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Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Côte D’Ivoire for the Promotion and Protection of Investments

Table of Contents

The Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (hereinafter referred to as the “Parties”),

Recognizing that the promotion and the protection of investments of investors of one Party in the territory of the other Party will be conducive to the stimulation of mutually beneficial business activity, to the development of economic cooperation between them and to the promotion of sustainable development,

Have agreed as follows:

Section A - Definitions

Article 1

Definitions

For the purpose of this Agreement:

“competition authority” means:

  1. for Canada, the Commissioner of Competition or a successor to be notified to the Government of Côte d’Ivoire by diplomatic note; and
  2. for the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, the Commission of Competition or any successor to be notified to Canada by diplomatic note;

“confidential information” means confidential business information or information that is privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure under the law of a Party;

“covered investment” means, with respect to a Party, an investment in its territory of an investor of the other Party existing on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, as well as an investment made or acquired thereafter;

“disputing party” means either the respondent Party or the investor that has made a claim under Section C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party);

“enterprise” means an entity constituted or organized under applicable law, whether or not for profit, whether privately owned or governmentally owned, including a corporation, trust, partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture or other association and a branch of any such entity;

“existing” means in effect on the date of entry into force of this Agreement;

“financial institution” means a financial intermediary or other enterprise that is authorized to do business and regulated or supervised as a financial institution under the law of the Party in whose territory it is located;

“financial service” means a service of a financial nature, including insurance, a banking service, and a service incidental or auxiliary to a service of a financial nature;

“ICSID” means the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes established by the ICSID Convention;

“ICSID Convention” means the Convention on the settlement of investment disputes between States and nationals of other States, done at Washington on 18 March 1965;

“information protected under its competition laws” means:

  1. for Canada, information within the scope of Section 29 of the Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 34, or a successor provision; and
  2. for Côte d’Ivoire, information within the scope of Article 22 of Law 91/999 of December 27, 1991,respecting competition, or a successor provision;

“intellectual property rights” means copyright and related rights, trademark rights, rights in geographical indications, rights in industrial designs, patent rights, rights in layout designs of integrated circuits, rights in relation to protection of undisclosed information, and plant breeders’ rights;

“investment” means:

  1. an enterprise;
  2. a share, stock or other form of equity participation in an enterprise;
  3. a bond, debenture or other debt instrument of an enterprise;
  4. a loan to an enterprise;
  5. notwithstanding subparagraphs (c) and (d) above, a loan to or debt security issued by a financial institution is an investment only where the loan or debt security is treated as regulatory capital by the Party in whose territory the financial institution is located;
  6. an interest in an enterprise that entitles the owner to share in income or profits of the enterprise;
  7. an interest in an enterprise that entitles the owner to share in the assets of that enterprise on dissolution;
  8. an interest arising from the commitment of capital or other resources in the territory of a Party to economic activity in that territory, such as under:
    1. a contract involving the presence of an investor’s property in the territory of the Party, including a turnkey or construction contract, or a concession, or
    2. a contract where remuneration depends substantially on the production, revenues or profits of an enterprise;
  9. intellectual property rights; and
  10. any other tangible or intangible, moveable or immovable, property and related property rights acquired in the expectation of or used for the purpose of economic benefit or other business purpose;

    but “investment” does not mean:

  11. a claim to money that arises solely from:
    1. a commercial contract for the sale of a good or service by a national or enterprise in the territory of a Party to an enterprise in the territory of the other Party, or
    2. the extension of credit in connection with a commercial transaction, such as trade financing; or
  12. any other claim to money,

    that does not involve the kinds of interests set out in subparagraphs (a) to (j);

“investment of an investor of a Party” means an investment owned or controlled directly or indirectly by an investor of that Party;

“investor of a Party” means a Party, a national or an enterprise of a Party, that seeks to make, is making or has made an investment;

“measure” includes a law, regulation, procedure, requirement or practice;

“national” means:

  1. for Canada, a natural person who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada; and
  2. for Côte d’Ivoire, a natural person of Ivorian nationality;

    except that:

  3. a natural person who is a citizen of Canada and a national of Côte d’Ivoire shall be deemed to be exclusively a national of the Party of his or her dominant and effective nationality; and
  4. a natural person who has the citizenship or nationality of one Party and a permanent resident of the other Party shall be deemed to be exclusively a national of the Party of his or her citizenship or nationality;

“national government” means:

  1. for Canada, the federal government; and
  2. for Côte d’Ivoire, the Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire;

“New York Convention” means the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, done at New York on10 June 1958;

“person” means a natural person, a juridical person or an enterprise;

“respondent Party” means a Party against which a claim is made under Section C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party);

“State enterprise” means:

  1. for Canada, an enterprise owned, or controlled through ownership interests, by a Party; and
  2. for Côte d’Ivoire, means a corporation wholly owned by the State and, where applicable, one or more Ivorian public authorities.

