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North America

Canada and the United States have signed about 180 investment agreements.

They are both party to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico. Sixty-seven disputes were launched under NAFTA.

NAFTA was recently renegotiated and replaced by the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that was signed in November 2018 and is yet to enter in force. The investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism between the US and Canada, and between Mexico and Canada has been removed – even though it is included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, to which both Mexico and Canada belong. Only limited claims are allowed between the US and Mexico, after exhaustion of local remedies. But the ISDS mechanism has been maintained between the two countries for claims pertaining to Mexico’s oil and gas sector.

The US is also party to the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), with six Central American states. US investors have initiated all 11 known CAFTA disputes.

Canada has an investment treaty with China and is party to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union. CETA includes a revised ISDS mechanism, the investment court system, which has been critiqued for not addressing the core of the problem behind the mechanism.

US investors have extensively used the ISDS mechanism. They have initiated around 180 disputes, over 17% of all known cases, making the US the most frequent home state of investors. The US has never lost an ISDS case.

Canadian investors have initiated about 50 disputes and Canada has been the fourth most frequent target among ‘developed’ states (9th globally), with 29 cases.

Photo: Public Citizen

(April 2020)

Le Panama prêt à se défendre si un groupe minier canadien recourt à l’arbitrage
Radio-Canada | 28-Nov-2023
Le gouvernement du Panama a assuré dimanche être prêt à « défendre » les intérêts du pays après que le groupe minier canadien FQM l’a informé qu’il recourrait à l’arbitrage international si le contrat conclu entre eux était déclaré inconstitutionnel.
Canada , investor-state disputes | ISDS , mining , Panama
First Quantum y Franco-Nevada notifican intención de arbitrajes a Panamá
CIAR Global | 27-Nov-2023
Por CIAR Global | 27 de noviembre 2023 First Quantum y Franco-Nevada notifican intención de arbitrajes a Panamá Las mineras canadienses First Quantum Minerals y Franco-Nevada Corporation han iniciado la cuenta atrás para la presentación de dos arbitrajes de inversiones contra Panamá ante el Centro Internacional de Arreglo de Diferencias relativas a Inversiones (CIADI). First Quantum Minerals es propietaria de Minera Panamá, que opera la mina Cobre Panamá, y Franco-Nevada Corporation es (...)
Canada , investor-state disputes | ISDS , mining , Panama
First Quantum warns of arbitration as Panama weighs copper contract
Reuters | 27-Nov-2023
Canada’s First Quantum intends to start arbitration against Panama, the Central American nation’s trade ministry and the company said, as Panama’s top court considers annulling a copper contract that opponents call unfair.
Canada , investor-state disputes | ISDS , mining , Panama
Arbitration court favors Bolivia in dispute with mining company
teleSUR | 7-Nov-2023
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of Bolivia, denying any compensation to the American mining company Orlandini for the revocation of concessions.
Bolivia , investor-state disputes | ISDS , mining , US
Piden a Joe Biden que elimine el sistema ISDS de los TLC
América Latina Mejor sin TLC | 7-Nov-2023
Organizaciones sindicales, ambientales, de desarrollo, comunitarias y de la sociedad civil en todo el hemisferio elevarán una carta al presidente de los Estado Unidos. En ella reclaman que se elimine el mecanismo de solución de controversias inversor estado (ISDS por sus siglas en inglés) de los tratados de libre comercio y tratados bilaterales que ese país tiene con otras nacionales americanas.
investment | BITs , investor-state disputes | ISDS , US
Paradoja en la cumbre de la APEP
La Jornada | 6-Nov-2023
Biden no hizo caso a llamados desde el Congreso y de organizaciones sociales y civiles de EU para desmontar el neoliberal sistema de arbitraje supranacional, que paradójicamente permite a inversionistas extranjeros demandar a estados, cuando éstos intentan regular para que se cumplan precisamente esos criterios
investor-state disputes | ISDS , Latin America , US
It’s time to exit ISDS: 200+ labor, environment, and other civil society groups urge Biden to eliminate extreme corporate powers from existing trade pacts
Public Citizen | 3-Nov-2023
The groups argue that removing ISDS — which has prioritized corporate rights over those of governments, people, and the planet — is needed to protect policies necessary for a clean energy transition.
climate , energy , investor-state disputes | ISDS , US
Why this Canadian-owned copper mine is facing fierce opposition in Panama​​
Corporate Knights | 30-Oct-2023
First Quantum notified the government of its intent to initiate arbitration under the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement in 2022, during the contract’s negotiation process.
Canada , environment , investor-state disputes | ISDS , mining , Panama
To strengthen ties with countries in the Americas and deliver on climate, health, and democracy APEP goals, Pres. Biden should launch all-Americas exit of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) regime
Rethink Trade | 30-Oct-2023
The Investor-State Dispute Settlement regime to date has generated $47 billion in pending corporate demands for taxpayer compensation in claims against the 12 APEP nations’ climate, health, and other public-interest policies.
investor-state disputes | ISDS , Latin America , US
La Tanzanie verse 30 millions de dollars à une compagnie canadienne pour clore un différend sur l’or
Ecofin | 24-Oct-2023
L’État tanzanien a négocié un accord à l’amiable avec Winshear Gold, après avoir été condamné à verser plus de 100 millions $ à Indiana Resources.
Canada , investor-state disputes | ISDS , mining , Tanzania