s markets director believes TTIP is the ideal forum to iron out differences over substituted compliance and establish agreement on monitoring and data collection systems
FTA opens up Japan’s $5 trillion market
The financial services industry appears to be a winner under the landmark free trade agreement negotiated between the Abbott government and Japan.
TTIP won’t let big banks wriggle out of regulations, EU negotiators insist
The European Commission denies that it is using the negotiations over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership to weaken financial regulation for the benefit of financial institutions.
EU and US insurers support including financial services market access and regulatory cooperation in TTIP
Insurance Europe, the American Insurance Association and the American Council of Life Insurers have issued a statement supporting the inclusion of market access and regulatory cooperation in financial services in TTIP.
Wikileaks releases secret Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) - Financial Services Annex
Today, WikiLeaks released the secret draft text for the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) Financial Services Annex, which covers 50 countries and 68.2%1 of world trade in services.
EU pushes US to include financial regulation in free trade deal
A top European Union (EU) official on Friday continued to push for the inclusion of financial regulation in a free trade agreement with the United States, saying it’s vital to ensure global financial stability.
Finance Watch says there is no proven case for including financial services in TTIP
TTIP risks ‘race to the bottom’ in financial services regulation says Finance Watch, the independent public interest group working to make finance serve society.