“sub-national government” means:

  1. for Canada, a provincial, territorial or local government; and
  2. for Côte d’Ivoire, the authorities of territorial communities;

“territory” means:

  1. the land territory, internal waters and territorial sea, including the air space above these areas, of the Party;
  2. the exclusive economic zone of the Party, as determined by its domestic law, consistent with Part V of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, done at Montego Bay on 10 December 1982 (UNCLOS); and
  3. the continental shelf of the Party, as determined by its domestic law , consistent with Part VI of UNCLOS;

“Tribunal” means an arbitration tribunal established under Article 23 (Submission of a Claim to Arbitration) or Article 27 (Consolidation) of this Agreement; and

“TRIPS Agreement” means the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights;

“UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules” means the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, in their most recent form.

“WTO Agreement” means the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, done atMarrakesh on15 April 1994.

Section B – Substantive Obligations

Article 2

Scope

  1. This Agreement shall apply to measures adopted or maintained by a Party relating to:
    1. an investor of the other Party; and
    2. a covered investment.
  2. The obligations in Section B (Substantive Obligations) apply to a person of a Party when it exercises a regulatory, administrative or other governmental authority delegated to it by that Party.

Article 3

Promotion of Investment

Each Party shall encourage the creation of favourable conditions for investment in its territory by investors of the other Party and shall admit those investments in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

Article 4

National Treatment

  1. Each Party shall accord to investors of the other Party treatment no less favourable 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 an investment in its territory.
  2. Each Party shall accord to covered investments treatment no less favourable 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 an investment in its territory.
  3. The treatment accorded by a Party under paragraphs 1 and 2 means, with respect to a sub-national government, treatment accorded, in like circumstances, by that sub-national government to investors, and to investments of investors, of the Party of which it forms a part.

Article 5

Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment

  1. Each Party shall accord to investors of the other Party treatment no less favourable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to investors of a non-Party with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation and sale or other disposition of an investment in its territory.
  2. Each Party shall accord to covered investments treatment no less favourable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to investments of investors of a non-Party with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation and sale or other disposition of an investment in its territory.
  3. For greater certainty, the treatment accorded by a Party under paragraphs 1 and 2 means, with respect to a sub-national government, treatment accorded, in like circumstances, by that sub-national government to investors, and to investments of investors, of a non-Party.

Article 6

Minimum Standard of Treatment

  1. Each Party shall accord to covered investments treatment in accordance with the customary international law minimum standard of treatment of aliens, including fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security.
  2. The concepts of “fair and equitable treatment” and “full protection and security” in paragraph 1 do not require treatment in addition to or beyond that which is required by the customary international law minimum standard of treatment of aliens.
  3. For greater certainty, the obligation to accord full protection and security in accordance with paragraph 1 is an obligation requiring each Party to take all measures reasonably necessary to ensure the protection and security of the covered investment.
  4. A breach of another provision of this Agreement, or of a separate international agreement, does not establish that there has been a breach of this Article.

Article 7

Compensation for Losses

  1. Notwithstanding Article 16(5)(b) (Reservations and Exceptions), each Party shall accord to investors of the other Party, and to covered investments, treatment no less favourable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to its own investors and their investments, and to the investors of a non-Party and their investments, with respect to measures it adopts or maintains relating to compensation for losses incurred by investments in its territory as a result of armed conflict, civil strife or natural disaster.
  2. The treatment accorded by a Party under paragraph 1 means, for a sub‑national government, the treatment accorded, in like circumstances, by that sub‑national government to investors of that Party and their investments, and to investors of a non‑Party and their investments.

Article 8

Senior Management, Boards of Directors and Entry of Personnel

  1. A Party may not require that an enterprise of that Party that is a covered investment appoint to a senior management position an individual of any particular nationality.
  2. A Party may require that a majority of the board of directors, or a committee thereof, of an enterprise of that Party that is a covered investment 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.
  3. Subject to its domestic law relating to the entry of aliens, each Party shall grant temporary entry to nationals employed by an investor of the other Party who seek to render managerial or executive services, or services that require specialized knowledge, to an investment of that investor in the territory of the Party.

