investor-state disputes | ISDS

Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) refers to a way of handling conflicts under international investment agreements whereby companies from one party are allowed to sue the government of another party. This means they can file a complaint and seek compensation for damages. Many BITs and investment chapters of FTAs allow for this if the investor’s expectation of a profit has been negatively affected by some action that the host government took, such as changing a policy. The dispute is normally handled not in a public court but through a private abritration panel. The usual venues where these proceedings take place are the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (World Bank), the International Chamber of Commerce, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law or the International Court of Justice.

ISDS is a hot topic right now because it is being challenged very strongly by concerned citizens in the context of the EU-US TTIP negotiations, the TransPacific Partnership talks and the CETA deal between Canada and the EU.

Yonhap | 30-Jul-2025
South Korea’s government has paid US$54 million to US hedge fund Mason Capital following an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) ruling.
Türkiye Today | 28-Jul-2025
Türkiye has prevailed in an international arbitration case brought by Italian energy giant Enel S.p.A. over the 2022 cancellation of a pre-license for a solar power plant in the southwestern province of Isparta, the country’s energy regulator announced on Friday.
Norton Rose Fulbright | 28-Jul-2025
We consider the key changes for investors and how the treaty reflects India’s developing approach to the balancing of its regulatory rights against those of private investors.
Mongabay | 25-Jul-2025
New data on foreign arbitration claims in Honduras reveal that the lawsuits filed by corporations against the country now total $19.4 billion in legal claims, equivalent to roughly 53% of Honduras’ GDP in 2024.
Hespress | 25-Jul-2025
Hespress, 23 Juillet 2025 Par Hicham Oukerzaz Affaire Pizzorno Environnement – Maroc : fin officielle de la procédure au CIRDI Le différend opposant le groupe français Pizzorno Environnement au Royaume du Maroc dans le secteur de la gestion des déchets a été formellement clôturé le 21 juillet 2025, après une procédure engagée en août 2023 devant le Centre international pour le règlement des différends relatifs aux investissements (CIRDI). Le litige entre le groupe Pizzorno (...)
Finance in Africa | 25-Jul-2025
As Ethiopia opens its doors to foreign investment, Canada is positioning itself to be among the first in line, with legal safeguards in place.
Keidanren | 25-Jul-2025
At the 14th Asian Business Summit in Manila, 12 economic business stressed their interests in strengthening FTAs, promoting green transformation with diverse energy pathways, fostering innovation driven by AI and startups, and developing human resources to boost regional competitiveness. The summit advocates maintaining a rules-based international economic order and reforming the WTO.
Oreanda | 24-Jul-2025
Businessman Samvel Karapetyan has won an international arbitration case against the Armenian government in connection with attempts by the authorities to nationalize his company, Electric Grids of Armenia.
Alternatives Economiques | 23-Jul-2025
Les gouvernements successifs en France ont longtemps considéré le mécanisme de règlement des différends entre investisseurs et Etats (RDIE ou ISDS en anglais) comme un instrument utile pour les entreprises françaises à l’étranger et inoffensif pour l’Hexagone.
The Hill Times | 22-Jul-2025
Human rights, not corporate rights, should drive international trade relations under this new government.