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Why is Iceland the focus of Washington’s new trade strategy?
24-Sep-2019 Safe Haven
A free trade deal with Iceland has an important benefit: It’s part of a broader plan to boost America’s presence in the Arctic region as a bulwark against Russia and China.
Beyond credible commitments: (investment) treaties as focal points
23-Sep-2019 Lauge Poulsen
Western architects of the investment regime expected the treaties to play a standard-setting role to be used in informal bargaining with host states.
The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT): Assessing its geopolitical, climate and financial impacts
23-Sep-2019 OpenEXP
The Energy Charter Treaty is a multilateral agreement that grants binding protection for foreign investors and includes also binding provisions for free trade and freedom of transit of energy materials and products.
UNCITRAL and ISDS reforms: Agenda-widening and paradigm-shifting
23-Sep-2019 EJIL: Talk!
South Africa makes clear that in its view, procedural reform is not enough. A wider agenda that includes substantive issues is needed.
Europe’s Green Deal is under threat from Energy Charter Treaty
23-Sep-2019 Euractiv
The EU and its member states should collectively withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, which protects fossil fuel investments.
UK preparing for post-Brexit FTA with Japan
23-Sep-2019 NHK
Britain’s international trade secretary Liz Truss says the UK has started preparations to conclude a free trade agreement with Japan after leaving the European Union.
Mixed reviews on Pacific Trade deal, Pacer Plus
23-Sep-2019 NZ Herald
Pacer Plus has been promoted as a hybrid development and trade deal, with the primary benefits going to the nine Pacific countries that have signed the deal.
Honduras-Korea free trade deal to take effect in October
23-Sep-2019 Korea Times
A free trade agreement (FTA) between Honduras and Korea will take effect on Oct. 1 — the latest in gradual yet consistent developments in bilateral relations after they were established in 1962.
People’s resistance to RCEP intensifies, amplifying #NotoRCEP call!
23-Sep-2019 ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum 2019
As governments scramble to save RCEP, peoples from Southeast Asia have consolidated their strong opposition to this ambitious and unjust trade and investment agreement.
Indonesia, South Korea link up amid ‘turbulent’ economic pressures
23-Sep-2019 The Jakarta Post
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s aggressive efforts to lure more foreign direct investment (FDI) ahead has been warmly met by South Korea.
India seeks mechanism under RCEP to increase levies once imports exceed set limit
23-Sep-2019 Business Today
In the recent round of negotiations for RCEP, India pushed to include the Automatic Trigger Safeguard Mechanism, or ATSM, which will automatically increase levies once imports cross a given threshold
Time for China to consider joining the CPTPP
23-Sep-2019
After the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) made substantive progress, it is now time for China to consider joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
In yet another solar energy incentives case against Italy, ECT tribunal applying proportionality test finds breach of legitimate expectations
20-Sep-2019 IISD
This claim to the long series of cases arising out of Italy’s reform of its scheme of incentive tariffs for solar energy.
EU–China investment negotiations: Advances on national treatment, financial services
20-Sep-2019 IISD
National treatment is a sensitive issue and also featured in a dedicated study commissioned by Brussels.
UK and Lebanon sign trade continuity agreement
20-Sep-2019 Government of the United Kingdom
The new UK-Lebanon Association Agreement provides, among other trade benefits, tariff-free trade of industrial products together with liberalisation of trade in agricultural, agri-food and fisheries products.
Explainer: Abe, Trump head for trade deal; auto tariffs a sticking point
20-Sep-2019 Reuters
Japan is expected to agree to cut tariffs on imports of US beef and pork to around levels granted to signatories of the multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Pres. Weah signs several acts into law
20-Sep-2019 Liberian Observer
The President signed the act ratifying the Economic Partnership Agreement between West African States, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union and its members.
US files illegal fishing complaint against S.Korea under free trade pact
20-Sep-2019 Manila Bulletin
US authorities for the first time filed a complaint against South Korea under environmental rules of the free trade pact between Seoul and Washington, over illegal fishing.
Intra-EU arbitral award enforced in the US - Achmea objection dismissed by DC District Court for the first time
19-Sep-2019 Lexology
A federal court in Washington, DC has recognized and enforced a US$331 million arbitral award against Romania under an intra-EU BIT—notwithstanding the objection of the European Commission that the award is incompatible with EU law.
Japan, New Zealand to jointly aim for expanded TPP
19-Sep-2019 The Mainichi
Japan and New Zealand to work toward expanding the existing 11-member trans-Pacific partnership free trade pact as they seek further economic and regional integration in the Indo-Pacific.