Article 9

Performance Requirements

  1. A Party may not impose the following requirements 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:
    1. to export a given level or percentage of a good or service;
    2. to achieve a given level or percentage of domestic content;
    3. to purchase, use or accord a preference to a good produced or service provided in its territory, or to purchase a good or service from a person in its territory;
    4. to relate the volume or value of imports to the volume or value of exports or to the amount of foreign exchange inflows associated with that investment;
    5. to restrict sales of a good or service in its territory that the investment produces or provides by relating those sales to the volume or value of its exports or foreign exchange earnings;
    6. to transfer technology, a production process or other proprietary knowledge to a person in its territory; or
    7. to supply exclusively from the territory of the Party a good that the investment produces or a service it provides to a specific regional market or to the world market.
  2. A measure that requires an investment to use a technology to meet generally applicable health, safety or environmental requirements is not inconsistent with subparagraph 1(f).
  3. A Party may not 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 the following requirements:
    1. to achieve a given level or percentage of domestic content;
    2. to purchase, use or accord a preference to a good produced in its territory, or to purchase a good from a producer in its territory;
    3. to relate the volume or value of imports to the volume or value of exports or to the amount of foreign exchange inflows associated with that investment; or
    4. to restrict sales of a good or service in its territory that the investment produces or provides by relating those sales to the volume or value of its exports or foreign exchange earnings.
  4.  
    1. Paragraph 3 does not 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 one of the following requirements in its territory:
      1. to locate production;
      2. to provide a service;
      3. to train or employ workers, including its nationals;
      4. to construct or expand particular facilities; or
      5. to carry out research and development.
    2. Subparagraph 1(f) does not apply if the requirement is imposed or the commitment or undertaking is enforced by a court, administrative tribunal or competition authority to remedy an alleged violation of domestic competition law.
  5. Paragraphs 1 and 3 do not apply to a requirement other than the requirements set out in those paragraphs.
  6. The provisions of:
    1. subparagraphs 1(a), (b) and (c), and 3(a) and (b), do not apply to a qualification requirement for a good or service with respect to export promotion and foreign aid programs;
    2. subparagraphs 1(b), (c), (f) and (g), and 3(a) and (b), do not apply to procurement by a Party or a State enterprise; and
    3. subparagraphs 3(a) and (b) do not apply to a requirement imposed by an importing Party relating to the content of a good necessary to qualify for a preferential tariff or preferential quota.

Article 10

Expropriation

  1. A Party may not nationalize or expropriate a covered investment either directly or indirectly through measures having an effect equivalent to nationalization or expropriation (“expropriation”) except for a public purpose, in accordance with due process of law, in a non-discriminatory manner and on payment of compensation in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3. For greater certainty, this paragraph shall be interpreted in accordance with Annex B.10.
  2. The compensation referred to in paragraph 1 must be equivalent to the fair market value of the expropriated investment immediately before the expropriation took place (“date of expropriation”), and must not reflect a change in value occurring because the intended expropriation had become known earlier. Valuation criteria must include going concern value, asset value including the declared tax value of tangible property, and other criteria, as appropriate, to determine fair market value.
  3. Compensation shall be paid without delay and shall be fully realizable and freely transferable. Compensation shall be paid in a freely convertible currency and shall include interest at a commercially reasonable rate for that currency accrued from the date of expropriation until the date of payment.
  4. The affected investor shall have a right under the law of the expropriating Party to prompt review of its case and of the valuation of its investment by a judicial or other independent authority of that Party in accordance with the principles set out in this Article.
  5. This Article does not apply to the issuance of a compulsory licence granted in relation to intellectual property rights, or to the revocation, limitation or creation of intellectual property rights, to the extent that the issuance, revocation, limitation or creation is consistent with the WTO Agreement.

Article 11

Transfers

  1. Each Party shall permit all transfers relating to a covered investment to be made freely and without delay, into and out of its territory. Those transfers include:
    1. contributions to capital, such as sums intended to establish, maintain or develop the investment;
    2. profits, dividends, interest, capital gains, royalty payments, management fees, technical assistance and other fees, returns in kind and other amounts derived from the covered investment;
    3. proceeds from the sale of all or part of the covered investment or from the partial or complete liquidation of the covered investment;
    4. payments made under a contract entered into by the investor or the covered investment, including payments made pursuant to a loan agreement;
    5. payments made under Articles 7 (Compensation for Losses) and 10 (Expropriation); and
    6. payments arising under Section C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party).
  2. Each Party shall permit transfers relating to a covered investment to be made in the convertible currency in which the capital was originally invested, or in another convertible currency agreed to by the investor and the Party concerned. Unless otherwise agreed by the investor, transfers shall be made at the market rate of exchange in effect on the date of transfer.
  3. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2, a Party may prevent a transfer through the equitable, non‑discriminatory and good faith application of its domestic law relating to:
    1. bankruptcy, insolvency or the protection of the rights of a creditor;
    2. issuing, trading or dealing in securities;
    3. criminal or penal offences;
    4. financial reporting or record keeping of transfers when necessary to assist law enforcement or financial regulatory authorities; or
    5. ensuring compliance with an order or judgment in judicial or administrative proceedings.
  4. A Party may not require one of its investors to transfer, or penalize one of its investors for failing to transfer, the income, earnings, profits or other amounts derived from, or attributable to, an investment in the territory of the other Party.
  5. Paragraph 4 does not prevent a Party from imposing a measure through the equitable, non‑discriminatory and good faith application of its domestic law relating to the matters in subparagraphs 3(a) through 3(e).
  6. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 4, and without limiting the applicability of paragraph 5, a Party may prevent or limit transfers by a financial institution to, or for the benefit of, an affiliate of or person related to that institution, through the equitable, non-discriminatory and good faith application of a measure relating to maintenance of the safety, soundness, integrity or financial responsibility of financial institutions.
  7. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, a Party may restrict transfers of returns in kind in circumstances where it could otherwise restrict those transfers under the WTO Agreement and as set out in paragraph 3.

