IISD Launches New Investment Law And Sustainable Development Listserv

ARCHIVED 2002–2016: Originally distributed via the eWire press wire service. Preserved as historical record.

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE |

Conservation & Wildlife

Corporate Responsibility

Science & Technology

Syndication Partners

**************************************************************************

E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE

**************************************************************************

For Immediate Release

IISD Launches New Investment Law And Sustainable Development Listserv

CANADA, Aug. 9 -/E-Wire/-- The Canadian-based International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has launched an electronic listserv for information and knowledge exchange on Investment Law and Sustainable Development issues in the Americas. The listserv will be used to circulate news items and notices of new reports, and will keep its members up-to-date on key events related to Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the investment provisions in the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and other key issues. The listserv, moderated by IISD, will allow individual members to post their own publications and raise for discussion issues that pertain to the subject matter.

The problems with the existing NAFTA Chapter 11 provisions have been all too well highlighted by a string of recent cases, including:

-A successful challenge by U.S.-based Ethyl Corporation which sought compensation from Canada for banning a suspected carcinogen called MMT;

-A successful challenge of Canada's temporary ban on PCB exports, by a U.S.-based processor of hazardous wastes; and

-The recent NAFTA tribunal decision that ordered Mexico to financially compensate U.S.-based Metalclad Corporation for obstructing the company from setting up a hazardous waste facility on Mexican soil.

Each of these cases is a balancing act between the legal rights of investors under NAFTA and the ability of governments to regulate in the public interest on matters such as environmental integrity, human health and safety. Unfortunately, the cases settled to date suggest that the balance is being struck in favour of investor interests. (For an excellent analysis of the problems with the existing provisions - including an in-depth analysis of every Chapter 11 case to date - see the new IISD/WWF-U.S. publication: Private Rights, Public Problems: A guide to NAFTA's controversial chapter on investment at ). It has also become clear from leaked Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiating text on investment that we risk repeating the same mistakes in the hemispheric context.

This listserv will cater primarily to those not steeped in investment law and sustainable development issues. Experts in the area will also find the listserv valuable, as a source of articles, analyses, bulletins, etc.

Join list (INVEST-SD) at: http://www.iisd.org/trade/investsd.htm , or by contacting Brad Etlin [REDACTED-EMAIL] (204) 958-7716.

International Institute for Sustainable Development

http://http://www.iisd.org

**************************************************************************

To Transmit Your News Over E-Wire, visit http://www.ewire.com or

call 1-[REDACTED-PHONE]. E-Wire Is Broadcast To Millions Of Readers Worldwide

**************************************************************************