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.

Comment Central | 18-Mar-2024
Given the breadth of the policy areas that CPTPP accession will impact upon, how can UK membership have been subject to so little public debate? The answer is that the structures via which trade deals are negotiated and ratified are opaque and undemocratic.
Yahoo | 18-Mar-2024
Almaden delivered to Mexico written notice of its intention to submit a claim to arbitration against Mexico under the CPTPP.
CIAR Global | 14-Mar-2024
La compañía española Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, subsidiaria de la compañía saudí Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and Environmental Services, ha presentado una demanda de arbitraje de inversiones contra México ante el Centro Internacional de Arreglo de Diferencias relativas a Inversiones (CIADI).
Le Soir | 14-Mar-2024
Alors que la Belgique s’active pendant sa présidence de l’Union européenne (UE) à concrétiser une sortie du TCE par l’UE, elle refuse encore d’en sortir comme Etat. Un choix incohérent qu’elle pourrait payer très cher.
AFTINET | 14-Mar-2024
Some international trade agreements allow foreign investors to sue the Australian government if a change in law or policy reduces their profits, even if the change protects public health or the environment.
Cajar | 13-Mar-2024
El pasado 28 de febrero de 2024, el Estado colombiano fue notificado de la decisión adoptada por el Centro Internacional de Arreglo de Diferencias Relativas a las Inversiones (CIADI) del Banco Mundial en el caso No. ARB/18/12, el cual, le da la razón a Colombia frente a la demanda de la multinacional Red Eagle Exploration Limited
América Latina Mejor sin TLC | 13-Mar-2024
Como parte del respaldo a la salida del CIADI del país centroamericano, la Plataforma América Latina y el Caribe Mejor Sin TLC entregó su declaración de apoyo al Vicecanciller de Política Exterior Hondureño, Gerardo Torres Zelaya.
Telemetro | 13-Mar-2024
Según el MEF, Panamá gana la demanda de arbitraje internacional de inversión por 100 millones de dólares.
IISD | 12-Mar-2024
The proposal of a carveout emerges as a targeted damage control measure to address the recognized and urgent problem that ISDS poses to climate action.
Trade and Investment Research Project | 12-Mar-2024
The Ecuadorian President is using the cover of internal conflict to bring investor-state dispute settlement back to Ecuador, in what a former Constitutional Court member calls a "democratic disaster."