invest_statement_mar03-71f41d76dfc0c4e4.pdf

The Center for International Environmental Law and other organizations argue against launching multilateral investment negotiations at the WTO. They contend that such an agreement would restrict the policy space of developing countries, be driven by the interests of industrialized nations, and utilize an inappropriate dispute settlement mechanism that favors investors over sustainable development and public health.

• The WTO is considered the wrong forum for investment negotiations because it would severely restrict the policy space necessary for developing countries to ensure investment promotes sustainable development. Specifically, the application of 'core principles' like national treatment and Most Favored Nation (MFN) status would infringe on a government's ability to regulate foreign investors, such as by using performance requirements to ensure positive spill-over effects for the local economy.
• The document asserts that the WTO's decision-making process is imbalanced, with industrialized countries dominating the discussions. It claims that previous agreements, such as TRIPS, were finalized by a small number of countries despite being negotiated by all members, and that a WTO investment agreement would likely reflect the interests of 'Northern WTO Members' and their companies rather than the needs of the developing world.
• The WTO's dispute settlement system is described as highly imbalanced and inappropriate for enforcing investment rules. The authors argue that using this system would worsen existing imbalances and potentially prioritize investor rights over the environment, human rights, and development.
• The authors argue that the current priority of the Doha Development Agenda should be rebalancing the WTO and addressing existing issues of interest to developing countries—such as agriculture, TRIPS, and special and differential treatment—rather than launching new negotiations on investment.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). invest_statement_mar03-71f41d76dfc0c4e4.pdf. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Invest_Statement_Mar03.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. invest_statement_mar03-71f41d76dfc0c4e4.pdf. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Invest_Statement_Mar03.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=invest_statement_mar03-71f41d76dfc0c4e4.pdf |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Invest_Statement_Mar03.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndinveststatementmar0371f41d76dfc0c4e4pdf, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{invest\_statement\_mar03-71f41d76dfc0c4e4.pdf}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Invest_Statement_Mar03.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }