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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.

Tanzanie : Montero réclame 70,2 millions $ à l’Etat pour expropriation à Wigu Hill
Ecofin | 24-Aug-2022
La compagnie minière Montero Mining réclame 90 millions de dollars canadiens comme dommages et intérêts en réparation du préjudice causé par l’expropriation du projet de terres rares Wigu Hill en 2018.
keywords: Canada , investor-state disputes | ISDS , mining , Tanzania
Montero Mining seeks CAD$ 90,000,000 in damages from the Tanzanian Government for expropriation of the Wigu Hill project
Junior Mining Network | 24-Aug-2022
Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. is seeking compensation of CAD$ 90 million from Tanzania over the expropriation of the Wigu Hill Rare Earth Element Project.
keywords: Canada , investor-state disputes | ISDS , mining , Tanzania
US court upholds Conoco’s $8.7 bln award for loss of Venezuela assets
Reuters | 24-Aug-2022
A US court upheld a tribunal’s $8.75 billion award to U.S. oil producer ConocoPhillips over the expropriation of its Venezuelan oil assets, granting a default judgment in the case.
keywords: energy , investor-state disputes | ISDS , US , Venezuela
Litigating terror in the Sinai after the Egyptian spring revolution: Should states be liable to foreign investors for failure to prevent terrorist attacks?
Michigan Journal of International Law | 23-Aug-2022
A recent ICSID tribunal found a developing state liable for breaching the full protection and security obligation due to its inability to protect a foreign investment against terrorist attacks in a remote deserted area.
keywords: Egypt , investor-state disputes | ISDS , militarism | terrorism | security
Le CIRDI donne raison au Maroc dans l’affaire l’opposant à Scholz Holding
Yabiladi | 23-Aug-2022
Le CIRDI a rejeté toutes les demandes de la société allemande Scholz Holding qui réclamait plusieurs dizaines de millions d’euros au Maroc.
keywords: Germany , investor-state disputes | ISDS , Morocco
Arrêtez la ratification de l’AÉCG !
Trade Justice Network | 23-Aug-2022
Nous, organisations de la société civile canadienne et allemande, exprimons notre opposition à l’AÉCG, qui protège les intérêts des entreprises au détriment de l’action climatique, environnementale et sociale et de la prise de décision démocratique.
keywords: Canada , EU , from the movements , Germany , investor-state disputes | ISDS
Stop the ratification of CETA! A joint statement by German and Canadian civil society groups
Trade Justice Network | 23-Aug-2022
We Canadian and German civil society organizations express our continued opposition to CETA, which protects corporate interests at the expense of climate, environmental and social action and democratic decision-making.
keywords: Canada , EU , from the movements , Germany , investor-state disputes | ISDS
Devas Multimedia seizes US assets of Antrix Crop
The New Indian Express | 22-Aug-2022
Devas Multimedia had won an arbitration award of $1.2 billion after the Indian government terminated its satellite deal with Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of the ISRO in 2011.
keywords: India , investor-state disputes | ISDS , telecommunications
Boris Johnson’s half-brother to sue Mongolia for $50mn in a mining investment dispute
BNE Intellinews | 22-Aug-2022
The half-brother of ousted UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he will bring a $50mn lawsuit against Mongolia to try to recover an investment into a mining project that went horribly wrong.
keywords: investor-state disputes | ISDS , mining , Mongolia , UK
Why can Ascent Resources demand half a billion euros from Slovenia?
Slovenia Posts English | 22-Aug-2022
Ascent Resources initiated an arbitration dispute in which it is demanding half a billion euros due to Slovenia’s request that an environmental impact assessment should be carried out before fracking in Petišovci.
keywords: ECT , energy , environment , investor-state disputes | ISDS , Slovenia