bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

investment | BITs

FTA will make foreigners overly powerful
19-Oct-2011 Free Malaysia Today
Foreign investors can bypass local laws and punish the government if the latter stops them from making profits under a FTA, says DAP’s Charles Santiago.
China-Canada investment deal in the works
13-Oct-2011
Canada and China are creeping closer to signing an agreement that would set investment rules and guide dispute resolution for investors, International Trade Minister Ed Fast said Thursday.
EU-Canada (CETA), India and Singapore FTAs - EC negotiating mandate on investment (2011)
15-Sep-2011 Seattle to Brussels Network
European Member States refuse necessary reform, ignore the will of the European Parliament and insist that future EU investment agreements copy their bad practices
15-Sep-2011 S2B
On Monday 12 September the General Affairs Council approved negotiating mandates for investment protection chapters in free trade agreements with Canada, India and Singapore.
International forum on BITs and alternative investment regime: 5-6 November 2011
6-Sep-2011 TNI
This event aims to bring together social activists and campaigners from all over the world with accumulated experience of critical engagement with the current investment regime and the power of TNCs to Brussels in order to articulate common strategies for campaigning and discuss alternatives.
The alarmingly uneven deal of the India-EU FTA
22-Aug-2011
For over four years now, India has been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) - the largest trade and investment deal the country has ever embarked on. As much as New Delhi expects to lure the European market and investments closer to India, the actual consequences for the country’s economy could be dire: the open up of public procurement, the deregulation of the banking, automobile, retail and mining industries plus the adverse impact the deal will have in small-scale farmers make of this FTA a counter-productive undertaking.
Signez la pétition en ligne "Stop au nouvel accaparement des ressources du Sud par l’UE !"
18-Aug-2011 AITEC
La Commission européenne définit actuellement sa nouvelle politique sur le Commerce et le Développement et a lancé une consultation publique sur cette question. De nombreux lobbies industriels vont utiliser cette consultation pour s’assurer que cette politique défendra leurs intérêts afin qu’ils puissent continuer à profiter de l’exploitation à bas prix et sans limite des matières premières de ces pays.
International arbitration plays key role in gas deal, Egypt’s future
12-Aug-2011 Almasry Alyoum
In violation of international agreements, natural gas has not flowed for months across the Sinai desert through the pipeline that connects Israel and Jordan to Egypt. Since former President Hosni Mubarak’s fall in February, political uncertainty and intermittent attacks have halted its delivery.
US firm eyes trade case to force Argentina payment
9-Aug-2011 Reuters
Azurix Corp plans to ask the Obama administration for help in recovering more than $230 million it says it is owned by the government of Argentina. It would be the first time a US company has used the "Section 301" trade law to pressure a foreign government to pay an award decided by an arbitrator in an investment dispute.
Philip Morris v. Uruguay on cigarette branding: Will investor-state arbitration send restrictions on tobacco marketing up in smoke?
4-Aug-2011 Info Justice
Philip Morris asserts that fair and equitable treatment includes a right to a “stable and predictable regulatory framework” as well as rights under treaties in addition to customary international law.
Human rights impact assessments: public consultation
27-Jul-2011 srfood.org
Olivier De Schutter invites States, United Nations departments and agencies, national human rights institutions, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to participate in the public consultation on the draft “Guiding Principles on Human Rights Impact Assessments of Trade and Investment Agreements.” The document seeks to set out key principles that should guide human rights impact assessments for trade and investment agreements between States.
China, EU to seek bilateral investment treaty
15-Jul-2011 Xinhua
China and the European Union (EU) have agreed to negotiate a bilateral investment treaty, said China’s Minister of Commerce Chen Deming on Thursday.
Twenty Turkish firms file suit against Turkmenistan
14-Jul-2011
The government of Turkmenistan faces legal action from twenty Turkish construction firms over broken contracts costing them more than $1 billion in losses, a spokesman representing the companies said on Wednesday.
India rejects clause on litigation
4-Jul-2011
Despite a demand by the European Union (EU), India is unlikely to allow a clause in a proposed trade pact with the bloc that permits an overseas investor to sue a host country at an international dispute settlement agency.
First a gold rush, then the lawyers
28-Jun-2011
Pacific Rim is suing the Salvadoran government in an international investment court, one of scores of cases in recent years in which frustrated oil, gas and mining investors, using provisions of trade agreements, have sought to recoup losses from mostly developing countries.
Canadian mining firm threatens legal action against Peru
27-Jun-2011
Canada’s Bear Creek Mining Corp. is threatening a legal challenge against Peru after its mining rights were revoked in a move that raises the risk for other resource companies doing business in the mineral-blessed South American country.
Julia Gillard stands firm on cigarette plain packaging
27-Jun-2011
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she won’t be intimidated by big tobacco after Philip Morris launched legal action to try to force the government to back down on introducing plain packaging for cigarettes.
’Move forward’ on CEPA, add services, investment : Pakistan HC
26-Jun-2011
’Moving forward’ on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Sri Lanka and Pakistan which also goes beyond only trade in goods outlined in the existing bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), into services and investment promotion, will boost trade between both countries, according to Seema Ilahi Baloch, High Commissioner for Pakistan in Sri Lanka.
India, US to fast track bilateral investment treaty dialogue
23-Jun-2011 The Hindu
India and the United States on Wednesday agreed to fast-track technical negotiations for early conclusion of a Bilateral Investment Agreement during a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.
Ecuador prepares for new hearing in Occidental Petroleum case
15-Jun-2011
The office of Ecuador’s Attorney General will represent Ecuador in Washington at a June 30 hearing in the arbitration case filed against the Andean country by US oil company Occidental Petroleum Corp.