Recent trends in international investment agreements : new UNCTAD research note
UNCTAD/PRESS/EB/2005/004
31/08/05
RECENT TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS : NEW UNCTAD RESEARCH NOTE
UNCTAD has just published its latest research and analysis on recent developments in international investment agreements. Today’s comprehensive research note provides an up-to-date review of the expanding universe of IIAs.
The note highlights several major developments at the international level :
– the continued expansion of the universe of bilateral investment treaties, bilateral double taxation treaties and preferential trade and investment agreements ;
– the increasingly sophisticated and complex content of the investment provisions in new agreements ;
– a wave of renegotiations of BITs, either because the original treaties have reached their expiry date, or because of changed circumstances ;
– intensified South-South cooperation on international investment policy ; and the rise in investor-state disputes.
These new trends require constant monitoring, as countries and firms alike have to operate within an increasingly complicated and expanding framework of multi-layered and multi-faceted international investment rules with overlapping obligations and commitments.