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Clive Palmer uses Singapore free trade agreement to revive ISDS claim against Australia

Monday, October 31, 2022: Australian mining magnate and political player Clive Palmer has used his Singapore company, Zeph Investments, to notify the Australian government on October 20, 2022, of its intention to seek compensation over a legal dispute with the WA government  about its proposed Balmoral South iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Shocking mapping of our unvaccinated world

Thursday, October 20, 2022: In an article for Pandemic, Philip Schellekens, a Senior Advisor at World Bank Group, reports there are 2.5 billion unvaccinated people today. They have not had their first shot. A staggering 90 per cent live in the developing world and 71 per cent in the poorer half of the world. Tracking the COVID-19 unvaccinated across countries rich and poor highlights the regressive outcome of the global vaccination campaign so far.

Transform Trade reports expose British companies suing developing countries

Thursday October 13, 2022: The UK-based Transform Trade - People centred trade report and its associated legal research report – Foreign Investment, Human Rights and the Climate in the UK – Asymmetric Legal Protection – hit two powerful themes – people’s action is transforming international trade and can do much more; and British law enables British corporations to cruelly exploit ISDS in bilateral investment agreements for super profits.

Media Release: LNP secrecy deal for Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) challenges Labor policy for trade transparency

October 4, 2022: The US Trade Representative Office has confirmed that it signed secrecy agreements with Australia and 12 other members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in April 2022, after an FOI request revealed the secrecy agreement signed with New Zealand.

Oil pipeline company proceeds with $15 billion ISDS claim against US government for environmental regulation

September 30, 2022an international arbitration panel appointed last week will hear the claim of TransCanada Corporation for $15 billion compensation against the US government because it revoked a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, claiming it would cause environmental damage. The pipeline is opposed by indigenous, farmer and other local communities  because it aimed to transport to the U.S. Gulf Coast up to 830,000 barrels per day of highly corrosive crude oil extracted from tar sands in Alberta, Canada, across more than a thousand rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands across six U.S. states.

First ISDS case over COVID-19 pandemic regulation lodged against Chile

September 15, 2022: The first known Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) claim concerning COVID-19 pandemic-related regulation was registered by French airport operating companies ADP International and Vinci Airports in August 2021 against Chile. The companies are arguing that Chile’s decision to close its borders during the height of the pandemic cost them US$37 million.

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