TBIs – Investment Treaty News

Espacio Regulatorio del Gobierno en la Sombra de los TBIs: El Caso de la Reforma Regulatoria de los Recursos Naturales en Tanzania

Tanzania aprobó tres nuevas leyes en julio de 2017 que cambian significativamente el panorama regulatorio que rige los recursos naturales. Las reformas tienen como objetivo garantizar que la inversión extranjera beneficie a los ciudadanos tanzanos. Desde una perspectiva africana, este artículo argumenta que es hora de reconsiderar los regímenes de tratados de inversión para garantizar que no obstaculicen las reformas que tanto se necesitan.

Conferencia de Alto Nivel de la UNCTAD sobre los AIIs: Avanzando en el Abordaje de los Acuerdos Internacionales de Inversión de la Generación Anterior

Más de 300 expertos se reunieron en Ginebra para hacer un balance de la reforma orientada al desarrollo sostenible del régimen de tratados de inversión y analizar opciones de política para modernizar el inventario existente de tratados de la vieja generación. Los participantes reconocieron que la colaboración multilateral sería clave para abordar el complejo régimen de AII.

Reseña del Libro La Economía Política del Régimen de Tratados de Inversión

En su nuevo libro, Jonathan Bonnitcha, Lauge Poulsen y Michael Waibel desarrollan una estructura coherente para el análisis de políticas de los tratados de inversión que debería atraer interés mientras los gobiernos revisan sus políticas de tratados. Sostiene que los tratados de inversión tal como se aplican actualmente a menudo parecen estar mal adaptados para abordar inquietudes económicas identificables.

Kazakstán culpable por expropiación de inversión de la familia Hourani en segundo round de arbitraje del CIADI

Caratube International Oil Company LLP y Devincci Salah Hourani vs. la República de Kazakstán, Caso del CIADI No. ARB/13/13

El TBI entre Marruecos y Nigeria de 2016: Una Importante Contribución a la Reforma de los Tratados de Inversión

Dos países africanos en desarrollo responden a las críticas al régimen de inversiones. El tratado innovador ofrece protección a los inversores extranjeros sin comprometer la capacidad del Estado anfitrión para regular en el interés público.

Una Mirada sobre la Lenta Aparición de China en Casos de ISDS

China ha mantenido fuertes flujos de inversión extranjera directa dentro y fuera del país y ha expandido su red de tratados de inversiones. Este artículo destaca la creciente aparición de China en los casos de ISDS en esta última década, tanto como Estado de origen como anfitrión.

Tratados de Inversión y el Veto Interno de Propuestas Regulatorias: Estudio de Caso de Canadá

¿La posibilidad de demandas de arbitraje de un inversor extranjero en contra del Estado provoca un enfriamiento regulatorio? Los autores preguntaron a funcionarios públicos si la ISDS contribuye al veto interno de decisiones gubernamentales sobre protección ambiental.

Argentina debe pagar más de USD320 millones por expropiación ilícita en caso de aerolíneas

Teinver S.A., Transportes de Cercanías S.A. y Autobuses Urbanos del Sur S.A. vs. La República Argentina, Caso del CIADI No. ARB/09/1

Un tribunal del CIADI no admite jurisdicción ya que inversor abusa de sus derechos al “reactivar” una empresa para acceder a arbitraje contra Camerún

Capital Financial Holdings Luxembourg SA vs. la República de Camerún, Caso del CIADI No. ARB/15/18

Ecuador otorgado USD41 millones en demanda de reconvenciones contra compañía de petróleo y gas de Estados Unidos, Burlington Resources

Burlington Resources Inc. vs. La República de Ecuador, Caso del CIADI No. ARB/08/5

Manual sobre Sostenibilidad para Negociadores Comerciales: Aprovechando el Potencial de los Acuerdos de Comercio e Inversión para Alcanzar Objetivos Ambientales

Desarrollado por IISD y el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente (PNUMA), este manual es diseñado para ayudar a los negociadores de comercio e inversiones demostrando como cláusulas específicas pueden apoyar objetivos de desarrollo sostenible.

