April 16, 2019: A New report from UNCTAD critiques the failings of the existing multilateral order to establish a stable global economy that facilitates prosperity for all. Against the backdrop of persistent global poverty, rising inequality, the imminent climate crisis, and a global economy that remains inherently unstable 10 years after the 2008 financial crisis, the report calls for a new approach to multilateralism that is genuinely democratic and works towards the realisation of “shared prosperity and a healthy planet”.

AFTINET 2019 Election scorecard - Greens and Centre Alliance 9 Stars, Labor 8 Stars, Liberal-National Coalition zero stars

April 12, 2019: AFTINET has produced a handy summary with the latest evidence on ISDS, including history, tribunals, costs, recent cases, governments withdrawing and reviews by ISDS governing bodies.

April 11, 2019: “Detailed scrutiny of the text of the recent Indonesia trade deal has revealed that there are no provisions to cancel the old 1993 Indonesia-Australia bilateral investment agreement, which will remain in force along side the new agreement.

Wednesday April 10, 2019: A new report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) identifies the potential implications of a no-deal Brexit for developing countries.

Monday April 8, 2019: The Transnational Institute has published a sharp critique of the UNCITRAL Working Group III process, which met last week but will be ongoing in 2019. UNCITRAL is one of two institutions which oversee ISDS tribunals.

Thursday April 4, 2019: A group of seven Special Rapporteurs in the United Nations system have told another UN body – the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) - that Investor-State Dispute Settlement in trade agreements need systemic reform, not only procedural improvements.

Wednesday April 3, 2019: Over three hundred labour unions, consumer advocates and environmental organizations from all continents sent a letter on April 1, 2019, to World Trade Organization member nations expressing a "profound and urgent opposition" to talks that would establish new rules on digital trade.

Tuesday April 2, 2019: Despite winning a political risk insurance payout of US$58.5 million from Zurich Insurance Australia, the Australian mining company Kingsgate Consolidated has decided it will also pursue compensation from the Thai government for the closure of its Chatree gold mine in 2016.

April 1, 2019: The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has produced Report 185 recommending that Australia accede to the revised WTO Procurement Agreement (GPA). There is no implementing legislation because the only required legislation for accession was the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act which was passed in October 2018 with other implementing legislation for the TPP 11.