International Investment Agreements

International investment agreements in Global Commerce Policy

In this regard, a definition of this issue is as follows: the most common form of these mainly bilateral agreements are the investment promotion and protection agreement and the bilateral investment treaty. These agreements tend to follow set patterns and differ little in substance between states. Their emphasis is on the free transfer of funds and procedures relating to expropriation under fair terms, non-discriminatory treatment of investors and the entry of personnel to manage the investment. The entries on trade policy are here. A beginning has been made towards more comprehensive international investment rules in NAFTA Chapter 11 which, however, draws heavily on the language of bilateral investment treaties. This chapter contains in addition the requirement for the better of national treatment and most- favoured-nation treatment. The entries on trade policy are here. It also establishes the concept of minimum standard of treatment. The entries on trade policy in the Encyclopedia are here. Other NAFTA investment rules concern performance requirements. senior management and boards of directors, transparency, environmental measures and an investor-state dispute provision. The ASEAN members are working towards the establishment of an ASEAN Investment Area, but limited progress appears to have been made on this project. The entries on trade policy are here. An ambitious attempt to establish common international rules for investments was the OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment. That, however, failed. WTO members have been exploring for some years the relationship between trade and investment, and they will decide on the next step, which may entail negotiations, at the 2003 WTO Ministerial Conference. See also treaties of friendship, commerce and navigation.[1]

International investment agreementsin the wold Encyclopedia

For an introductory overview on international trade policy, see this entry.

Resources

Notes and References

1. Dictionary of Trade Policy, “International investment agreements” entry (OAS)

See Also