1887

OECD Working Papers on International Investment

Selected studies on international investment and investment policy prepared for use within the OECD. They address such issues as investment agreements, dispute settlement, fair and equitable treatment, most favored nation treatment, and corruption.

English

State-to-State dispute settlement and the interpretation of investment treaties

Many governments have expressed concerns about the uncertainty linked to the perceived inconsistency of treaty interpretation in Investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS). An OECD-hosted intergovernmental investment roundtable has been considering a range of tools through which governments can take action to improve the interpretation of investment treaties and some participants suggested consideration of the potential role of State-to-State dispute settlement (SSDS) in this area. This paper responds to this interest. The first part sets forth a rough typology of possible SSDS claims under investment treaties. The second part outlines policy issues relating to a possible type of SSDS claim which would be most relevant to the question of interpretation, for so-called “pure” interpretation of an investment treaty. The analysis seeks to identify policy reasons why governments might wish to provide for or exclude the power to obtain pure interpretations of investment treaties from SSDS tribunals or to make it broad or narrow. The final section examines SSDS cases under investment treaties addressing claims for interpretation.

English

Keywords: foreign investment, international investment law, international economic law, investor-state dispute settlement, international investment agreements, bilateral investment treaties, international investment, investment treaties, international arbitration
JEL: K41: Law and Economics / Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior / Litigation Process; F53: International Economics / International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy / International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations; K23: Law and Economics / Regulation and Business Law / Regulated Industries and Administrative Law; F13: International Economics / Trade / Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations; K4: Law and Economics / Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior; F02: International Economics / General / International Economic Order and Integration; F23: International Economics / International Factor Movements and International Business / Multinational Firms; International Business; F21: International Economics / International Factor Movements and International Business / International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements; K33: Law and Economics / Other Substantive Areas of Law / International Law
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