bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

investment | BITs

Multi-billion dollar fine on Pakistan puts the spotlight on a secret court
26-Aug-2019 TRT
The Reko Diq mine case shows the overreach of a secretive arbitration system.
Trade agreement between Brazil and United States will not include free-trade
21-Aug-2019 Folha de S.Paulo
Officials participating in the negotiations say the deal not only involves taxes, but also non-tariff and investment issues.
African states launch the operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, creating one of the largest common markets in the world
16-Aug-2019 Mondaq
The AfCFTA entered into force on May 30, 2019 for all States that have ratified the Agreement. Trading under the agreement will begin on July 1, 2020.
Kenya ties on the table
9-Aug-2019 Nation News
Barbados is looking to enter into a double taxation agreement and a bilateral investment treaty with Kenya.
Concern grows over ‘corporate courts’ being set up after Brexit
1-Aug-2019 Morning Star
Parliament’s trade committee says it is alarmed by government’s failure ‘to set out even basic lines of policy’ on how international arbitration will work after Brexit.
China pushes more bilateral investment with Malaysia
1-Aug-2019 The Malaysian Reserve
There will be more investments in the finance and high-value agriculture sectors to Malaysia from China as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Pakistan seeks convening of TIFA meeting
23-Jul-2019 Business Recorder
Pakistan will seek engagement with the United States in the economic and trade arena, while emphasizing the need for early convening of the next round of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).
Government decides to challenge award
15-Jul-2019 Business Recorder
The Pakistan government has decided to challenge the award ICSID award that includes $4.08 billion penalty and $1.87 billion interest.
Pakistan fined Rs950 bn in Reko Diq case
14-Jul-2019 The News International
The International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) of World Bank has rendered almost $6 billion (Rs950 billion) award against Pakistan in Reko Diq case.
EU-Vietnam trade deal a bad day for workers’ rights
25-Jun-2019 EU Observer
Behind the smiles and handshakes, the signature of the EU-Vietnam trade and investment deals - being agreed on Tuesday (25 June) and to be signed at the end of this week - have dire consequences for human well-being and our ability to prevent climate and ecological breakdown.
Building confidence, BIT by BIT
25-Jun-2019 The Hindu
Indian bilateral investment treaties need to strike a balance between foreign investor interests and those of the state
Arbitration overrules Tallinna Vesi tariff complaint, must pay costs
24-Jun-2019 ERR News
Tallinn water utility Tallinna Vesi has seen its claim against the Estonian state overruled by the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Dispute (ICSID), and has been ordered to pay costs likely to be in excess of half a million euros.
New research shows public interest damage caused by corporate justice
24-Jun-2019 CEO, TNI, FOEE, FOEI
New research published today reveals the devastating consequences of the controversial Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system
South Korea and Russia initiate FTA talks in service and investment sectors
24-Jun-2019 Business Korea
South Korea and Russia initiated the two sides’ FTA negotiations in service and investment in Moscow on June 20.
EU allows Romania to pay EUR 200 mln compensation to Romanian-Swedish investors
20-Jun-2019 Romania Insider
The European Court of Justice on June 18 canceled a European Commission decision dating 2015, which established that Romania’s payment of compensation to Romanian-Swedish investors Ioan and Viorel Micula constituted illegal state aid. The European Commission also ordered the Romanian Government to recover the money already paid to the investors following an international court’s decision.
New Dutch model BIT: negotiations to commence soon
19-Jun-2019 ILO
The Dutch government has obtained the authorisation required to start renegotiations with eight non-EU countries on its new model bilateral investment treaty and conclude new BITs with two others.
India, Kyrgyzstan have prepared 5 year roadmap to increase bilateral trade: PM Modi
18-Jun-2019 The Hindu Business Line
India and Kyrgyztan have given the final shape to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and the bilateral investment treaty.
Hungary appeals Sodexo award with ICSID
17-Jun-2019 Budapest Business Journal
Hungary has filed to annul an award of some EUR 73 million, before interest, to French food voucher company Sodexo, granted in an arbitration ruling by the World Bankʼs International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), state news agency MTI reported, citing case information on ICSIDʼs website.
Legitimacy concerns of the proposed multilateral investment court: Is democracy possible?
13-Jun-2019 South Centre
The EU wants to replace traditional party-appointed arbitrators with a two-tiered investment tribunal system comprised by a roster of members selected by the state parties on the treaty. This essay argues that the creation of the multilateral investment court needs to follow democratic principles in order to be legitimate.
UN study shows more governments rejecting or limiting foreign investor-rights to sue governments (ISDS)
12-Jun-2019 AFTINET
A new study of trade and investment deals concluded in 2018 by UNCTAD shows that most have either omitted ISDS altogether or severely limited its scope, reports AFTINET