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.
5-Jun-2020
Pulse
US private equity firm Lone Star Funds suggested it was open to “amicable and sensible” out-of-court option to settle the longstanding dispute with the Korean government.
4-Jun-2020
D+C
On the basis of the Energy Charter Treaty, companies are suing countries for damages when the latter decide to phase out or limit the use of fossil fuels.
2-Jun-2020
In These Times
Wealthy corporations may use trade courts to keep public health measures from cutting into their profits.
29-May-2020
Express
The UK Department for International Trade has been blasted for its claims that the UK has enough trading clout to assert itself in US trade talks, amid concerns.
29-May-2020
Reuters
As part of the settlement, the Japanese automaker is expected to receive between $185 million and $238 million, two sources aware of the matter said.
27-May-2020
Stop Corporate Impunity
Indigenous communities call for international solidarity to support for the vindication of rights of the comunities and peoples affected by corporate impunity and their struggle for a dignified life.
27-May-2020
Romania-Insider
Cyprus-based offshore EP Wind Project (Rom) Six Ltd claims that Romania has breached the Energy Charter Treaty.
27-May-2020
European Commission
22-May-2020
Climate Change News
Uniper is using a controversial investor dispute system to claim up to €1 billion compensation for being forced to close a coal power station early.
19-May-2020
TNI
As governments take action to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent economic collapse, they could face multi-million dollar lawsuits.
19-May-2020
Open Democracy
Research claims top law firms are preparing to ‘cash in’ on the pandemic by helping corporations sue states for measures that have impaired profits.
18-May-2020
TASS
On February 18, The Hague Court of Appeal reinstated an order of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which obliged Russia to pay more than $50 bln to the companies associated with former Yukos shareholders in 2014.
18-May-2020
Friends of the Earth Europe
The Energy Charter Treaty takes an axe to climate action.
14-May-2020
Global Legal Chronicle
Spanish contractor Ortiz Construcciones y Proyectos S.A. lost an investment treaty arbitration against Algeria brought before ICSID.
11-May-2020
TaylorWessing
On 5 May 2020, 23 Member States of the EU entered into an Agreement for the Termination of Bilateral Investment Treaties between the Member States of the European Union.
10-May-2020
OpenExp
A global tragedy at a high cost for taxpayers.
7-May-2020
CCSI
We call on the world community for an immediate moratorium on all arbitration claims by private corporations against governments using international investment treaties.
7-May-2020
Business Day
There is an imminent threat of claims arising from emergency measures, so countries should review how investor-state disputes are handled.
6-May-2020
European Commission
23 EU Member States signed an agreement for the termination of intra-EU bilateral investment treaties.
6-May-2020
Open Democracy
An internal EU report claims that the UK government has pressured the Armenian government in a two-year standoff between protesters, an international mining company and the authorities.