Article 12

Transparency

  1. Each Party shall ensure that its laws, regulations, procedures, and administrative rulings of general application respecting a matter covered by this Agreement are promptly published or otherwise made available in such a manner as to enable interested persons and the other Party to become acquainted with them.
  2. To the extent possible, each Party shall:
    1. publish in advance any measure referred to in paragraph 1 that it proposes to adopt; and
    2. provide interested persons and the other Party a reasonable opportunity to comment on that proposed measure.
  3. Upon request by a Party, the other Party shall provide information on a measure that may have an impact on a covered investment.

Article 13

Subrogation

  1. If a Party or an agency of a Party makes a payment to one of its investors under a guarantee or a contract of insurance it has entered into in respect of an investment, the other Party shall recognize the validity of the subrogation in favour of the first-mentioned Party or agency to a right or title held by the investor.
  2. A Party or an agency of a Party, that is subrogated to a right of an investor in accordance with paragraph 1, is entitled to the same rights as those of the investor regarding the investment. Those rights may be exercised by the Party or an agency of the Party or by the investor if the Party or its agency so authorizes.

Article 14

Taxation Measures

  1. Except as set out in this Article, this Agreement does not apply to a taxation measure.
  2. This Agreement does not affect the rights and obligations of a Party under a tax convention. In the event of inconsistency between this Agreement and a tax convention, that convention prevails.
  3. This Agreement does not require a Party to furnish or allow access to information, which if disclosed, would be contrary to the Party’s law protecting information concerning the taxation affairs of a taxpayer.
  4. Subject to paragraph 2, Articles 4 (National Treatment) and 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment) apply to all taxation measures, other than those on income, capital gains or on the taxable capital of corporations, except that nothing in those Articles shall apply:
    1. to a non-conforming provision of an existing taxation measure;
    2. to the continuation or prompt renewal of a non-conforming provision of an existing taxation measure;
    3. to an amendment to a non-conforming provision of an existing taxation measure to the extent that the amendment does not decrease its conformity with those Articles at the time when the amendment is introduced; or
    4. to new taxation measures that are aimed at ensuring the equitable and effective imposition or collection of taxes (including, for greater certainty, a measure that is taken by a Party to ensure compliance with the Party’s taxation system or to prevent the avoidance or evasion of taxes) and that does not arbitrarily discriminate between persons, goods or services of the Parties.
  5. Provided that the conditions in paragraph 6 are met:
    1. a claim by an investor that a taxation measure of a Party is in breach of an agreement between a national government authority of that Party and the investor concerning an investment shall be considered a claim for breach of this Agreement; and
    2. the provisions of Article 10 (Expropriation) apply to taxation measures.
  6. An investor may not make a claim under paragraph 5 unless:
    1. the investor provides a copy of the notice of claim to the taxation authorities of the Parties; and
    2. six months after receiving notification of the claim by the investor, the taxation authorities of the Parties fail to reach a joint determination that, in the case of subparagraph 5(a), the measure does not contravene that agreement, or in the case of subparagraph 5(b), the measure in question is not an expropriation.
  7. If, in connection with a claim by an investor of a Party or a dispute between the Parties, an issue arises as to whether a measure of a Party is a taxation measure, a Party may refer the issue to the taxation authorities of the Parties. A decision of the taxation authorities shall bind a Tribunal formed pursuant to Section C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party) or arbitral panel formed pursuant to Section D (State-to-State Dispute Settlement Procedures). A Tribunal or arbitral panel seized of a claim or a dispute in which the issue arises may not proceed until it receives the decision of the taxation authorities. If the taxation authorities have not decided the issue within six months of the referral, the Tribunal or arbitral panel shall decide the issue.
  8. Each Party shall notify the other Party by diplomatic note of the identity of the taxation authorities referred to in this Article.

