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News from the movements

Clive Palmer’s multibillion-dollar claims make a mockery of a tribunal that allows foreign investors to challenge court decisions
1-Oct-2025     The Guardian
The billionaire’s last three cases are part of a growing global list from fossil fuel companies against government decisions to reduce carbon emissions.
AFTINET webinar: ISDS - Fossil fuel companies' secret weapon against climate action and Clive Palmer case outcome
1-Oct-2025     AFTINET
With COP30 in Brazil around the corner and with the prospect of Australia co-hosting COP31 next year, a major threat to effective climate action continues to fly under the radar: Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms in trade and investment agreements.
Will Canadian companies respond to widescale public dissent by threatening to sue?
30-Sep-2025     Common Frontiers
Tens of thousands of people took to the street in a nationwide strike opposing various Canadian-owned mining projects while the Canada-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement could be tabled any day now.
Commission pushes EU-Morocco trade deal, ignoring democratic processes and saharawi rights
30-Sep-2025     WSRW
WSRW can today reveal a leaked EU document showing plans to continue trading with products from occupied Western Sahara, in direct violation of earlier rulings by the EU Court of Justice. A vote will take place this Wednesday.
Understanding digital services taxes
29-Sep-2025     Public Citizen
The US has raised a dispute about the imposition of this tax under “nondiscrimination” provisions of the US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement, alleging that these taxes are targeted at US companies.
EU-Indonesia deal: global civil society alliance calls for a stop
26-Sep-2025     ETJC
A European-Indonesian alliance of civil society organizations and trade unions criticises the political agreement on the EU-Indonesia free trade agreement being signed in Indonesia.
10 stories (more) of how the rich and powerful hijacked justice
24-Sep-2025     Linkedin
These cases can cost countries (or rather, taxpayers) billions — even when decisions were taken democratically to protect people, the environment, or national security.
EU-Indonesia trade agreement will perpetuate social and environmental injustice
24-Sep-2025     FERN
Indonesia and the EU signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, while Environment Commissioner announced that the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation will be delayed by yet another year. 
Algeria–EU: arbitrating a historical imbalance
24-Sep-2025     RLS
In July 2025, the European Union officially initiated a dispute settlement procedure against Algeria within the framework of their association agreement. This move follows several years of commercial tensions, especially over imports, investments, and Algeria’s industrial strategy. Behind this legal dispute lies a deeper questioning of the asymmetric relations between Europe and its southern neighbors.
LDC graduation and FTAs will shape Bangladesh’s future: Great caution is needed
23-Sep-2025    
Bangladesh is rushing to conclude a large number of bilateral free trade agreements. It will have to make massive concessions in areas critical to its development and future.