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RCEP & investment

Malaysian civil society groups urge government to reject investor-state dispute settlement clause in RCEP deal
9-Jul-2025 The Edge Malaysia
Malaysian CSOs have urged the government to reject the inclusion of the ISDS clause in the RCEP agreement. They warn that ISDS allows foreign investors to sue governments over policies safeguarding public interests like health, workers, and the environment, potentially leading to costly legal battles and large payouts detrimental to national budgets.
Civil society groups say there is now even more reason to keep ISDS out of the RCEP
7-Jul-2025 bilaterals.org
Civil society organisations from the 15 member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), call upon RCEP governments to continue to exclude Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) from the RCEP.
Debunking government claims on RCEP
3-Nov-2021 Rappler
As Trade Justice Pilipinas articulated in an earlier statement: “RCEP will further prop up a broken economic model that we need to radically transform in favor of one that is more resilient.”
Reconsidering RCEP’s Impact on Foreign Investment
28-Jun-2021 The Diplomat
Based on our analysis, RCEP does not ensure a new world order for FDI. Countries wanting to attract FDI cannot rest on the laurels of RCEP or its changes in ROOs.
As largest FDI recipient, China improves business climate for investors
28-Jan-2021 Global Times
As its economy maintains recovery momentum, the country aims to attract foreign investors this year by encouraging investment in more industries, shortening negative lists for foreign investment, and further expanding the free-trade network.
RCEP will undermine fight against COVID19 pandemic
18-Jun-2020 APWLD
The 15 governments must consider the adverse impact of the mega FTA and put an end to trade agreements such as RCEP as they only increase protection and power of multinational corporations.
S. Korea, China to discuss expanding scope of FTA
26-May-2020 Yonhap
South Korea will hold the seventh round of talks with China to discuss expanding the scope of their bilateral free trade agreement to better cover the service and investment sectors.
Investor-State arbitration and the ‘next generation’ of investment treaties
5-May-2020 Lexology
In recent years, observers have questioned whether investor–state arbitration will or should be a feature of the next generation of free trade and bilateral investment treaties.
S. Korean investment agreements allow paper companies to request international arbitration
14-Jan-2020 Hankyoreh
South Korea has concluded no fewer than 99 investment agreements that allows paper companies to take advantage of investor-state dispute system.
CTU concerned with "upgrade" of China Free Trade Agreement
6-Nov-2019 Scoop Politics
The CTU is concerned that the "upgrade" of the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement has not removed the threat of investor suits against the New Zealand government.
India tries to loosen RCEP tangle ahead of Leaders Summit on November 4
22-Oct-2019 The Hindu Business Line
Indian negotiators are in Bangkok trying to insert crucial provisions in the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact.
RCEP: As deadline looms, trade unions call out dangerous clauses
21-Oct-2019 People Dispatch
Negotiators representing 16 countries have been tasked with arriving at an agreement on the controversial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership by October 19 but trade unions say the deal has grave consequences.
India may cut duties on 80% of Chinese imports under RCEP
2-Oct-2019 The Economic Times
India may cut or eliminate tariffs on 80% of products imported from China under a 16-country free trade agreement, the last round of negotiations for which is underway in Vietnam.
ISDS victory: RCEP won’t allow corporations to sue governments
1-Oct-2019 AFTINET
After seven years of tireless campaigning in Australia and across the region, the Malaysian Trade Minister announced that foreign investor rights to sue governments (ISDS) has been dropped from the RCEP agreement negotiations.
India accepts RCEP tips on investments
26-Sep-2019 The Hindu
While India has not yet signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, it has accepted suggestions of other countries regarding rules on investments.
Suddenly, the world’s biggest trade agreement won’t allow corporations to sue governments
17-Sep-2019 The Conversation
Malaysia’s trade minister Datuk Darell Leiking revealed that Malaysia and each of the other 15 parties to the RCEP negotiations had agreed to exclude ISDS provisions from the deal.
Trade Minister of South Korea should not undermine the ISDS reform objectives pursued by the Prime Minister
1-Aug-2019 Occupy FTA
CSOs call for Trade Minister of South Korea should not undermine the ISDS reform objectives pursued by the Prime Minister
Is NZ about to accept investment disputes in RCEP?
31-Jul-2019 Scoop Politics
There is a high risk that New Zealand would still allow the investor to sue New Zealand in this expensive and discredited system of international investment arbitration
Corporations have ’hijacked justice’
9-Jul-2019 The Ecologist
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade deal would undermine environmental protections in Asia.
Investment protection proposals under RCEP threaten India’s pharma industry
15-Mar-2019 The Wire
Free trade agreements like the RCEP will infringe on India’s intellectual property laws. India must stand its ground in the interest of public health.