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.

Bechtel | 19-Jul-2015
In exchange for $160 million in compensation for its equity and contractor claims, Bechtel agreed to forgo international arbitration over the expropriation of its investment.
Tico Times | 16-Jul-2015
Zombie mining company that tried to sue Costa Rica for US$1 billion in lost profits folds.
Just Means | 15-Jul-2015
The American Sustainable Business Council explains that the point of greatest concern in TPP, TTIP and especially the TiSA agreement is the proposal to allow corporations to sue governments in an international tribunal.
RT | 13-Jul-2015
El municipio español de Rivas Vaciamadrid forma parte de una treintena de localidades del país que han impulsado la iniciativa de municipios contra el Tratado de Asociación Transatlántica para el Comercio y la Inversión que se está negociando actualmente.
REDES - AT | 13-Jul-2015
Devastating news for Uruguay and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Mediapart | 9-Jul-2015
Après cinq mois de débats agités, les eurodéputés ont donné leur feu vert, mercredi, à la poursuite des négociations commerciales avec Washington. Le compromis trouvé sur le principe très contesté de l’arbitrage entre État et multinationales est ambigu.
ADITAL | 9-Jul-2015
The Bolivarian Alliance for the People of Our America (ALBA ) has agreed to create a new regional mechanism to provide a collaborative defence in international arbitration proceedings, notably in respect of claims filed by transnational corporations against Latin American countries.
No al TTIP | 8-Jul-2015
La votación había sido suspendida el mes pasado por el temor de que la resolución parlamentaria chocara con los intereses de la Comisión Europea.
No al TTIP | 8-Jul-2015
La Confederación Europea de Sindicatos (CES) ha instado a los Eurodiputados a votar en contra de esa enmienda señalando, entre otras críticas, que el nuevo texto es un retroceso respecto a la posición acordada anteriormente por la comisión de comercio del Parlamento Europeo (INTA) que sí mencionaba una Jurisdicción Internacional de las Inversiones.
El Diario | 8-Jul-2015
Los socialistas pactan con el PPE la misma enmienda que retiraron tras recibir críticas el mes pasado, según la cual el mecanismo de resolución de controversias inversor-estado se compondrá de “jueces independientes”.