The World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system is currently in crisis because the WTO Appellate Body ceased effectively functioning in December 2019. As a consequence, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body is unable to adopt a panel report if a party to the dispute notifies its intention to appeal. In this context, this article analyzes what factors may influence the complaining parties’ decision on whether to recur to two regional trade agreements (RTA), namely the Pacific Alliance and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as alternative fora to WTO dispute settlement. After a comparative analysis of dispute settlement rules in both RTAs and the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding, we conclude that procedural and institutional factors will arguably be relevant for complaining parties that wish to select a dispute settlement forum.

This article compares the investment chapters of the Additional Protocol to the Framework Agreement of the Pacific Alliance (PA-AP), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Our objective is to determine their degree of normative convergence. We conclude that these investment chapters include very similar substantive rules and principles on international investments in terms of definitions, the rules’ scope of application, treatment standards (national treatment and most favored nation treatment), absolute standards (international minimum standard of treatment, fair and equitable treatment, and full protection and security), investment protection rules (direct and indirect expropriation, compensation, and transfers), and performance requirements. We also conclude that these investment chapte...

The World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system is currently in crisis because the WTO Appellate Body ceased effectively functioning in December 2019. As a consequence, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body is unable to adopt a panel report if a party to the dispute notifies its intention to appeal. In this context, this article analyzes what factors may influence the complaining parties’ decision on whether to recur to two regional trade agreements (RTA), namely the Pacific Alliance and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as alternative fora to WTO dispute settlement. After a comparative analysis of dispute settlement rules in both RTAs and the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding, we conclude that procedural and institutional factors will arguably be relevant for complaining parties that wish to select a dispute settlement forum.

This article compares the investment chapters of the Additional Protocol to the Framework Agreement of the Pacific Alliance (PA-AP), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Our objective is to determine their degree of normative convergence. We conclude that these investment chapters include very similar substantive rules and principles on international investments in terms of definitions, the rules’ scope of application, treatment standards (national treatment and most favored nation treatment), absolute standards (international minimum standard of treatment, fair and equitable treatment, and full protection and security), investment protection rules (direct and indirect expropriation, compensation, and transfers), and performance requirements. We also conclude that these investment chapte...

The World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system is currently in crisis because the WTO Appellate Body ceased effectively functioning in December 2019. As a consequence, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body is unable to adopt a panel report if a party to the dispute notifies its intention to appeal. In this context, this article analyzes what factors may influence the complaining parties’ decision on whether to recur to two regional trade agreements (RTA), namely the Pacific Alliance and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as alternative fora to WTO dispute settlement. After a comparative analysis of dispute settlement rules in both RTAs and the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding, we conclude that procedural and institutional factors will arguably be relevant for complaining parties that wish to select a dispute settlement forum.

This article compares the investment chapters of the Additional Protocol to the Framework Agreement of the Pacific Alliance (PA-AP), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Our objective is to determine their degree of normative convergence. We conclude that these investment chapters include very similar substantive rules and principles on international investments in terms of definitions, the rules’ scope of application, treatment standards (national treatment and most favored nation treatment), absolute standards (international minimum standard of treatment, fair and equitable treatment, and full protection and security), investment protection rules (direct and indirect expropriation, compensation, and transfers), and performance requirements. We also conclude that these investment chapte...

The starting point of this paper is based on the interrelation between the political and legal elements that make up and sustain the global trade governance, understanding that it is linked to environmental law and tax law. These subjects are linked each other with the international trade and, at the same time, they are interlinked through the international trade. Our purpose is to determine the dialogues that emerge from these relationships.

The starting point of this paper is based on the interrelation between the political and legal elements that make up and sustain the global trade governance, understanding that it is linked to environmental law and tax law. These subjects are linked each other with the international trade and, at the same time, they are interlinked through the international trade. Our purpose is to determine the dialogues that emerge from these relationships.

The starting point of this paper is based on the interrelation between the political and legal elements that make up and sustain the global trade governance, understanding that it is linked to environmental law and tax law. These subjects are linked each other with the international trade and, at the same time, they are interlinked through the international trade. Our purpose is to determine the dialogues that emerge from these relationships.