Ecuador denuncia sus 16 TBIs restantes y publica informe de auditoría CAITISA

El Presidente ecuatoriano Rafael Correa formalizó el 16 de mayo de 2017 la salida de Ecuador de los tratados bilaterales de inversión celebrados con 16 países.

Awards and Decisions

ICSID tribunal dismisses claims brought against Indonesia based on forged mining licences Churchill Mining PLC and Planet Mining Pty Ltd v. Republic of Indonesia, ICSID Case No. ARB/12/14 and ICSID Case No. ARB/12/40 Inaê Siqueira de Oliveira [*] After rendering separate decisions on jurisdiction¾one for the case brought by British company Churchill Mining PLC under the United […]

ICSID tribunal dismisses claims brought against Indonesia based on forged mining licences

Churchill Mining PLC and Planet Mining Pty Ltd v. Republic of Indonesia, ICSID Case No. ARB/12/14 and ICSID Case No. ARB/12/40 After rendering separate decisions on jurisdiction—one for the case brought by British company Churchill Mining PLC under the United Kingdom–Indonesia bilateral investment treaty (BIT), and another for Australian company Planet Mining Pty. Ltd.’s case under […]

PCA tribunal dismisses expropriation and FET claims concerning an eco-touristic venture

Peter A. Allard v. The Government of Barbados, PCA Case No. 2012-06 On June 27, 2016, a tribunal under the auspices of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) dismissed all claims by Canadian businessman Peter A. Allard against Barbados under the Canada–Barbados bilateral investment treaty (BIT) and the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission […]

India’s Joint Interpretive Statement for BITs: An Attempt to Slay the Ghosts of the Past

The Government of India has proposed a Joint Interpretative Statement to its bilateral investment treaty (BIT) partners. The statement clarifies key substantive and procedural provisions, bringing them more in line with India’s new foreign investment policy.

Special and Differential Treatment in International Investment Agreements

Special and Differential Treatment (S&D), originally forged in the trade regime, has evolved in trade negotiations and gained momentum in investment agreements, to provide greater flexibility for developing countries based on their needs and capabilities.

News in Brief

(English) Trump election affects mega-regional negotiations including TTIP, TPP and RCEP

Brazil and India initial Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT); text yet to be published

CETA signed; Canada and European Union to “work expeditiously” on creating a Multilateral Investment Court

Awards and Decisions

(English) Venezuela to Pay Us$1 Billion For Expropriating Canadian Mining Company’s Investment

ICSID Tribunal dismisses MFN Clause in WTO GATS as a means of importing Senegal’s consent to arbitration from third party BIT

PCA tribunal deemed acts of Polish Agricultural Property Agency not attributable to Poland

Claimant not considered Investor due to interpretation of “Seat” under Cyprus–Montenegro BIT

Ecuador’s Levy on extraordinary oil profits at a 99% rate has breached Murphy’s legitimate expectations, decides PCA tribunal

Ecuador ordered by PCA tribunal to pay $24 million to Canadian Mining Company

Claimant not considered investor due to interpretation of “seat” under Cyprus–Montenegro BIT

(English) CEAC Holdings Limited v Montenegro, ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/14/8 – Maria Florencia Sarmiento

Ecuador’s levy on extraordinary oil profits at a 99% rate has breached Murphy’s legitimate expectations, decides PCA tribunal

(English) Murphy Exploration & Production Company – International v. Republic of Ecuador, PCA Case No. 2012-16 (formerly AA 434) – Inaê Siqueira de Oliveira

Can EU Member States Still Negotiate BITs with Third Countries?

Foreign direct investment became part of the sphere of exclusive competence of the European Union in 2009. Since then, the European Commission has been negotiating investment treaties with a number of countries—as well as authorized several individual EU member states to negotiate BITs.

Brexit and contentious topics complicate TTIP negotiations; public opposition continues

(English) The 14th round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations was held in Brussels from July 11 to 15, 2016.

