From the Sydney Morning Herald:
[TPP] talks have entered troubled waters over investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses.
These typically give businesses from one country power to take international legal action against the government of another, over agreement breaches.
The clauses are included in many multilateral and bilateral free-trade agreements.
But the [Australian] federal government last year issued a new trade policy, in which it ruled out supporting such clauses, arguing they ran the risk of giving foreign business greater legal rights than domestic businesses.
The government believes such clauses could also constrain its ability to make laws on social, environmental and economic matters.
Trade Minister Craig Emerson yesterday said the government would not change its position.
''We do not and will not support investor-state dispute settlement provisions,'' Dr Emerson told reporters.
''This is government policy. It's the result of a cabinet decision in April last year, reaffirmed at the [ALP] national conference.''
