ITN – Page 7 – Investment Treaty News

¿Derribando el TLCAN?

Por Howard Mann, Asesor Senior en Derecho Internacional del Instituto Internacional de Desarrollo Sostenible 2 de Mayo 2009 El 31 de marzo de 2009 Dow AgroSciences LLC, subsidiaria de la […]

ITN May 2009 In this issue: Malaysian Historical Salvors jurisdictional award annulled; Tribunal disqualifies claim by Phoenix Action against the Czech Republic; Tribunal rejects countermeasures defense in recently published Corn […]

German government mum on Vattenfall ECT Claim

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 2 May 2009 The German government has declined to provide information on an investment dispute with the European utility Vattenfall on the grounds that it is against government […]

DOWning NAFTA?

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Do Bilateral Investment Treaties Lead to More Foreign Investment?

By Damon Vis-Dunbar and Henrique Suzy Nikiema 30 April 2009 The global network of over 2600 bilateral investment treaties (BITs) has been built on the basis of promoting foreign direct […]

IISD Announcement: Nathalie Bernasconi joins IISD’s investment program

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is pleased to announce that Nathalie Bernasconi, a Swiss-based international lawyer with an extensive background in trade and investment law, has joined the IISD’s […]

Mexican truckers group launches NAFTA Chapter 11 dispute against the U.S. over trucking ban

By Fernando Cabrera Diaz 28 April 2009 The Mexican trucking industry group CANACAR has initiated Chapter 11 arbitration against the United States, alleging that the U.S. has violated its NAFTA […]

Tribunal rejects the Defense of Countermeasures in recently published Corn Products International Inc. v. The United Mexican States award

By Elizabeth Whitsitt 28 April 2009 In a recently published ICSID award, a tribunal found Mexico liable to an American company, Corn Products International Inc. (CPI) and its wholly-owned Mexican […]

Malaysian Historical Salvors jurisdictional award annulled; committee split on question of economic development as criteria of ICSID investments

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 23 April 2009 The members of an ICSID committee hearing an annulment request in Malaysian Historical Salvors v. the Government of Malaysia have come to starkly different […]

Tribunal disqualifies "abusive" claim by Phoenix Action against the Czech Republic

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 20 April 2009 A three-member tribunal has disqualified a claim by the Israeli-based Phoenix Action LTD, concluding that its purchase of two Czech companies was solely a […]

ITN Newsletter April 2009

ITN April 2009 In this issue: ICSID tribunal dismisses RSM Production Corporation’s claim against Grenada; CIT Group settles with Argentina; An interview with the former Attorney General of Pakistan, Makhdoom […]

Deutsche Bank targets Sri Lanka with a BIT claim connected to a hedging contract

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 3 April 2009 A dispute related to oil derivatives entered into by Sri Lanka’s state-run petroleum utility has led at least one foreign bank to file arbitration […]

European miners and South Africa suspend proceedings

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 2 April 2009 (Note: a correction has been made to this article. An explanation is posted below). A group of European’s with a stake in South Africa’s […]

CIT Group settles with Argentina

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 30 March 2009 The American finance company CIT Group has reached a settlement with Argentina, bringing to close ICSID arbitration proceedings which began in 2003. CIT Group […]

Recently published: The Effect of Treaties on Foreign Direct Investment: Bilateral Investment Treaties, Double Taxation Treaties and Investment Flows

The Effect of Treaties on Foreign Direct Investment: Bilateral Investment Treaties, Double Taxation Treaties and Investment Flows (Oxford University Press, 2009), edited by Karl P. Sauvant and Lisa E. Sachs. […]

Tribunal deniega alegato de necesidad en laudo recientemente publicado: National Grid p.l.c. c. República Argentina

Por Elizabeth Whitsitt 2 de Marzo, 2009 En un laudo recientemente publicado, un tribunal constituido conforme a una solicitud de arbitraje bajo las reglas de arbitraje de la Comisión de […]

Meg Kinnear electa como Secretaria General del CIADI

Por Damon Vis-Dunbar 3 de marzo 2009 Una ciudadana canadiense fue electa como la nueva secretaria del Centro Internacional de Arreglo de Diferencias Relativas a Inversiones (CIADI) del Banco Mundial, […]

South African court judgment bolsters expropriation charge over Black Economic Empowerment legislation in the mining sector

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 23 March 2009 A South African judicial ruling has opened the door for two plaintiffs to seek compensation for alleged expropriation of their mineral rights, in a […]

Judgment in Agri South Africa v the Minister of Minerals and Energy And Annis Mohr Van Rooyen v the Minister of Minerals and Energy

6 March 2009 judgment of the Hight Court of South Africa (North and South Gauteng High Court, Pretoria) in Agri South Africa v the Minister of Minerals and Energy And Annis […]

Argentina ordered to place US$75 million in escrow pending annulment decision on Sempra award

By Fernando Cabrera Diaz 16 March 2009 An ad-hoc committee formed under the rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) has ordered Argentina to put up […]

Reflections on Pakistan’s investment-treaty program after 50 years: an interview with the former Attorney General of Pakistan, Makhdoom Ali Khan