Article 15

Health, Safety and Environmental Measures and Corporate Social Responsibility Standards

  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, those measures to encourage 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 the encouragement.
  2. Each Party shall encourage enterprises operating within its territory or subject to its jurisdiction to voluntarily incorporate internationally recognized standards of corporate social responsibility in their practices and internal policies, such as statements of principle that have been endorsed or are supported by the Parties. These principles address issues such as labour, the environment, human rights, community relations and anti‑corruption.

Article 16

Reservations and Exceptions

  1. Articles 4 (National Treatment), 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment), 8 (Senior Management, Boards of Directors and Entry of Personnel) and 9 (Performance Requirements) do not apply to:
    1.  
      1. any measure existing and non-conforming, maintained in the territory of a Party;
      2. any measure maintained or adopted after the date of entry into force of this Agreement that, at the time of sale or other disposition of a government’s equity interests in, or the assets of, an existing State enterprise or an existing governmental entity:
        • prohibits or imposes limitations on the ownership or control of equity interests or assets; or
        • imposes nationality requirements relating to senior management or members of the board of directors;
    2. the continuation or prompt renewal of any non-conforming measure referred to in subparagraph (a);
    3. an amendment to a non-conforming measure referred to in subparagraph (a) to the extent that the amendment does not decrease the conformity of the measure, as it existed immediately before the amendment, with Articles 4 (National Treatment), 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment), 8 (Senior Management, Boards of Directors and Entry of Personnel) and 9 (Performance Requirements).
  2. For illustrative purposes only and without prejudice to paragraph 1, each Party shall, to the extent possible, set out in its Schedule to Annex 1 any existing non‑conforming measure it maintains at the national level.
  3. Articles 4 (National Treatment), 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment), 8 (Senior Management, Boards of Directors and Entry of Personnel) and 9 (Performance Requirements) shall 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.
  4. Article 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment) does not apply to treatment accorded by a Party pursuant to agreements set out in Annex III.
  5. In respect of intellectual property rights, a Party may derogate from Articles 4 (National Treatment), 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment) and 9(1)(f) (Performance Requirements) in a manner that is consistent with:
    1. the TRIPS Agreement;
    2. an amendment to the TRIPS Agreement in force for both Parties; and
    3. a waiver to the TRIPS Agreement granted pursuant to Article IX of the WTO Agreement.
  6. Articles 4 (National Treatment), 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment) and 8 (Senior Management and Board of Directors) do not apply to:
    1. procurement by a Party or a State enterprise; or
    2. a subsidy or grant provided by a Party or a State enterprise, including a government-supported loan, a guarantee or insurance.
  7. Article 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment) of this Agreement does not apply to financial services.

Article 17

General Exceptions

  1. For the purpose of this Agreement:
    1. a Party may adopt or enforce a measure necessary:
      1. to protect human, animal or plant life or health,
      2. to ensure compliance with domestic law that is not inconsistent with this Agreement, or
      3. for the conservation of living or non-living exhaustible natural resources;
    2. provided that the measure referred to in subparagraph (a) is not:
      1. applied in a manner that constitutes arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between investments or between investors, or
      2. a disguised restriction on international trade or investment.
  2. This Agreement does not prevent a Party from adopting or maintaining reasonable measures for prudential reasons, such as:
    1. protecting investors, depositors, financial market participants, policy-holders, policy-claimants, or persons to whom a fiduciary duty is owed by a financial institution;
    2. maintaining the safety, soundness, integrity or financial responsibility of financial institutions; and
    3. ensuring the integrity and stability of a Party’s financial system.
  3. This Agreement does not apply to non-discriminatory measures of general application taken by a public entity in pursuit of monetary and related credit or exchange rate policies. This paragraph shall not affect a Party’s obligations under Article 9 (Performance Requirements) or Article 11 (Transfers).
  4. This Agreement does not:
    1. require a Party to furnish or allow access to information if that Party determines that the disclosure of this information would be contrary to its essential security interests;
    2. prevent a Party from taking an action that it considers necessary to protect its essential security interests:
      1. relating to the traffic in arms, ammunition and implements of war and to such traffic and transactions in other goods, materials, services and technology undertaken directly or indirectly for the purpose of supplying a military or other security establishment,
      2. taken in time of war or other emergency in international relations, or
      3. relating to the implementation of national policies or international agreements respecting the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; or
    3. prevent a Party from fulfilling its obligations under the United Nations Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security.
  5. This Agreement does not require a Party to furnish or allow access to information which if disclosed would impede law enforcement or would be contrary to the Party’s law protecting the deliberative and policy-making processes of the executive branch of government at the cabinet level, personal privacy or the confidentiality of the financial affairs and accounts of individual customers of financial institutions.
  6. In the course of a dispute settlement procedure under this Agreement:
    1. a Party is not required to furnish or allow access to information protected under its competition law;
    2. a competition authority of a Party is not required to furnish or allow access to information that is privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure.
  7. This Agreement does not apply to measures adopted or maintained by a Party with respect to a person engaged in a cultural industry. “Person engaged in a cultural industry” means a person engaged in the following activities:
    1. the publication, distribution or sale of books, magazines, periodicals or newspapers in print or machine-readable form, except when printing or typesetting any of the foregoing is the only activity;
    2. the production, distribution, sale or exhibition of film or video recordings;
    3. the production, distribution, sale or exhibition of audio or video music recordings;
    4. the publication, distribution or sale of music in print or machine-readable form; or
    5. radiocommunications in which the transmissions are intended for direct reception by the general public, and all radio, television or cable broadcasting undertakings and all satellite programming and broadcast network services.
  8. If a right or obligation in this Agreement duplicates one under the WTO Agreement, the Parties agree that a measure adopted by a Party in conformity with a waiver decision granted by the WTO pursuant to Article IX of the WTO Agreement is deemed to be also in conformity with the present Agreement. Such conforming measure of either Party may not give rise to a claim by an investor of one Party against the other under Section C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party) of this Agreement.

