International Investment Agreements

News & Events

 

News

OECD supports G20 objectives on international investment

27-Mar-2009

The 9th edition of the Investment Newsletter focuses on OECD support for G20 objectives on international investment and lessons from previous crises for investment policy today.

OECD launches the investment policy review of China

20-Mar-2009

During his second official visit to the People's Republic of China, Angel Gurría launched the Chinese language translation of OECD's investment policy review of China which looks at Chinese government efforts to encourage responsible business conduct against the backdrop of recent regulatory changes and China's increasing outward investment.

OECD countries stay open to commercial investments by sovereign wealth funds

09-Apr-2008

OECD countries are committed to keeping their investment frontiers open to sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) as long as these funds invest for commercial, not political ends. That is the message in a letter from OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría to G7 Finance Ministers detailing a common OECD position on policies towards sovereign wealth funds.

OECD publishes International Investment Law: Understanding concepts and tracking innovations

04-Apr-2008

International investment agreements set ground rules for how host governments treat foreign investors. This publication provides an unparalleled source of information on four key issues: the definition of investor and investment; the interpretation of umbrella clauses in investment agreements; coverage of environmental, labour and anti-corruption issues; and the interaction between investment and services chapters in selected regional trade agreements.

How investment and trade in services rules interact in Regional Trade Agreements

29-Aug-2007

The Investment Committee has adopted the key findings of the OECD report on "The interaction between investment and services chapters in selected Regional Trade Agreements" which addresses the implications of this interaction for levels of investment protection and liberalisation.

Interpretation of the Umbrella Clause in Investment Agreements

31-Oct-2006

Given the very frequent occurrence of the umbrella clause in modern investment treaties, and the different language used in these treaties, this working paper aims to improve an understanding of the interpretations of this clause and thereby assist treaty negotiators and parties in taking informed decisions.

Improving the System of Investor-State Dispute Settlement

10-Feb-2006

This working paper provides an overview of investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms.  It deals with issues related to the quality of arbitral awards; examines issues related to multiple and parallel proceedings and explores the merits of consolidation of claims; and deals with challenges of jurisdictional nature. 

OECD calls for greater transparency in Investor-State dispute settlement procedures

30-Aug-2005

The OECD Investment Committee has released a statement supporting additional transparency in international investment arbitration.  It has also published a study which examines the current rules, steps taken to improve transparency and the perceived advantages as well as the challenges of additional transparency.

Fair and Equitable Treatment Standard in International Investment Law

11-Oct-2004

This study provides factual elements of information on jurisprudence, literature and state practice related to the fair and equitable treatment standard.  It examines the origins of the standard and its use in international agreements and state practice, its relationship with the minimum standard of international customary law and the elements of its normative content as identified by arbitral tribunals.

"Indirect Expropriation" and the "Right to Regulate" in International Investment Law

11-Oct-2004

This OECD study provides factual elements of information on jurisprudence, state practice and literature related to "Indirect Expropriation" and the "Right to Regulate".  It presents the issues at stake and describes the basic concepts of the obligation to compensate for indirect expropriation, reviews whether and how legal instruments and other texts articulate the difference between indirect expropriation and the right of the governments to regulate without compensation and attempts to identify a number of criteria which emerge from jurisprudence and state practice for determining whether an indirect expropriation has occurred.


Events

Symposium on Making the Most of International Investment Agreements: A Common Agenda

on 12-Dec-2005

This Symposium, organised jointly by ICSID, OECD and UNCTAD, enabled non-governmental actors to share their perspectives on emerging investment arbitration issues identified by governments and their international organisations; to explore and advance the agenda which developed and developing country parties to investment agreements have in common; and to consider ways for the three organisations and other interested institutions to best work together and respond to the needs of their members and the investment community.



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7-8 December 2009 Paris, France

8th Global Forum on International Investment

Recent statistics, policy analysis and tools promoting investment

Investment Newsletter

International Investment Law

Addressing key issues in international investment agreements

Understanding concepts and tracking innovations