environment


Ethiopia scores major legal victory worth over $850 million
Ethiopia has recorded significant victories in two high-profile international arbitration cases, successfully defending claims valued at more than $850 million, according to the Ministry of Justice.
How EU's CBAM expansion is adding new challenges for India despite the FTA
The India-EU Free Trade Agreement, exposes Indian manufacturers to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which could impose over $1.1 billion in annual costs by 2028. Despite a €500 million EU decarbonisation fund, Indian SMEs face a major challenge due to lack of granular emissions data and no special exemptions under CBAM.
Panama’s copper crisis: What a $20b lawsuit says about investor power
A Canadian mining giant is using a $20 billion lawsuit to pressure Panama into reopening a controversial copper mine. The case exposes how international investment agreements can undermine democracy, and why experts are calling for fairer investment frameworks worldwide.
The next shoe drops. The Northback (Grassy Mountain) interests file an international investment law claim against Canada
In December 2024, the Australian parent companies of Northback Holdings filed a Request for Arbitration) with Canada under the terms of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
The EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership and Investment Protection Agreements
The EU-Indonesia CEPA and IPA aimed to enhance trade and investment while promoting "sustainable" palm oil. However, reduced tariffs on forest-risk commodities and lack of community safeguards highlight the urgent need for strict enforcement of EU due diligence regulations to protect forests and local communities.
One year of Trump tariffs prove corporate profits always came before the public interest
The 2026 NTE Report makes it clear that the Trump administration’s primary motivation behind its trade policy is to protect the profits of big US companies.
Oil majors running Kazakh Kashagan field file arbitration over $4.6 billion fine
Shell, TotalEnergies, Eni, Exxon and other shareholders in Kazakhstan's Kashagan oilfield have filed an arbitration claim against a 2023 environmental fine worth around $4.6 billion
APIB’s political statement on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement and its impact on the rights of indigenous peoples
The Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), the organization that represents nationally and internationally more than 300 indigenous peoples from all regions of Brazil, reaffirms its opposition to the signing and ratification of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement.
EU and Ecuador conclude negotiations for Sustainable Investment Agreement
The European Commission has concluded negotiations with Ecuador on a Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement (SIFA). This SIFA, the first negotiated with a Latin American country, will be instrumental in promoting EU investments in Ecuador.
Open Letter: Comment on the SIA for the proposed EU-Thailand FTA by FTA Watch
Thai civil society organizations submitted an open letter on 23 January 2026, provides critical feedback on the Draft Inception Report of the Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) for the proposed EU–Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The letter highlights key concerns regarding the adequacy and balance of the SIA’s current scope and methodology.