Long before negotiators from the 12 nations involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership successfully concluded their talks in October, the trade agreement has drawn public attention for the ways investor-state disputes will be settled. Corporations have sought protection for international investments as trade expands into new markets, a key goal of the TPP. At the same time, critics say arbitration mechanisms such as ISDS sacrifice the public interest and give the upper hand to foreign investors, subjecting sovereign governments to decisions made by a handful of arbitrators in multibillion-dollar suits instead of local law. 

What is behind the controversy over ISDS and the TPP? Will the issue affect chances the massive trade deal gets approved by legislatures in the countries involved? Have negotiators struck the right balance between sovereign authority and protection for investors in the TPP? What are the implications for countries of the Americas? How could the arbitration process be improved?

Informal remarks by our speakers will be followed by discussion with the wider group attending. Follow this event on Twitter at #ISDSDialogue and @The_Dialogue.