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 […]
ITN
DOWning NAFTA?
By Howard Mann, Senior International Legal Advisor to the International Institute for Sustainable Development 2 May 2009 On 31 March 2009 Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of the U.S. Dow […]
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
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain.
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
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain et Espagnol Européen.
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
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain.
European miners and South Africa suspend proceedings
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain.
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
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain.
Tribunal deniega alegato de necesidad en laudo recientemente publicado: National Grid p.l.c. c. República Argentina
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain et Espagnol Européen.
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
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain.
TLCAN quince años después: Logros, fracasos y prospectos futuros del Capítulo 11
Por Elizabeth Whitsitt 16 de Febrero 2009 Hace quince años entró en vigencia el Tratado de Libre Comercio de America del Norte (TLCAN) y se convirtió en el primer tratado […]
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
(English) 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
By Fernando Cabrera Diaz 4 February 2009 Bolivian President Evo Morales has claimed victory in the 25 January 2009 national referendum on a new constitution for the Andean nation. The […]
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
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain.
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
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain.
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
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain.
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
Désolé, cet article est seulement disponible en Anglais Américain et Espagnol Européen.
El Salvador warned of CAFTA-DR lawsuit by mining company
By Damon Vis-Dunbar 12 December 2008 A Canadian mining company and its American subsidiary have threatened the government of El Salvador with a lawsuit after it failed to receive regulatory […]
re: Investment Arbitration in Brazil: Yes or No?
As an arbitrator and one who does not have any connection with the Brazilian legal system, I can more particularly identify with the views of Weiler and de Oliveira. I […]
Merits of investor-state arbitration debated at international arbitration seminar hosted by Ecuador’s Attorney General
By Fernando Cabrera Diaz 9 December 2008 On 1-2 December Investment Treaty News attended a two-day seminar on international arbitration in Quito, Ecuador, hosted by Ecuador’s Attorney General’s Office. The […]
Arbitrajes de Inversión en Brasil: ¿Si o No?
Por Elizabeth Whitsitt y Damon Vis-Dunbar 30 de Noviembre de 2008 En 1991, Brasil inició uno de los programas de privatización más grandes del mundo, vendiendo más de US$100 mil […]
Objeción de Guatemala a jurisdicción de tribunal rechazada en arbitraje del TLCAC-RD
Por Damon Vis-Dunbar 26 de Noviembre 2008 El primer arbitraje de inversión a ser iniciado bajo el Tratado de Libre Comercio entre la República Dominicana – América Central – Estados […]
Argentina moves to expropriate airline under threat of US$1 Billion arbitration claim
By Fernando Cabrera Diaz 30 November 2008 The government of Argentina is driving ahead with its plan to expropriate the country’s largest airline from its Spanish owners in the face […]
Indian lawyer pursues claim against the United Kingdom under the India-UK BIT
By Damon Vis-Dunbar 28 November 2008 An English court case reveals that an Indian citizen is quietly pursuing an investment-treaty claim against the United Kingdom under the India-UK bilateral investment […]
Ecuador’s Office of the Attorney General hosts International Arbitration seminar in Quito, 1-2 December
The government of Ecuador will be hosting a seminar on International Arbitration and Administrative Law from 1-2 December 2008 in Quito. The seminar, which is intended to help build capacity […]
Guatemala’s objection to jurisdiction dismissed in DR-CAFTA arbitration
By Damon Vis-Dunbar 26 November 2008 The first investment arbitration to be launched under the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) is moving forward […]