scholarly journals The GATT and Restrictions on Foreign Investment: The United States Challenge to Canada's Foreign Investment Law

1982 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert K. Paterson
Author(s):  
Hobér Kaj ◽  
Eliasson Nils

In investment arbitration, just as in private commercial, the final award is often merely the starting shot for challenge and/or enforcement proceedings that may take as long as, or even longer than, the prior proceedings. This chapter discusses the challenge and review of investment treaty awards in municipal courts, based on 38 cases from 12 different jurisdictions: Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, and the United States. Most Canadian and US cases challenge NAFTA awards, whereas most European cases challenge bilateral investment treaty awards. The remaining cases challenge awards under the Energy Charter Treaty, one challenge of a decision on jurisdiction under the Kyrgyz Foreign Investment Law, and two challenges of awards under the CIS Convention for the Protection of Investors Rights. These jurisdictions are frequently chosen as the seat of non-ICSID arbitrations.


Significance The outcome comes as little surprise, given the repressive tactics used by the Ortega administration in the run-up to the vote, which included the disqualification or imprisonment of numerous opposition candidates. The United States and other international actors are now poised to put increased pressure on the re-elected government. Impacts The prospect of extended sanctions will act as a further disincentive to foreign investment. Ortega’s efforts to boost regional support through increased alignment with Honduras may lead to greater bilateral trade. More undocumented Nicaraguan migration looks inevitable, whether due to continuing political repression or worsening economic hardship.


Significance The deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 negotiating group (UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany) on July 14 promises to end most sanctions on the country, in return for suspension and monitoring of its nuclear programme. If ratified by all parties, it will create opportunities for an expansion of Iran's gas production and exports. Iran is the holder of the world's largest gas reserves, according to BP estimates. It is also the third-largest producer (after the United States and Russia, and probably having overtaken Qatar during 2015), and the fourth-largest consumer. Impacts Iran could increase gas exports by advancing projects stalled by sanctions, although most of these will take some years to come to fruition. Iran would seek to attract foreign investment into its gas industry to increase production and exports in the longer term. If this occurs, Iran will compete with other gas exporters, particularly Russia, into the 2020s.


1950 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-391
Author(s):  
R. G. Hawtrey

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