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Investor-State Dispute Settlement reform: the multilateral investment court was never the answer
27-Oct-2020 Michigan Journal of International Law
The problem with the ISDS is not the format of the dispute settlement. The problem is that it is designed to give corporations power to go after government policies.
Vodafone arbitration award: Centre to challenge telco’s Rs 22,100 crore tax case win
27-Oct-2020 Business Today
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has advised the government that the decision of an arbitration tribunal cannot contradict the law passed by a sovereign parliament.
RI-South Korea trade deal sign of things to come
27-Oct-2020 The Jakarta Post
Indonesia is set to sign a trade agreement with South Korea and seeks ensure that a larger deal at the regional level will also be inked, as the country focuses on increasing overseas market access in the hopes of lifting its economy out of the mire of the pandemic.
Another Australian miner sues another poor country, this time Barrick’s Porgera in PNG
27-Oct-2020 Michael West
Australian mining companies are increasingly using ISDS processes and are being awarded billions based on dubious calculations of potential lost profits by unaccountable international tribunals.
#NoRCEP solidarity action!
27-Oct-2020 Action Aid Australia
Action Aid is coordinating a giant photo petition to show leaders the people-powered movement saying #NoRCEP. Will you join us?
China ramps up imports from US as trade deal target looms
27-Oct-2020 Bloomberg
Purchases of soybeans, oil surge in September, data show. China is still lagging its full-year target agreed with US.
China tensions push India and Taiwan closer together
27-Oct-2020 DW
India is seeing public opinion drastically shift in favor of Taiwan amid growing anti-Beijing sentiments. But will New Delhi risk its Asian rival’s wrath for stronger ties with Taipei?
Indonesia expects to sign RCEP in mid-November
27-Oct-2020 The Jakarta Post
Indonesia expects to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in mid-November as the countries concerned finish negotiating the trade issues.
India, Philippines negotiate on bilateral investment deal
26-Oct-2020 Vietnam Plus
India and the Philippines have begun negotiations on a bilateral investment agreement as they want to further boost their economic ties.
Jersey’s BIT with the UAE and reflections on investment treaty practice in non-sovereign autonomous regions
26-Oct-2020 Mondaq
Most recently, Jersey has joined Hong Kong as another non-sovereign entity that negotiates its own BITs. Jersey is set to sign its first BIT with the UAE later this year.
Why India should challenge the Vodafone-India BIT award
26-Oct-2020 Bar and Bench
The scope of consent to arbitration is an important issue that needs to be finally settled - not least because it could have multi-billion dollar implications for India in respect of other cases involving challenges to India’s taxation measures by foreign investors.
S. Korea, China to discuss expanding bilateral FTA scope
26-Oct-2020 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea and China on Monday launched the ninth round of talks with China to bolster ties in the service and investment fields as part of their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), which went into effect five years ago.
Bad times for ECOWAS
26-Oct-2020 Seneplus
Côte d’Ivoire has hastily signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the UK, which is modelled on the interim EPA the country signed with the European Union.
What next for ISDS Reform at UNCITRAL Working Group III?
23-Oct-2020 TWN
Meaningful reform aligned with sustainable development seems less likely
Finance not fish: The trade deal with Japan focuses on what matters for the City
23-Oct-2020 City AM
Trade talks with the EU remain uncertain, with negotiations focused on issues like fishing that have little bearing for the City. But in the meantime, Japan has given “global Britain” — and particularly the City — something to celebrate.
MEPs urge EU to be ready to dump disputed energy treaty
23-Oct-2020 EU Observer
Cross-party MEPs called on the European Commission to be prepared to withdraw from the controversial Energy Charter Treaty, if negotiations for its modernisation fail.
Japan, UK to sign first post-Brexit bilateral trade deal
23-Oct-2020 DW
Praising the agreement as a "historic moment," both countries are eager to strengthen their economic ties. Tokyo is also hoping the UK will play a stronger role in Indo-Pacific security to contain Chinese expansion.
India pulls out from Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership – Japan considers to do same
23-Oct-2020 The Post India
India’s pullout from the RCEP, like the prior U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, has made a situation for Japan.
Israel-Korea free trade agreement to stress tech cooperation
23-Oct-2020 Globes
The soon to be signed agreement was delayed because of Korean political concerns that have been removed by Israel-UAE normalization.
Republic of Korea asks to join Pacific Alliance trade bloc
22-Oct-2020 Prensa Latina
Korea requested to join the Pacific Alliance trade bloc, which is also made up of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.