ISDS allows foreign investors to sue our Government

Investor-State Dispute Settlement

Expert claims ISDS provisions for Mexico in NAFTA 2.0 are neo-colonial and could undermine action on climate change

January 30, 2020: An article by Manuel Perez-Rocha, an associate fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, argues that the ISDS provisions for Mexico in the new NAFTA agreement are neo-colonial and give extensive powers to big polluters, which could restrict government’s ability to act on climate change.

Uruguay investment agreement endorsement underlines undemocratic process for trade deals

December 4, 2019: The government announced that a new Bilateral Investment Agreement between Uruguay and Australia was signed on April 5, 2019. As is the usual practice, the text was tabled in parliament only after signing, and the agreement was reviewed by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT), which reported on December 3. Since the government has a majority on the committee, the report recommended that the government ratify the agreement. The previous 2002 Uruguay-Australia  bilateral agreement will be terminated when this agreement enters into  force.

Economist argues against Australia joining trade deals that undermine sovereignty

October 31, 2019: A new article by Richard Denniss, chief economist at The Australia Institute, argues against Australia signing free trade agreements that undermine our sovereignty. Denniss calls out the hypocrisy of the Morrison government that has ratcheted up populist rhetoric while signing up to agreements that grant excessive rights to international investors at the expense of the Australian community.

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