Over the last three years the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) has been devoting significant attention to the issue of concurrent proceedings in international arbitration. The problem basically arises when one arbitration is initiated in relation to a certain...

One of the sharpest ideological frictions that characterises modern societies is the one that opposes supporters and opponents of trade and investment liberalisation policies. The existence of mixed empirical findings underscores the importance of avoiding general assertions about the benefits...

Since 2015, the European Commission (EC) has been advocating the establishment of an investment court system (ICS). A key aspect of the proposal is the creation of the strictest ethical standards ever seen in the field of investor-state arbitration. The exercise of functions as an arbitrator...

Over the last several years impact assessment studies have become a standard tool in trade and investment policymaking processes. Within the European Union there are two types of studies that examine the impact of trade policies: Impact Assessments (IAs) and Sustainability Impact Assessments...

This chapter examines the present-day level of transparency in European trade and investment negotiations. It argues that the level of transparency adopted by the European Commission, while open to improvement, is already quite satisfactory. The current practice strikes a sensible balance...

The WTO’s Appellate Body is a standing body composed of 7 members whose mandate is to hear appeals from panel cases. While it is a permanent body, the members of the Appellate Body are not appointed full-time. This regime was based on the assumption that members would be called upon to hear...

The last decade witnessed the emergence of an international market for renewable energy. Foreign investment is particularly important in this field. Governments around the world have implemented economic support mechanisms to encourage private investment, leading a substantial number of...

The attraction of foreign investment, particularly in the field of infrastructure building and maintenance, plays a central role in the development of Timor-Leste. This paper discusses the advantages and potential risks of using international investment agreements as a tool to promote foreign...

Over the past years, impact assessment studies became a regular feature of trade and investment policymaking processes. These studies collect quantitative and qualitative information on the connexion between proposed policies and their likely positive or negative consequences. This chapter...