environment


Prominent Canadians urge halt to Canada–Ecuador free trade deal, cite dangerous risks to rights and the environment
Prominent voices from across Canada—including human rights, Indigenous, labour, and environment leaders—are calling on the federal government to halt a proposed free trade agreement with Ecuador.
Unpacking the ASEAN–Canada FTA negotiation
The ASEAN-Canada FTA is one of the agreements currently being negotiated that includes an investment protection chapter with an ISDS mechanism. This briefing note summarizes the October 2025 webinar, “Unpacking the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (external link) ”, which examined the impact of ISDS and highlighted Canadian mining practices through emblematic ISDS cases.
ISDS is a threat to our collective future
Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) threatens a just transition from fossil fuels and the urgent need for a social and ecological transformation for people and the planet.
Ethiopia scores major legal victory worth over $850 million
Ethiopia has recorded significant victories in two high-profile international arbitration cases, successfully defending claims valued at more than $850 million, according to the Ministry of Justice.
How EU's CBAM expansion is adding new challenges for India despite the FTA
The India-EU Free Trade Agreement, exposes Indian manufacturers to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which could impose over $1.1 billion in annual costs by 2028. Despite a €500 million EU decarbonisation fund, Indian SMEs face a major challenge due to lack of granular emissions data and no special exemptions under CBAM.
Panama’s copper crisis: What a $20b lawsuit says about investor power
A Canadian mining giant is using a $20 billion lawsuit to pressure Panama into reopening a controversial copper mine. The case exposes how international investment agreements can undermine democracy, and why experts are calling for fairer investment frameworks worldwide.
The next shoe drops. The Northback (Grassy Mountain) interests file an international investment law claim against Canada
In December 2024, the Australian parent companies of Northback Holdings filed a Request for Arbitration) with Canada under the terms of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
The EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership and Investment Protection Agreements
The EU-Indonesia CEPA and IPA aimed to enhance trade and investment while promoting "sustainable" palm oil. However, reduced tariffs on forest-risk commodities and lack of community safeguards highlight the urgent need for strict enforcement of EU due diligence regulations to protect forests and local communities.
One year of Trump tariffs prove corporate profits always came before the public interest
The 2026 NTE Report makes it clear that the Trump administration’s primary motivation behind its trade policy is to protect the profits of big US companies.
Australian mining billionaire sues Canada for $2 billion
Gina Rinehart’s Northback demands feds pay for finding the Grassy Mountain project too toxic to proceed.