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Chinese beef acquisitions in Uruguay as Beijing dangles free trade deal
The purchase of a Uruguayan beef processor by a giant Chinese industrial conglomerate looks well-timed as China dangles the prospect of a free trade deal before the Latin American nation.
Emergency services turn life-threatening under US private equity owners — and a global Trade in Services Agreement would globalize the damage
Vital public services like firefighting and ambulances are being handed over to a small number of transnational companies worldwide, a trend that will be hugely boosted by TPP, TTIP, CETA and TiSA.
Hague tribunal to seek jurisdiction in case Kolomoysky vs. Russia
The claimants submit that the Russian Federation breached its obligations under the Ukraine-Russia BIT by taking measures that deprived the claimants of their property.
An open letter to the sixteen governments negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Nearly 70 networks and organisations call on the RCEP negotiators to listen to civil society, not just corporate interests
PACER Plus not final – PNG says no, Fiji lukewarm, Vanuatu undecided
The negotiations are said to offer an opportunity to help Pacific Islands Forum countries benefit from enhanced regional trade and economic integration.
The billion dollar ultimatum
International corporations that want to intimidate countries have access to a private legal system designed just for them. And to unlock its power, sometimes all it takes is a threat.
The court that rules the world
A parallel legal universe, open only to corporations and largely invisible to everyone else, helps executives convicted of crimes escape punishment.
A new generation of free trade agreements that privilege business interests over human rights
There must be ex ante human rights impact assessment of the trade agreements and investment treaties that are being negotiated by the ASEAN community, including with and in India.
Brexit fuels Japanese worries over planned trade deal
The prospect of Brexit is giving Japan serious cause for concern as its government fears dwindling interest in a planned free trade agreement with the EU.
BIT deal with US can help India gain APEC membership
American industry is keen that India and the US conclude their much-awaited Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which it believes will strengthen India’s chances of membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation bloc.
NGOs warn against dispute mechanism in Asian free-trade pact
Activists of various NGOs have urged Asean governments to eliminate investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) draft.
France, joining Germany, urges halt to Transatlantic trade talks
Current Transatlantic trade talks should be halted and a new set started, France’s trade minister said.
International arbitration: levelling the playing field
Third party funding is at the cusp of changing the landscape of international dispute resolution. Third party funding is when a neutral party finances an on-going proceedings for potential profit in return.
Venezuela ordered to pay Canadian miner Rusoro more than $ 1.2 billion
An international arbitration tribunal has ordered Venezuela to pay a Vancouver-based mining company more than $1.2 billion for expropriating its gold mines.
Cutting red tape Japan’s focus in preparation for TPP
Japan’s government will focus on cutting red tape to accommodate foreign businesses wanting access to the Japanese market as it ramps up efforts to have a 12-nation Asia-Pacific trade pact ratified
Trudeau’s China trip sparks fears of bad deal for workers
Beijing’s trade agreement with Australia allows Chinese companies to use their own workers. Is Canada next?
Negotiations conclude on free trade agreement for Pacific
Trade ministers from Pacific Island Forum countries including Australia and New Zealand gathered to try to sign off on the negotiations which have been going on for more than 8 years.
Financial services liberalization in jeopardy
There are prominent dangers associated with the negotiation of IA-CEPA, particularly with the financial services liberalization.
International arbitration structure skewed in favour of developed nations
Developing countries, including India, should build capacity instead of playing the victim as the structure of international arbitration was heavily biased towards the developed countries, a top Finance Ministry official said.
TTIP has failed – but no one is admitting it, says German Vice-Chancellor
Germany’s Vice-Chancellor said in 14 rounds of talks neither side had agreed on a single common chapter out of the 27 being deliberated.