Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 04/2013

Investor-state dispute settlement: A government's dilemma

Joachim Karl

February 2013

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment

Abstract

The landscape in which investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) takes place is undergoing profound change. Although discontent with the current ISDS system is on the rise, most countries have so far not seen a need to modify ISDS provisions in international investment agreements. To move forward, countries should take a pro-active approach toward reforming the ISDS mechanism.