Simon Lester

This is from Robert Basedow, a PhD candidate at LSE: ... It is helpful to distinguish between the substantive and procedural provisions under typical international investment agreements. The substantive provisions enumerate the rights of investors and states under these agreements, whereas the procedural provisions regulate how substantive provisions can be enforced.

In the U.S. first written submission in the Article 21.5 WTO panel proceeding in U.S. - Tuna II, the U.S. distinguishes Tuna from Seals in regard to non-discrimination.  Here's the GATT MFN section: 287. The facts here are in contrast to the ones in

In the negotiations: India blocked an agreement on new global customs rules on Thursday, angering fellow members of the World Trade Organization who say Delhi's veto could be costly, economically and politically. At a meeting in Geneva, diplomats from the 160 WTO member countries were supposed to rubber

From an interview in the New Republic: DV: Another thing you talked about in the FT op-ed was the Trans Pacific Partnership, the trade deal. One component of the deal is to bring down tariffs between all countries involved, but tariffs are already very low between these countries, particularly with

From a draft letter ($) being circulated by a U.S. Congressman: Dear Secretary Kerry and Ambassador Froman, We are writing to express our serious concern regarding the growing assault on religious freedom in the European Union and many of its member states. Eight out of twenty-eight EU member states prohibit

Poland is going to to challenge the EU ban on menthol cigarettes under EU law: Poland will appeal to Europe's top court over a European Union ban on flavoured tobacco products, saying it will be unfairly affected as one of the region's biggest consumers and producers

We talked about the "prudential exception" here, here, and here.  I have a short law journal article coming out on this soon, where I basically argue that the exception is badly worded, nevertheless probably works as an exception, but could and should be redrafted in future trade agreements

From the European Commission: EU trade officials will today start analysing responses to a public consultation on investment protection and ISDS in TTIP, a new EU-US trade deal currently being negotiated. The survey closed yesterday, almost four months after its launch in March. European citizens and interest groups replied in

I'm always on the lookout for good controversies on discrimination outside the WTO context, just to see how others do it.  From the Economist, here's a potential case: BAVARIANS have long been cranky about having to pay road tolls every time they drive through Austria, say,