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.

Kluwer Arbitration Blog | 9-Jan-2017
In the landscape of international investment arbitration the allegations of corruption have become more and more common.
The Wire | 9-Jan-2017
With the imminent demise of the Tran-Pacific Partnership Agreement almost certain, there are many lessons to be learnt from the fraudulent free trade deal.
Reuters | 7-Jan-2017
Romania has asked the United Nations to make a Transylvanian village boasting 18th century houses and intact Roman mining shafts into a World Heritage site in move that could protect it from a gold mine project.
Global Telecoms Business | 7-Jan-2017
ACP Axos Capital is suing the Kosovo government for €400m as a result of its failed bid to buy Kosovo Telecom.
University of Oxford | 5-Jan-2017
Foreign firms tend to be treated at least as well by host state governments as comparable domestic firms in the vast majority of cases. There is a political advantage, as opposed to liability, of being a foreign firm.
Revista Realidad Económica | 5-Jan-2017
En este trabajo argumentamos que el CIADI debe ser entendido como un eslabón clave en el camino librecambista de garantizar la certeza para los capitales.
Revista de Ciencias Sociales TLA-Melaua | 5-Jan-2017
Este artículo se propone revisar el andamiaje legal internacional construido para garantizar la libre circulación de las inversiones, lo cual se ha vuelto central en el capitalismo contemporáneo.
Radio Mundo Real | 4-Jan-2017
La activista salvadoreña es integrante de la Asociación de Desarrollo Economico y Social – ADES Santa Marta, y colabora desde su trabajo comunitario en la lucha frente al modelo de despojo que desde el extractivismo amenaza al país mesoamericano.
Ecuador Inmediato | 4-Jan-2017
Diego García, procurador General del Estado, afirmó que la resolución en el caso OXY no afectaría las causas en las que está involucrado Ecuador y que todavía no tiene una decisión final. "La decisión es independiente, no genera un precedente obligatorio", sostuvo.
ISDS Blog | 4-Jan-2017
Windstream is an American company, which invested in one of the world’s largest offshore wind power parks, to be located in Lake Ontario.