Investment Rules in Trade Agreements

IPS Global Economy Project Director Sarah Anderson collaborated with the Sierra Club, Public Citizen, and several other groups to produce this document identifying the top 10 changes to current investment rules in trade agreements that would do the most to reduce the threat to the general public and environment. The list begins with the most controversial and problematic element – investor-state dispute settlement. Changes to this mechanism are critical if we are to strike the right balance between public versus private for-profit interests. However, even if this mechanism is left intact, other reforms could go a long way towards reining in the excessive powers granted to private investors.