Free Trade Area of the Americas - FTAA |
|
![]() |
Declarations |
Committee |
Committees |
Facilitation |
Society |
Database |
Cooperation Program |
||||
|
|||||||||||
Scope of Application [Return to the top of the page] DEFINITION OF INVESTMENT Investment means:
But investment does not mean:
Investment of an investor of a Party means an investment owned or controlled directly or indirectly by an investor of such Party. (Article 9-01). (1) DEFINITION OF INVESTOR Investor of a Party means a Party or state enterprise thereof, or a national or an enterprise of such Party, that seeks to make, is making or has made an investment. (Article 9-01). Application in Time (Entry into Force and Duration: Applicability to Investments made Prior to Entry into Force) The Free Trade Agreement between Chile and Mexico was signed on April 17, 1998, and entered into force on August 1, 1999. Admission [Return to the top of the page] Nothing in Article 9-03 shall be construed to prevent a Party from adopting or maintaining a measure that prescribes special formalities in connection with the establishment of investments by investors of the other Party such as a requirement that investors be residents of the Party or that investments be legally constituted under the laws or regulations of the Party, provided that such formalities do not materially impair the protections afforded by a Party to investors of the other Party and investments of investors of the other Party pursuant to this Chapter. (Article 9-12(1)). There is no separate clause on admission. The issue is dealt with in the treatment provisions. See section on Treatment. A Party has the right to perform exclusively the economic activities set out in Annex III and to refuse to permit the establishment of investment in such activities. (Article 9-02 (3)). Treatment [Return to the top of the page] STANDARDS Fair and Equitable Treatment Each Party shall accord to investments of investors of the other Party treatment in accordance with international law, including fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security. (Article 9-06(1)). Full Protection and Security Each Party shall accord to investments of investors of the other Party treatment in accordance with international law, including fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security. (Article 9-06(1)). Non-Discrimination --- National Treatment Each Party shall accord to investors of the other Party treatment no less favorable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to its own investors with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments. (Article 9-03(1)). Each Party shall accord to investments of investors of the other Party treatment no less favorable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to investments of its own investors with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments. (Article 9-03(2)). The treatment accorded by a Party under paragraphs 1 and 2 means, with respect to a state, treatment no less favourable than the most favorable treatment accorded, in like circumstances, by that state to investors, and to investments of investors, of the Party of which it forms a part. (Article 9-03(3)). For greater certainty, no Party may:
Each Party shall accord to investors of the other Party and to investments of investors of the other Party the better of the treatment required by Articles 9-03 and 9-04. (Article 9-05). Most-Favored Nation Treatment Each Party shall accord to investors of the other Party treatment no less favorable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to investors of any of any non-Party with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments. (Article 9-04(1)). Each Party shall accord to investments of investors of the other Party treatment no less favorable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to investments of investors of any non-Party with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments. (Article 9-04(2)). Each Party shall accord to investors of the other Party and to investments of investors of the other Party the better of the treatment required by Articles 9-03 and 9-04. (Article 9-05). Exceptions and Reservations Articles 9-03 [National Treatment], 9-04 [Most-Favored-Nation Treatment], 9-07 [Performance Requirements] and 9-08 [Senior Management and Boards of Directors] do not apply to:
Articles 9-03, 9-04, 9-07 and 9-08 do not apply to any measure that a Party adopts or maintains with respect to sectors, subsectors or activities, as set out in its Schedule to Annex II. (Article 9-09(2)). Neither Party may, under any measure adopted after the date of entry into force of this Agreement and covered by its Schedule to Annex II, require an investor of the other Party, by reason of its nationality, to sell or otherwise dispose of an investment existing at the time the measure becomes effective. (Article 9-09(3)). Articles 9-03 and 9-04 do not apply to any measure that is an exception to, or derogation from, a Party's obligations under the TRIPS Agreement, as specifically provided for in that agreement. (Article 9-09 (4)). Article 9-04 does not apply to treatment accorded by a Party pursuant to agreements, or with respect to sectors, set out in its Schedule to Annex IV. (Article 9-09(5)). Articles 9-03, 9-04 and 9-08 do not apply to:
The provisions of:
Denial of Benefits A Party may deny the benefits of this Chapter to an investor of the other Party that is an enterprise of such Party and to investments of such investor if investors of a non-Party own or control the enterprise and the denying Party:
Subject to prior notification and consultation in accordance with Articles 16-04 (Notification and Provision of Information) and 18-04 (Consultations), a Party may deny the benefits of this Chapter to an investor of the other Party that is an enterprise of such Party and to investments of such investors if investors of a non-Party own or control the enterprise and the enterprise has no substantial business activities in the territory of the Party under whose law it is constituted or organized. (Article 9-14(2)). OTHER ASPECTS Performance Requirements Neither Party may impose or enforce any of the following requirements, or enforce any commitment or undertaking, in connection with the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct or operation of an investment of an investor of a Party or of a non-Party in its territory:
A measure that requires an investment to use a technology to meet generally applicable health, safety or environmental requirements shall not be construed to be inconsistent with paragraph 1(f). For greater certainty, Articles 9-03 and 9-04 apply to the measure. (Article 9-07(2)). Neither Party may condition the receipt or continued receipt of an advantage, in connection with an investment in its territory of an investor of a Party or of a non-Party, on compliance with any of the following requirements:
Nothing in paragraph 3 shall be construed to prevent a Party from conditioning the receipt or continued receipt of an advantage, in connection with an investment in its territory of an investor of a Party or of a non-Party, on compliance with a requirement to locate production, provide a service, train or employ workers, construct or expand particular facilities, or carry out research and development, in its territory. (Article 9-07 (4)). Paragraphs 1 and 3 do not apply to any requirement other than the requirements set out in those paragraphs. (Article 9-07(5)). Provided that such measures are not applied in an arbitrary or unjustifiable manner, or do not constitute a disguised restriction on international trade or investment, nothing in paragraph 1(b) or (c) or 3(a) or (b) shall be construed to prevent a Party from adopting or maintaining measures, including environmental measures:
This Article does not exclude the application of any understanding, obligation, or requirement between private parties. (Article 9-07(7)). Others Without prejudice to paragraph 1 and notwithstanding Article 9-09(6)(b), each Party shall accord to investors of the other Party, and to investments of investors of the other Party, non-discriminatory treatment with respect to measures it adopts or maintains relating to losses suffered by investments in its territory owing to armed conflict or civil strife. (Article 9-06(2)). Paragraph 2 does not apply to existing measures relating to subsidies or grants that would be inconsistent with Article 9-03 but for Article 9-09(6)(b). (Article 9-06(3)). Neither Party may require that an enterprise of that Party that is an investment of an investor of the other Party appoint to senior management positions individuals of any particular nationality. (Article 9-08(1)). A Party may require that a majority of the board of directors, or any committee thereof, of an enterprise of that Party that is an investment of an investor of the other Party, be of a particular nationality, or resident in the territory of the Party, provided that the requirement does not materially impair the ability of the investor to exercise control over its investment. (Article 9-08(2)). Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent a Party from adopting, maintaining or enforcing any measure otherwise consistent with this Chapter that it considers appropriate to ensure that investment activity in its territory is undertaken in a manner sensitive to environmental concerns. (Article 9-15(1)). The Parties recognize that it is inappropriate to encourage investment by relaxing domestic health, safety or environmental measures. Accordingly, a Party should not waive or otherwise derogate from, or offer to waive or otherwise derogate from, such measures as an encouragement for the establishment, acquisition, expansion or retention in its territory of an investment of an investor. If a Party considers that the other Party has offered such an encouragement, it may request consultations with the other Party and the two Parties shall consult with a view to avoiding any such encouragement. (Article 9-15(2)). Transfers [Return to the top of the page] TYPES OF PAYMENT Except as provided in Annex 9-10, each Party shall permit all transfers relating to an investment of an investor of the other Party in the territory of the Party to be made freely and without delay. Such transfers include:
Neither Party may require its investors to transfer, or penalize its investors that fail to transfer, the income, earnings, profits or other amounts derived from, or attributable to, investments in the territory of the other Party. (Article 9-10(3)). Paragraph 3 shall not be construed to prevent a Party from imposing any measure through the equitable, non-discriminatory and good faith application of its laws relating to the matters set out in subparagraphs (a) through (e) of paragraph 4. (Article 9-10(5)). Notwithstanding paragraph 1, a Party may restrict transfers of returns in kind in circumstances where it could otherwise restrict such transfers under this Agreement, including as set out in paragraph 4. (Article 9-10(6)). For the purpose of preserving the stability of its currency, Chile reserves the right:
Where Chile proposes to adopt a measure referred to in paragraph 2(c), Chile shall, to the extent practicable:
A measure that is consistent with this Annex but inconsistent with Article 9-03, shall be deemed not to contravene Article 9-03 provided that, as required under existing Chilean law, it does not discriminate among investors that enter into transactions of the same nature. (Annex 9-10(4)). This Annex applies to Law 18.840, to the Decree Law 600 of 1974 (“Decreto Ley 600 de 1974") to Law 18.657 and any other law establishing a future special voluntary investment program consistent with sub-paragraph 2(c)(iii) and to the continuation or prompt renewal of such laws, and to amendments to those laws, to the extent that any such amendment does not decrease the conformity of the amended law with Article 9-10(1) as it existed immediately before the amendment. (Annex 9-10(5)). CONVERTIBILITY, EXCHANGE RATES, AND TIMES OF TRANSFER Except as provided in Annex 9-10, each Party shall permit all transfers relating to an investment of an investor of the other Party in the territory of the Party to be made freely and without delay. (Article 9-10(1)). Each Party shall permit transfers to be made in a freely usable currency at the market rate of exchange prevailing on the date of transfer with respect to spot transactions in the currency to be transferred. (Article 9-10(2)). Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2, a Party may prevent a transfer through the equitable, non-discriminatory and good faith application of its laws relating to:
Expropriation [Return to the top of the page] CONDITIONS Neither Party may directly or indirectly nationalize or expropriate an investment of an investor of the other Party in its territory or take a measure tantamount to nationalization or expropriation of such an investment ("expropriation"), except:
COMPENSATION Compensation shall be equivalent to the fair market value of the expropriated investment immediately before the expropriation took place ("date of expropriation"), and shall not reflect any change in value occurring because the intended expropriation had become known earlier. Valuation criteria shall include going concern value, asset value including declared tax value of tangible property, and other criteria, as appropriate, to determine fair market value. (Article 9-11(2)). Compensation shall be paid without delay, be fully realizable and freely transferable. (Article 9-11(3)). If payment is made in a G7 currency, compensation shall include interest at a commercially reasonable rate for that currency from the date of expropriation until the date of actual payment.(Article 9-11(4)). If one Party chooses to pay in a currency different from those of the G-7, the amount of the payment shall be no less than the equivalent compensation that would have been paid in the currency of a G-7 country on the date of expropriation, if this payment had been converted at the prevailing market rate of the currency at the time of expropriation, plus the accumulated interest, up to the date of payment, at a reasonable commercial rate for the given currency. (Article 9-11(5)). The compensation may be freely transferred in accordance with Article 9-10 once it has been paid out. (Article 9-11(6)). Settlement of Disputes
between Contracting Parties Chapter 18 on Dispute Settlement is applicable, except in the cases outlined in Annex 9-39. Settlement of Disputes between a Contracting Party and an Investor [Return to the top of the page] PREARBITRAL CONSULTATIONS The disputing parties should first attempt to settle a claim through consultation or negotiation. (Article 9-19). ARBITRATION Conditions An investor of a Party, on his own behalf or on behalf of an enterprise of the other Party that is a juridical person that the investor owns or controls directly or indirectly, may submit to arbitration under this Section a claim that the other Party has breached an obligation under:
An investor may not make a claim if more than three years have elapsed from the date on which the investor or the enterprise first acquired, or should have first acquired, knowledge of the alleged breach and knowledge that the investor has incurred loss or damage. (Articles 9-17(2) and 9-18(2)). Where an investor makes a claim on behalf of an enterprise and the investor or a non-controlling investor in the enterprise makes a claim under Article 9-17 arising out of the same events that gave rise to the claim, and two or more of the claims are submitted to arbitration as provided for in Article 9-21, the claims should be heard together by a Tribunal established under Article 9-27, unless the Tribunal finds that the interests of a disputing party would be prejudiced thereby. (Article 9-18(3)). An investment may not make a claim under this Section. (Article 9-18(4)). An investor of a Party may submit a claim under Article 9-17 (Investor on its Own Behalf) to arbitration only if:
A disputing investor may submit a claim under Article 9-18 (Investor on Behalf of an Enterprise) to arbitration only if both the investor and the enterprise:
Consent Each Party consents to the submission of a claim to arbitration in accordance with the procedures set out in this Agreement. (Article 9-23(1)). The consent given by paragraph 1 and the submission by a disputing investor of a claim to arbitration shall satisfy the requirement of:
Forms of Arbitration Provided that six months have elapsed since the events giving rise to a claim, and subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 or 3, a disputing investor may submit the claim to arbitration under:
