ISDS Case Map
Australia
“The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has issued conflicting reports in its review of the Korea Australia Free Trade agreement (KAFTA)”, Dr Patricia Ranald, Convenor of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network, said today.
An Australian government keen to cement a free trade agreement with Europe will have to ditch the unpopular Luxury Car Tax first, currently bringing in $500 million per year, says an executive from Mercedes-Benz Australia.
Australian dairy farmers fight hard for better access to China's market under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, launching a social media campaign that reached 1.6 million Twitter users.
Australia risks getting swept up in a wave of litigation by foreign corporations wishing to sue over unfavourable domestic laws, experts warn, after the government rejected a bill to ban controversial trade agreements.
A Senate inquiry has recommended against passing a bill that would bar Australia from entering into trade agreements that include so-called 'investor-state dispute settlement' clauses.
Indonesia is not the only Asia-Pacific nation that is reassessing investment treaties containing provisions on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS, especially arbitration).
The Abbott government in Australia was close to negotiating a free trade agreement with China. That is, until Clive Palmer got involved.
While Indonesia intends to renegotiate its BITs to provide greater capacity to regulate in the public interest, the current Australian government has indicated it will consider the inclusion of ISDS on a case-by-case basis.
Australia Fair Trade and Invesment Network's Convener, Dr Patricia Ranald, gave evidence to the Senate Committee for Foreign Affairs Defense & Trade on the 6th August 2014 about the dangers of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in trade agreements.
“A new website has been launched today http://tppnocertification.org/ which reveals that the United States claims the right to vet and approve other countries’ laws before it will allow a trade and investment treaty to come into force,” Dr Patricia Ranald, Convenor of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment network, said today.
