[CTC] IATP blog on state legisltive opposition to ISDS and Maine's letter to Lighthizer

[Sharon Treat]

IATP just posted this blog on our website: https://iatp.org/blog/maine-legislators-endorse-removing-isds
<https://iatp.org/blog/maine-legislators-endorse-removing-isds>It is in part a response the the report today in Morning Trade (see below) on an ALEC letter supporting ISDS in NAFTA.  The Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission sent a letter to Lighthizer supporting his efforts to remove ISDS from NAFTA. The blog also refers to other state actions taken in the past and the current NCSL policy which opposes ISDS- Please help share! Thanks, Sharon Treat
Morning Trade story:

ISDS WORRIES TRICKLE DOWN TO THE STATES: Concern over the future of dispute settlement mechanisms in NAFTA is trickling down, with a dozen state-level representatives from across the country urging the administration to push for stronger investment protections.

"A vital element for a modernized NAFTA is the assurance that American business interests are protected outside U.S. borders," the lawmakers wrote in an open letter<http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=54171b8d6db4c3a49e0cd0b86b3c058be2c68d0bbc29ba5c3aaf2233af778b86257426408c1fe0adac4055962a60dc6f> to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, organized by the American Legislative Exchange Council. "NAFTA without ISDS could result in biased foreign courts treating American businesses unjustly and making U.S. investments vulnerable to potential seizure or other unlawful mistreatment. Bottom line: Abandoning ISDS is not in America's best interest and is a bad deal for the nation."

Lighthizer has expressed concern about ISDS, arguing that the decision-making panels pose a threat to U.S. sovereignty and that they make it easier for American companies to decide to move production to foreign countries. It remains one of the outstanding issues on the table as negotiators work to reach a deal in coming weeks.


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Sharon Anglin Treat

Senior Attorney

Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy

Email: streat at iatp.org

Phone: +1 612-870-0453 ext.3434

Skype: sharontreat

www.iatp.org


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