In case of a claim under Article 9-17, the investor and the enterprise, where the enterprise is a legal person owned by the investor or is controlled directly or indirectly by the investor, must not have submitted the same claim to a judicial or administrative tribunal of the disputing Party. (Article 9-21(2)). In case of a claim under Article 9-18, the investor and the enterprise that is a legal person owned by the investor or is controlled directly or indirectly by the investor, must not have submitted the same claim to a judicial or administrative tribunal of the disputing Party. (Article 9-21 (3)). The applicable arbitration rules shall govern the arbitration except to the extent modified by this Section. (Article 9-21(4)). ARBITRAL PROCEDURES Constitution of the Tribunal Except in respect of a Tribunal established under Article 9-27(Consolidation), and unless the disputing parties otherwise agree, the Tribunal shall comprise three arbitrators, one arbitrator appointed by each of the disputing parties and the third, who shall be the presiding arbitrator, appointed by agreement of the disputing parties. (Article 9-24). The Secretary-General [of ICSID] shall serve as appointing authority for an arbitration under this Section. (Article 9-25(1)). If a Tribunal, other than a Tribunal established under Article 9-27, has not been constituted within 90 days from the date that a claim is submitted to arbitration, the Secretary-General [of ICSID], on the request of either disputing party, shall appoint, at his discretion, the arbitrator or arbitrators not yet appointed, except that the presiding arbitrator shall be appointed in accordance with paragraph 3. (Article 9-25(2)). The Secretary-General [of ICSID] shall appoint the presiding arbitrator from the roster of presiding arbitrators referred to in paragraph 4, provided that the presiding arbitrator shall not be a national of either of the Parties. In the event that no such presiding arbitrator is available to serve, the Secretary-General shall appoint, from the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators, a presiding arbitrator who is not a national of either of the Parties. (Article 9-25(3)). On the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall establish, and thereafter maintain, a roster of up to 30 presiding arbitrators, none of whom may be a national of a Party, meeting the qualifications of the Convention and rules referred to in Article 9-21 and experienced in international law and investment matters. The roster members shall be appointed by mutual agreement. (Article 9-25(4)). Consolidation A Tribunal established under this Article shall be established under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules and shall conduct its proceedings in accordance with those Rules, except as modified by this Section. (Article 9-27(1)). Where a Tribunal established under this Article is satisfied that claims have been submitted to arbitration under Article 9-21 have a question of law or fact in common, the Tribunal may, in the interests of fair and efficient resolution of the claims, and after hearing the disputing parties, by order:
A disputing party that seeks an order under paragraph 2 shall request the Secretary-General to establish a Tribunal and shall specify in the request:
Paragraphs 4-9 of Article 9-27 contain rules regarding the constitution of the consolidation tribunal and procedures for the settlement of the dispute by the tribunal. (Article 9-27). Applicable Law A Tribunal established under this Section shall decide the issues in dispute in accordance with this Agreement and applicable rules of international law. (Article 9-32(1)). An interpretation by the Commission of a provision of this Agreement shall be binding on a Tribunal established under this Section. (Article 9-32(2)). FINAL AWARD Scope Where a Tribunal makes a final award against a Party, the Tribunal may award, separately or in combination, only:
A tribunal may also award costs in accordance with the applicable arbitration rules. (Article 9-36(2)). Subject to paragraphs 1 and 2, where a claim is made under Article 9-18(1)) (on behalf of an enterprise):
A Tribunal may not order a Party to pay punitive damages. (Article 9-36(4)). Finality and Enforcement An award made by a Tribunal shall have no binding force except between the disputing parties and in respect of the particular case. (Article 9-37(1)). Subject to paragraph 3 and the applicable review procedure for an interim award, a disputing party shall abide by and comply with an award without delay. (Article 9-37(2)). A disputing party may not seek enforcement of a final award until:
Each Party shall provide for the enforcement of an award in its territory. (Article 9-37(4)). If a disputing Party fails to abide by or comply with a final award, the Commission, on delivery of a request by a Party whose investor was a party to the arbitration, shall establish a panel under Article 18-06 (Request for an Arbitral Panel). The requesting Party may seek in such proceedings:
A disputing investor may seek enforcement of an arbitration award under the ICSID Convention, the New York Convention or the Inter-American Convention regardless of whether proceedings have been taken under paragraph 5. (Article 9-37(6)). A claim that is submitted to arbitration under this Section shall be considered to arise out of a commercial relationship or transaction for purposes of Article I of the New York Convention and Article I of the Inter-American Convention. (Article 9-37(7)). |
|
|
|
|