Corporations Win in Battle Against Investment Regulation

In a world where governments are increasingly subservient to global finance capital, multinationals are gaining ground in the fight against state regulations that aim to protect the environment, public health or social policies. According to data reported by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the total number of known treaty-based investor–State dispute settlement cases filed by the end of 2011 grew to 450, an increase of more than 900% since 2000.  Bilateral investment treaties establish the conditions for investment by companies of one country in another state. By allowing investors but not states to go to court to reverse the decisions of national governments, these treaties provide multinational corporations with new tools to fight state regulations against investments considered to harm health.