Regional trade agreements (RTAs) have become an indelible feature of the international trading landscape. Most, if not all, RTAs contain provisions that establish procedures for resolving disputes among their signatory members. Yet, the design and functioning of these dispute settlement...

Prof. Smit has expressed the view that eliminating party-appointed arbitrators would be beneficial for the integrity of the dispute settlement mechanism, especially in the investment field, because it would avoid any doubt of partiality and complacency. The author argues that these concerns can...

The international investment regime is changing, both as to substantive protections and ISDS restructuring. Are USMCA's changes a new "gold standard?" This Perspective doubts, since they are the result of various political pressures that have led to abolishing ISDS with Canada, while introducing...