International investment has increasingly been subject to controversies and debates. Never more so then when international investment law is faced with sustainable development issues, particularly in the context of international investment arbitration. Given the characteristics of international...

The economic shocks from the pandemic and rising geoeconomic tensions have triggered an accelerated restructuring of foreign investment flows in global value chains. As the previous determinants of foreign investment are rapidly changing, many new risks and opportunities abound for developing...

This guide provides an analysis of past trade agreements, set within the context of developments in international economic relations. It shows that there can be gains from more trade and economic integration, but that there have also been losers.There are clear dangers to economic and social...

The proliferation of International Investment Agreements (IIAs) and treaty-based investment arbitration has raised concerns over the extent to which IIAs are actually fair and are able to balance the interests of foreign investors and States. The strong protections afforded by IIAs to investors...

This paper provides a brief overview of recent UNCTAD research on the nexus between international investment treaties and sustainable development. After sketching the historic evolution and current trends in IIA treaty practice, it explores the linkages between IIAs and three areas of public...