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Articles by language


TTIP’s regulatory cooperation and the politics of ‘learning’
The focus on the ISDS has diverted attention from another institutional development, namely, the equally important and equally dangerous ‘Regulatory Cooperation’.
Death on a plate: TTIP, meat inspections and your food
’Death on a plate: TTIP, meat inspections and your food’ features the testimony of a mother whose daughter died from eating contaminated meat and comments by a government meat inspector and others in the food industry.
TTIP talks: EU alleged to have given ExxonMobil access to confidential papers
Documents and emails obtained by the Guardian reveal ‘collusion’ between Brussels and industry over the fossil fuel push in free trade negotiations.
ICSID tribunal renders interim decision on Ecuador’s environmental counterclaim in long-running dispute
Perenco Ecuador Limited (Perenco)—a French-owned oil and gas company—and the Republic of Ecuador have been involved in arbitration since 2008 under the France–Ecuador bilateral investment treaty (BIT).
Thai government lifts total ban on arbitration clauses in state contracts
A recent Thai Cabinet resolution relaxes the restriction on arbitration clauses in some public contracts.
EU and Philippines to begin free trade talks
The European Union (EU) and the Philippines are to start talks on a free-trade agreement, in an attempt to boost trade and investment.
Two thirds of European oil refineries ready for tar sands imports
More than two thirds of European oil refineries are now equipped to process tar sands, research has found, raising fears the EU is ready to welcome a flood of imports of one of the most environmentally devastating fuels in production.
EU-Guyana trade deal must protect land rights, activists say
A potential trade pact between the European Union and Guyana must contain land rights protections for local residents in order to avert the possible displacement of indigenous people.
RI-EU CEPA paves way for TPP
The Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is expected to come into effect within the next two years, is likely to ready Indonesia to join the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Panama and Israel sign free trade agreement
Latin American nation’s first FTA with a Middle Eastern nation focuses on innovation and technology transfer
The new gold standard? Empirically situating the TPP in the investment treaty universe
The TPP investment chapter offers few truly novel features and is instead heavily influenced by prior American treaty practice.
State’s leadership on healthy food and farming at risk under proposed trade deals
U.S. negotiators are looking to wrap up two new massive trade agreements that could threaten the continued viability of labeling laws to educate and protect consumers and support local food systems.
EU tables official TTIP investment text, with changes on parallel claims
The new European Union proposal for an investment chapter in the TTIP is mostly identical to the draft chapter Brussels released but makes what could be significant changes to how parallel claims are handled and tightens rules on arbitrator conduct.
A user-focused commentary on the TPP ISP Safe Harbors
This post offers a comparison of TPP’s IP chapter and the DMCA with a focus on the rights of users and the status of user expression in the TPP’s intermediary safe harbor provisions.
Does the EU’s “Investment Court System” put an end to ISDS?
Professor Gus Van Harten, Osgoode Hall Law School, and Rupert Schlegelmilch, European Commission, Directorate General for Trade discuss the European Commission’s proposed “Investment Court System”.
Why is Philip Morris International Inc. suing these countries?
Philip Morris is dragging countries with tight tobacco regulations into costly legal battles.
Zero chance’ of Thailand FTA under junta, Commission official says
The suspended Free Trade Agreement with Thailand will “never be ratified” whilst the country is under a military dictatorship, a top aide to EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom admitted
Could haze in Asia give rise to treaty claims?
The smoke haze that has engulfed Singapore, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia for two months could violate international law and be the subject of an investment treaty claim against Indonesia.
A transatlantic agreement but at what cost to SMEs?
The potential effects of the United States / Europe trade agreement (TTIP) on local economies and SMEs.
Asean, China sign FTA upgrade protocol
Asean and China signed the protocol to amend the existing FTA to an upgraded version.