Article 18

Denial of Benefits

  1. A Party may deny the benefits of this Agreement to an investor of the other Party that is an enterprise of that Party and to investments of that investor if investors of a non‑Party,or of the denying Party own or control the enterprise and:
    1. the denying Party adopts or maintains measures with respect to the non-Party that prohibit transactions with the enterprise or that would be violated or circumvented if the benefits of this Agreement were accorded to the enterprise or to its investments; or
    2. the enterprise has no substantial business activities in the territory of the Party under whose domestic law it is constituted or organized.

Section C – Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party

Article 19

Purpose

Without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Parties under Section D (State-to-State Dispute Settlement Procedures), the Parties establish in this Section a mechanism for the settlement of investment disputes.

Article 20

Claim by an Investor of a Party on Its Own Behalf or on Behalf of an Enterprise

  1. An investor of a Party may submit to arbitration under this Section a claim that:
    1. the respondent Party has breached an obligation under Section B (Substantive Obligations), other than an obligation under Articles 8(3) (Senior Management, Boards of Directors and Entry of Personnel), 12 (Transparency) or 15 (Health, Safety and Environmental Measures and Corporate Social Responsibility Standards); and
    2. the investor has incurred loss or damage by reason of, or arising out of, that breach.
  2. An investor of a Party, on behalf of an enterprise of the respondent 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:
    1. the respondent Party has breached an obligation under Section B (Substantive Obligations), other than an obligation under Articles 8(3) (Senior Management, Boards of Directors and Entry of Personnel), 12 (Transparency) or 15 (Health, Safety and Environmental Measures and Corporate Social Responsibility Standards); and
    2. the enterprise has incurred loss or damage by reason of, or arising out of, that breach.

