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Investment policy

Article as analysis

Switzerland must withdraw from the Energy Charter

The Energy Charter Treaty protects companies that invest in fossil fuels. A growing number of countries are withdrawing from it, while Switzerland continues to thwart the energy transition.

Article as analysis

Still room for improvement despite progress

At first glance, the new Investment Protection Agreement between Switzerland and Indonesia paves the way for regulations in the public interest. It does however contain provisions that could thwart this prospect.

Political article

Glencore sues Colombia over Cerrejón Mine

No sooner had the announcement on giving up fossil fuels been made, than Switzerland's Glencore International became the sole owner of Latin America's biggest open pit coal mine. It is even taking the Colombian State to court.

Article as analysis

New law is needed to link economy and human rights

Even with growing numbers of human rights abuses as evidenced by the cases of China and Myanmar, Switzerland lacks any legal basis for the rapid introduction of targeted economic measures.

Political article

Tanzania plans to work the largest nickel deposit

The Tanzanian Government has signed an agreement on nickel mining with a British corporation under which profits will be split equally. State interventions can also be observed in neighbouring Zambia.

Article as analysis

The World Bank's flagship ranking in doubt

The data in the World Bank's Doing Business ranking table are thought to have been manipulated to favour China, among others. Criticised for its bias towards economic liberalisation, the table is losing even more credibility.

Article as analysis

Making (even more) money from the corona crisis

In Latin America, multinational enterprises are suing States over measures they have taken to combat the covid 19 pandemic. Investment protection treaties that allow this should be abolished!

fossil fuel

Article as analysis

Rolling back globalisation – slowly but surely

The call can no longer be ignored, production offshored to low-wage countries must be brought back. The more pressing a paradigm shift, the more careful the approach must be. Otherwise developing countries could yet again pay the price.

Political article

Driver of development, neo-colonialism – or both?

With the Belt and Road Initiative, China is pushing global development in a manner unparalleled to date. But how sustainable are the “new silk roads”? Switzerland wants a piece of the cake and has signed a memorandum of understanding with China.