Unique t-towels with Tandberg and Wilcox cartoons for AFTINET 20th Anniversary only $20 each!
These collectors' items with brilliant cartoons by well-known artists Ron Tandberg and Cathy Wilcox can be displayed as posters or used as t-towels..ISDS allows foreign investors to sue our Government
Investor-State Dispute Settlement
These collectors' items with brilliant cartoons by well-known artists Ron Tandberg and Cathy Wilcox can be displayed as posters or used as t-towels..630 civil society groups warn of corporate threats to sue governments over actions taken to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic
June 25, 2020, Media Release: “An open letter endorsed by 630 international and national civil society organisations has been sent to Trade Minister Birmingham, warning him that Australia could face a wave of cases from global corporations claiming millions in compensation for actions taken to respond to the pandemic. Corporations can do this using rules in trade deals known as investor-state dispute settlement, or ISDS,” AFTINET Convener Dr Patricia Ranald said today.
Australian WTO win marks final victory for tobacco plain packaging law and public health
June 11, 2020: The World Trade Organisation appellate body decision against several countries that challenged Australia’s plain packaging law is the final victory in a ten-year battle against tobacco companies’ use of trade and investment law against public health.
AFTINET supports Termination of Indonesia-Australia 1993 Investment treaty but criticises corporate rights to sue governments
June 8, 2020 The AFTINET submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Trea
UN body supports global call for moratorium on ISDS cases during pandemic
May 7, 2020: Economist Professor Jeffrey Sachs and six other global figures have called for an immediate moratorium on all Investor-State Dispute Settlement claims and a permanent restriction on all such claims related to government action to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
India offered fresh tariff deal to rejoin RCEP talks
May 4, 2020: The India Economic Times reports that 15 countries still trying to finalise the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership have made an offer to India on market access, and asked it to respond by May 15.
Corporations prepare to sue governments over actions to save lives as pandemic reveals other trade policy flaws and need for alternatives
April 23.2020 Dr Patricia Ranald’s article in The Conversation shows how legal firm are already advising global companies on how to use clauses in trade agreements which allow them to claim millions in compensation for government regulation during the pandemic which may harm their profits.
More generally, she argues that the realities of the pandemic have forced governments to act in ways which show the flaws in the current trade deals that are negotiated in secret.
How ISDS could be used by foreign investors to gouge profits from COVID-19 pandemic
April 21, 2020: The Trans National Institute is predicting that global corporations will use ISDS to claim billions in compensation because of government regulation to save lives during the pandemic.
Massive ISDS over-reach, climate threat in proposed expansion of Energy Charter Treaty
April 16, 2020: The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is the fossil fuel industry's powerful secret weapon. It is now on the brink of a massive expansion into Africa, Asia and Latin America, threatening to bind yet more countries to corporate-friendly energy policies.
British American Tobacco uses trade law to try to freeze plain packaging legislation in the Netherlands
February 10, 2020: British American Tobacco’s submission to the Dutch government in response to its plans to introduce new plain packaging legislation for cigarettes has included a veiled threat of arbitration under international trade law.