Article 21

Conditions Precedent to Submission of a Claim to Arbitration

  1. The disputing parties shall hold consultations and attempt to settle a claim amicably before an investor may submit a claim to arbitration. Unless the disputing parties agree to a longer period, consultations shall be held within 60 days of the submission of the notice of intent to submit a claim to arbitration under subparagraph 2(c). The place of consultation shall be the capital of the respondent Party, unless the disputing parties otherwise agree.
  2. Subject to the requirements of a Party as set out in Annex C.21, an investor may submit a claim to arbitration under Article 20 (Claim by an Investor of a Party on Its Own Behalf or on Behalf of an Enterprise) only if:
    1. the investor and, where a claim is made under Article 20(2) (Claim by an Investor of a Party on Its Own Behalf or on Behalf of anEnterprise), the enterprise, consent to arbitration in accordance with the procedures set out in this Agreement;
    2. at least six months have elapsed since the events giving rise to the claim;
    3. the investor has delivered to the respondent Party a written notice of its intent to submit a claim to arbitration at least 90 days prior to submitting the claim, which notice shall specify:
      1. the name and address of the investor and, where a claim is made under Article 20(2) (Claim by an Investor of a Party on Its Own Behalf or on Behalf of anEnterprise), the name and address of the enterprise,
      2. the provisions of this Agreement alleged to have been breached and any other relevant provisions,
      3. the legal and the factual basis for the claim, including the measures at issue, and
      4. the relief sought and the approximate amount of damages claimed;
    4. the investor has delivered evidence establishing that it is an investor of the other Party with its notice of intent to submit a claim to arbitration under subparagraph 2(c);
    5. in the case of a claim submitted under Article 20(1) (Claim by an Investor of a Party on Its Own Behalf or on Behalf of anEnterprise):
      1. not more than three years have elapsed from the date on which the investor first acquired, or should have first acquired, knowledge of the alleged breach and knowledge that the investor has incurred loss or damage thereby,
      2. the investor waives its right to initiate or continue before an administrative tribunal or court under the domestic law of a Party, or other dispute settlement procedures, proceedings with respect to the measure of the respondent Party that is alleged to be a breach referred to in Article 20 (Claim by an Investor of a Party on its Own Behalf or on Behalf of anEnterprise), and
      3. if the claim is for loss or damage to an interest in an enterprise of the other Party that is a juridical person that the investor owns or controls directly or indirectly, the enterprise waives the right referred to under subparagraph (ii);
    6. in the case of a claim submitted under Article 20(2) (Claim by an Investor of a Party on its Own Behalf or on Behalf of anEnterprise):
      1. not more than three years have elapsed from the date on which the enterprise first acquired, or should have first acquired, knowledge of the alleged breach and knowledge that the enterprise has incurred loss or damage thereby, and
      2. both the investor and the enterprise waive their right to initiate or continue before an administrative tribunal or court under the domestic law of a Party, or other dispute settlement procedures, proceedings with respect to the measure of the respondent Party that is alleged to be a breach referred to in Article 20 (Claim by an Investor of a Party on its Own Behalf or on Behalf of anEnterprise).
  3. Subparagraphs 2(e)(ii), (iii) and 2(f)(ii) do not apply to proceedings before a judicial or administrative tribunal or court under the domestic law of the respondent Party for injunctive, declaratory or other extraordinary relief, not involving the payment of damages.
  4. The disputing investor or the enterprise shall deliver the consent and waiver required under paragraph 2 to the respondent Party and the investor shall include them in the submission of a claim to arbitration. A waiver from the enterprise under subparagraphs 2(e)(iii) or 2(f)(ii) is not required if the respondent Party has deprived the investor of control of the enterprise.

Article 22

Special Rules Regarding Financial Services

  1. With respect to:
    1. financial institutions of a Party; and
    2. investors of a Party, and investments of those investors, in financial institutions in the respondent Party’s territory,

    this Section applies only in respect of claims that the respondent Party has breached an obligation under Article 10 (Expropriation), 11 (Transfers) or 18 (Denial of Benefits).

  2. Where an investor or respondent Party claims that a dispute involves measures adopted or maintained by the respondent Party relating to financial institutions of the other Party or investors of the other Party and their investments in financial institutions in the respondent Party’s territory, or where the respondent Party invokes Articles 11(6) (Transfers), 17(2) or 17(3) (General Exceptions), the arbitrators shall, in addition to the criteria set out in Article 25(2) (Arbitrators), have expertise or experience in financial services law or practice, which may include the regulation of financial institutions.
  3. Where an investor submits a claim to arbitration under this Section, and the respondent Party invokes Article 11(6) (Transfers), 17(2) or 17(3) (General Exceptions), at the request of that Party, the Tribunal shall request a report in writing from the Parties on the issue of whether and to what extent the invoked paragraph is a valid defence to the claim of the investor. The Tribunal may not proceed pending receipt of a report under this Article.
  4. Where the Tribunal requests a report under paragraph 3, the Parties shall prepare a written report. If the Parties cannot agree on the report, they shall submit the issue to an arbitral panel established in accordance with Section D (State-to-State Dispute Settlement Procedures) that shall prepare the written report. The report shall be transmitted to the Tribunal and be binding on it.
  5. The Tribunal may decide the matter where, within 70 days of the referral by the Tribunal, no request for the establishment of a panel pursuant to paragraph 4 has been made and no report has been received by the Tribunal.

