invest_statement_mar03-71f41d76dfc0c4e4.pdf

The statement, signed by several international NGOs, contends that the WTO is an inappropriate forum for investment negotiations because it would limit the ability of developing nations to regulate foreign direct investment (FDI) for development goals. It highlights risks such as the erosion of performance requirements and the imbalance of the WTO's dispute settlement system, which it claims favors industrialized nations. The authors argue that the 'Doha Development Agenda' should prioritize existing issues like agriculture and TRIPS over new investment rules, calling for a halt to negotiations until developing countries have the resources to evaluate the implications.

• The WTO is considered the 'Wrong forum' for investment negotiations because rules would 'severely restrict vital policy space' and be negotiated in a manner that 'forecloses the effective participation of developing countries'.
• Multilateral investment rules based on 'core principles' of non-discrimination, such as national treatment and Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) status, would hinder a country's ability to use performance requirements to ensure FDI provides 'positive spill-over effects to the local economy'.
• The document asserts that the WTO's dispute settlement system is 'highly imbalanced' and that applying it to investment rules would worsen this, potentially enforcing provisions 'harmful to development, environment and human rights'.

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} }