EU negotiation agenda to continue despite Brexit; MERCOSUR and Indonesia at sight

(English) Despite the uncertainties in TTIP negotiations, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said they would survive Brexit, and is pushing to conclude negotiations before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office in early 2017.

United Kingdom makes trade and investment negotiation moves for post-Brexit era

(English) On July 8, 2016, Sajid Javid, former Business Secretary for the United Kingdom, launched preliminary talks with India on a future trade relationship between the two countries as soon as Britain formally leaves the European Union.

CETA to be concluded as a mixed agreement; Commission hopes for signing in October

(English) On July 5, 2016, the European Commission proposed to the Council that the Canada–European Union CETA—agreed to in 2014 and re-concluded in February 2016—be signed as a “mixed agreement,” requiring signature and ratification by each of the EU member states.

RCEP partners conclude 13th negotiating round in Auckland; three further rounds in 2016

The 13th round of negotiations for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was held in Auckland, New Zealand, from June 12 to 18, 2016. The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) reports that all countries have now submitted initial offers for trade in goods and services, and initial lists of reservations for investment. Negotiations—with further rounds […]

India takes steps to reform its investment policy framework after approving new model BIT

India has started to send official notices to terminate bilateral investment treaties (BITs) to 57 partner countries with which it has BITs that have already expired or will expire in the near future. Moreover, to the 25 countries with which India has BITs with initial durations expiring from July 2017 onward, India has started to propose signing joint […]

Awards and Decisions

(English) The long-expected final award has been rendered in the high-profile case initiated by tobacco giant Philip Morris in early 2010 against Uruguay over its tobacco control measures.

Corporate restructuring and abuse of rights: PCA tribunal deems Philip Morris’s claims against Australia’s tobacco plain packaging rules inadmissible

Philip Morris Asia Limited v. The Commonwealth of Australia, PCA Case No. 2012-12

ICSID tribunal upholds Panama’s abuse of process objection; Transglobal to pay arbitration costs and most of Panama’s legal expenses

(English) In the proceeding brought by Transglobal Green Energy, LLC (a U.S.-based company) and Transglobal Green Panama S.A. (a Panama-based company) against Panama under the United States–Panama bilateral investment treaty (BIT), an ICSID tribunal accepted Panama’s abuse of process objection.

Venezuela ordered to pay US$1.202 billion plus interest to Canadian mining company Crystallex for FET breach and expropriation

(English) In a 273-page award dated April 4, 2016, a tribunal at the Additional Facility (AF) of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) ordered Venezuela to pay US$1.202 billion plus interest to Canadian company Crystallex International Corporation (Crystallex).

Turkey–Turkmenistan BIT: tribunal finds claims admissible but dismisses them on merits

(English) An arbitral tribunal at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) has issued its award on the claims by a Turkish company against Turkmenistan.

Mappinginvestmenttreaties.com: Uncovering the secrets of the investment treaty universe

Did you know that the United Kingdom’s treaty network is twice as consistent as that of Egypt or Pakistan? Have you noticed that 81 per cent of the TPP’s investment chapter is the same as the investment chapter in the U.S.–Colombia FTA, concluded ten years before, in 2006? Treating investment treaty texts as data can equip policy-makers, practitioners and researchers with a more sophisticated understanding of the universe of international investment agreements.

The Need for a Southern Observatory on Transnational Investment

The Observatory is an intergovernmental initiative to provide information and exchange of knowledge and experiences on investment arbitration. It also aims at creating equal conditions between investors and states so as to promote sustainable investment that respects state sovereignty.

An interview with Lauge Poulsen, author of Bounded Rationality and Economic Diplomacy

The popularity of BITs in large parts of the developing world was due to a failure to appreciate their bite. Why would so many governments sign up to some of the most potent instruments in international economic law without even caring to check what the treaties meant?

China–United States BIT: ISDS to be included; ongoing negotiations on negative lists

(English) Since 2008, China and the United States have undergone 24 negotiation rounds for a bilateral investment treaty (BIT).

Three mining disputes: the first investment disputes against Colombia come to light

(English) On February 19, 2016, Cosigo Resources (Canada) and Tobie Mining and Energy (United States) submitted an arbitration request against Colombia under the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) concluded by Colombia with the United States and Canada.

Second ICSID claim filed against Uruguay; Philip Morris decision still pending

(English) On March 24, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) registered (Case No. ARB/16/9) a request for arbitration filed by U.S. telecom company Italba against Uruguay.

ICSID tribunal awards damages for Venezuela’s indirect expropriation of steel industry investment

(English) Tenaris S.A. and Talta-Trading e Marketing Sociedade Unipessoal LDA v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, ICSID Case No. ARB/11/26

The only known investment treaty arbitration against Equatorial Guinea fails on jurisdictional grounds

(English) A majority tribunal at the Additional Facility (AF) of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) dismissed the case of Spanish construction company Grupo Francisco Hernando Contreras, S.L. (Contreras Group) against Equatorial Guinea, in an award dated December 4, 2015.

ICSID tribunal orders Zimbabwe to return expropriated farms

(English) In a 318-page award issued July 28, 2015 but only published February 2016, a tribunal at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) ordered Zimbabwe to return farms it seized without compensation in 2005.

Ecuador’s audit on investment treaties: CAITISA reports leaked

Three reports by CAITISA, Ecuador’s citizen audit commission on bilateral investment treaties (BITs), were leaked by online newspaper Diagonal on January 24, 2016. CAITISA, formed by experts in foreign investment and international law, was created in 2013 by President Rafael Correa to examine the legitimacy and legality of Ecuador’s BITs and the impact of their application. The commission […]

First ICSID case brought by Chinese mainland investors dismissed on jurisdictional grounds

Ping An Life Insurance Company of China, Limited and Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Limited v. Kingdom of Belgium, ICSID Case No. ARB/12/29

The Brazilian Agreement on Cooperation and Facilitation of Investments (ACFI): A New Formula for International Investment Agreements?

Since the signing of the first Agreement on Cooperation and Facilitation of Investments (ACFI) by Brazil, in March 2015, English translations of the document and analyses of its innovative aspects have been published.[1] The hidden question is: to what extent do Brazil’s ACFIs innovate in the regulation of foreign investments? Alternatives to the current liberal […]

Rethinking Investment-Related Dispute Settlement

Investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS), a concept much unknown to the broader public and even top policy-makers only a year ago, is making headlines, especially as the European Union and the United States contemplate including the mechanism in the deal they are currently negotiating, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Public awareness is growing of […]

The Brazil–Mozambique and Brazil–Angola Cooperation and Investment Facilitation Agreements (CIFAs): A Descriptive Overview

Brazil and Mozambique signed on March 30, 2015 the first Cooperation and Investment Facilitation Agreement (CIFA) based on Brazil’s new model bilateral investment treaty (BIT). The second was signed on April 1, 2015 between Brazil and Angola. Unlike traditional BITs, which are geared towards investor protection, the CIFAs focus primarily on cooperation and investment facilitation. […]

Everyone’s Doing It: The Acceptance, Effectiveness and Legality of Performance Requirements

For policymakers charged with investment portfolios, the challenge is not simply about attracting greater flows of foreign direct investment (FDI). At least as important is trying to maximize the domestic economic and social benefits that result from those investments. This can be achieved with tax policies or targeted recruitment of specific investments with promising potential […]

The Sixth Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators: Understanding and Harnessing the New Models for Investment and Sustainable Development

The Sixth Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators was held on October 29-31, 2012, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The forum encourages participants to develop their own critical perspectives on issues which are germane to the negotiation of international investment treaties.

Integrating Sustainable Development into International Investment Agreements: A Commonwealth Guide for Developing Country Negotiators

In November 2012 the Commonwealth Secretariat completed a practical guide, titled “Integrating Sustainable Development into International Investment Agreements: A Guide for Developing Countries,” to help enable developing countries to design international investment agreements that support their development needs.