By Lauge Skovgaard Poulsen and Damon Vis-Dunbar 16 March 2009 Pakistan inked the first ever bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with the government of West Germany 50 years ago, before going […]

TLCAN quince años después: Logros, fracasos y prospectos futuros del Capítulo 11

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Recently Published: Regional Trade Agreements: Law, Policy and Practice

4 March 2009 Recently Published Regional Trade Agreements: Law, Policy and Practice, By David A. Gantz, Carolina Academic Press, 2009. This volume is designed to introduce the reader to the world of […]

Letter to the Editor: ICSID elects new Secretary-General

4 March 2009 Dear Sir, The lead article in the March 2009 issue of ITN regarding the election of Ms. Kinnear as ICSID Secretary-General is couched in unfortunate prose. The […]

European Court of Justice rules that certain Swedish and Austrian BITs are incompatible with the EC Treaty

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that certain clauses in Sweden and Austria’s bilateral investment treaties are incompatible with the European Community (EC) Treaty.

Recently Published: Law and Practice of Investment Treaties

3 March 2009 Recently PublishedLaw and Practice of Investment Treaties: Standards and Treatment, By Andrew Newcombe and Lluís Paradell, Kluwer Law International, 2009. A new book on international investment law […]

Meg Kinnear elected as Secretary-General of ICSID

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 3 March 2009 A Canadian national has been elected as the new Secretary-General of the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the high-profile […]

Canadian First Nations Chief intervenes in NAFTA Chapter 11 tobacco dispute

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 27 February 2009 The head of the Canadian Assembly of First Nations Peoples has voiced his support for a group of Canadian investors in a tobacco company […]

ICSID registers claim by Spanish investor against Argentina over airline dispute

By Fernando Cabrera Diaz 20 February 2009 The Spanish investor Grupo Marsans is behind a claim against Argentina registered by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes on 30 […]

NAFTA fifteen years later: the successes, failures and future prospects of Chapter 11

By Elizabeth Whitsitt 16 February 2009 Fifteen years ago the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) entered into force and became the first regional trade agreement between a developing country […]

EU Member States reject the call to terminate intra-EU bilateral investment treaties

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 10 February 2009 The majority of European Union Member States want to maintain the network of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) that exist between themselves, despite concerns by […]

U.S. academics urge the Obama administration to improve the international investment regime

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 6 February 2009 Faculty at Columbia University in New York have called on U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration to address “imperfections” in the international legal regime that […]

Bolivian voters approve new constitution as government continues to nationalize oil assets

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Parties file memorials in long-running NAFTA dispute over U.S. tobacco settlements; Canada intervenes with opinion on customary international law related to aboriginal rights

By Fernando Cabrera and Damon Vis-Dunbar 29 January 2009 The Canadian tobacco manufacturer Grand River Enterprises Six Nations and the United State have filed memorials in a long-running NAFTA Chapter […]

The United Kingdom tight-lipped over dispute with an Indian investor

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 22 January 2009 The United Kingdom has formally declined to release a notice of arbitration delivered by an Indian citizen under the UK-India bilateral investment treaty, explaining […]

Tribunal refuses to clarify decision on jurisdiction in Railroad Development Corporation v. Republic of Guatemala

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 20 January 2009 The tribunal hearing a dispute between the Railroad Development Corporation (RDC) and Guatemala under the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free […]

Continental Casualty Company moves to annul award favourable to Argentina

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 16 January 2009 The Illinois-based Continental Casualty Company has moved to annul an ICSID award that was largely in favour of the Republic of Argentina. In a […]

Canadian pharmaceutical company alleges denial of justice in claim against the United States

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 15 January 2009 A Canadian pharmaceutical company delivered a notice of arbitration to the United States government in December 2008 under NAFTA’s Chapter 11 on investment. The […]

Argentina toma la ofensiva ya que Siemens se declara culpable de cargos de corrupción

Por Damon Vis-Dunbar 23 de Diciembre de 2008 Argentina ha rechazado el pedido de Siemens de suspender el procedimiento del Centro Internacional de Arreglo de Diferencias Relativas a Inversiones (CIADI) […]

Perú gana demanda multimillonaria del CIADI sobre un acuerdo de estabilización presentada por una firma americana de energía

Por Fernando Cabrera Díaz 23 de Diciembre de 2008 La República de Perú se ha defendido con éxito en contra de una demanda iniciada por la firma Aguaytia Energy LLC […]

Tribunal pierces the corporate veil in jurisdictional decision involving Argentina

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 9 January 2009 Two out of three members of an ICSID tribunal have declined jurisdiction in a claim brought by TSA Spectrum de Argentina S.A. (TSA) against […]

Argentina takes the offensive as Siemens pleads guilty to corruption charges

By Damon Vis-Dunbar 23 December 2008 Argentina has refused calls by Siemens to suspend proceedings at the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in which a committee […]

Se Debaten Méritos de Arbitraje entre Inversor-Estado en Seminario de Arbitraje Internacional auspiciado por Fiscal General ecuatoriano

Por Fernando Cabrera Díaz 9 de Diciembre, 2008 El 1-2 de diciembre Noticias sobre Tratados de Inversión asistió a un seminario de dos días sobre arbitraje internacional en Quito, Ecuador, […]