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Trade and investments

Article as analysis

TISA: Negotiations at a standstill

Even if the TISA negotiations were to be continued in 2017, they are still fraught with problems, especially regarding the liberalization of public services.

Political article

Switzerland and TISA: the official position

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) has replied to our opinion, published in Le Temps on December 6th. We publish it here, with the counter-reply and the arguments of its author, Isolda Agazzi.

Article as analysis

Philip Morris vs Uruguay: only a partial victory

Uruguay has won the year-long lawsuit concerning its anti-smoking policy against Philip Morris. The ruling might have been completely different, however.

Investment protection: Philip Morris vs Uruguay

In 2010, Philip Morris filed a complaint against Uruguay over its anti-tobacco legislation. The tobacco giant sued for US$25 million in compensation. On 8 July 2016, Uruguay received a favourable award. Why this lawsuit should never have existed.

Doha Round: a laborious and threatened harvest

Launched by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, the Doha Round is now deadlocked. Hardly any headway has been made in 15 years. Despite this, Alliance Sud favours the multilateral path over bilateral or regional free trade agreements.

Political article

WTO Conference: Crumbs for the South

The WTO Ministerial Conference held in December 2015 in Nairobi has acknowledged the division among Members over the Doha Round as well as "new issues".

No free trade with China without human rights

Switzerland negotiated a free trade agreement with China between January 2010 and July 2013. Swiss NGOs, including Alliance Sud, urged the Federal Council to ensure that the agreement include respect for and promotion of human rights.

Article as analysis

CETA: Carte blanche for the private sector?

States are to have less regulatory powers, whereas foreign investors will be able to file suits against legislative changes. The new free trade agreement between the EU and Canada is alarming.

Investitionsschutz

Article as analysis

Investment protection agreements being disputed

Ever more countries are denouncing their investment protection agreements. South Africa has stopped renewing them as they expire, including the one with Switzerland.