Article 23

Submission of a Claim to Arbitration

  1. An investor that meets the conditions precedent in Article 21 (Conditions Precedent to Submission of a Claim to Arbitration) may submit a claim to arbitration under:
    1. the ICSID Convention, provided that both Parties are parties to the ICSID Convention;
    2. the Additional Facility Rules of ICSID, if only one Party is a party to the ICSID Convention;
    3. the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules; or
    4. any other instrument proposed by the investor that allows the conduct of the arbitration procedure in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, provided that the disputing parties so agree. If the disputing parties cannot reach an agreement in this regard within 60 days following the investor’s proposal, the investor may submit a claim under the instruments in subparagraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this paragraph.
  2. Except to the extent modified by this Agreement, the arbitration is governed by the arbitration rules applicable under paragraph 1 that are in effect on the date that the claim is submitted to arbitration under this Section.
  3. The Parties may adopt supplemental rules of procedure that complement the arbitration rules listed in paragraph 1 and these rules apply to the arbitration. The Parties shall promptly publish the supplemental rules of procedure that they adopt or otherwise make them available in such a manner as to enable interested persons to become acquainted with them.
  4. A claim is submitted to arbitration under this Section when:
    1. the request for arbitration under Article 36(1) of the ICSID Convention is received by the Secretary-General of ICSID;
    2. the request for arbitration under Article 2 of Schedule C of the ICSID Additional Facility Rules is received by the Secretariat of ICSID; or
    3. the notice of arbitration under Article 3 of the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules is received by the respondent Party.
  5. Each Party shall notify the other Party by diplomatic note of the place of delivery of notices and other documents.
  6. If, the investor fails to take any steps in the proceeding during 18 consecutive months following the submission of a claim to arbitration under this Section, except in cases of force majeure and subject to both disputing parties agreeing otherwise, the investor shall be deemed to have withdrawn its claim and to have discontinued the proceedings. The claim of the investor shall be deemed not to have been filed under this Section and the authority of any tribunal established to hear the claim has lapsed.

Article 24

Consent to Arbitration

  1. Each Party consents to the submission of a claim to arbitration in accordance with the procedures set out in this Agreement. Failure to meet a condition precedent listed in Article 21 (Conditions Precedent to Submission of a Claim to Arbitration) nullifies that consent.
  2. The consent given in paragraph 1 and the submission by an investor of a claim to arbitration satisfies the requirement of:
    1. Chapter II of the ICSID Convention (Jurisdiction of the Centre) and the ICSID Additional Facility Rules for written consent of the disputing parties; and
    2. Article II of the New York Convention for an agreement in writing.

Article 25

Arbitrators

  1. Except in respect of a Tribunal established under Article 27 (Consolidation), and unless the disputing parties agree otherwise, the Tribunal shall be composed of three arbitrators. One arbitrator shall be appointed by each of the disputing parties and the third, who will be the presiding arbitrator, shall be appointed by agreement of the disputing parties.
  2. Arbitrators shall have expertise or experience in public international law, international investment or international trade rules, or the resolution of disputes arising under international investment or international trade agreements. Arbitrators shall be independent of, and not be affiliated with or take instructions from, the disputing parties.
  3. If the disputing parties do not agree on the remuneration of the arbitrators before the Tribunal is constituted, the prevailing ICSID rate for arbitrators shall apply.
  4. If a Tribunal, other than a Tribunal established under Article 27 (Consolidation), has not been constituted within 90 days from the date that a claim is submitted to arbitration, a disputing party may ask the Secretary-General of ICSID to appoint the arbitrator or arbitrators not yet appointed. The Secretary-General of ICSID shall make the appointment at his or her own discretion and, to the extent practicable, this appointment shall be made in consultation with the disputing parties. The Secretary-General of ICSID may not appoint as presiding arbitrator a national of a Party.

Article 26

Agreement to Appointment of Arbitrators

For the purposes of Article 39 of the ICSID Convention and Article 7 of Schedule C to the ICSID Additional Facility Rules, and without prejudice to an objection to an arbitrator based on a ground other than nationality:

  1. the respondent Party agrees to the appointment of each individual member of a Tribunal established under the ICSID Convention or the ICSID Additional Facility Rules;
  2. an investor referred to in Article 20(1) (Claim by an Investor of a Party on Its Own Behalf or on Behalf of an Enterprise) may submit a claim to arbitration or continue a claim under the ICSID Convention or the ICSID Additional Facility Rules only if the investor agrees in writing to the appointment of each member of the Tribunal; and
  3. an investor referred to in Article 20(2) (Claim by an Investor of a Party on Its Own Behalf or on Behalf of an Enterprise) may submit a claim to arbitration or continue a claim under the ICSID Convention or the ICSID Additional Facility Rules only if the investor and the enterprise agree in writing to the appointment of each member of the Tribunal.

Article 27

Consolidation

  1. A disputing party that seeks a consolidation order under this Article shall request that the Secretary-General of ICSID establish a Tribunal and shall specify in the request:
    1. the name of the respondent Party or investors against which the order is sought;
    2. the nature of the order sought; and
    3. the grounds for the order sought.
  2. The disputing party shall deliver a copy of the request to the respondent Party or investors against which the order is sought.
  3. Within 60 days of receiving the request, the Secretary-General of ICSID shall establish a Tribunal composed of three arbitrators. The Secretary-General of ICSID shall appoint one member who is a national of the respondent Party, one member who is a national of the Party of the investors that submitted the claims, and a presiding arbitrator who is not a national of a Party.
  4. 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.
  5. If a Tribunal established under this Article is satisfied that claims submitted to arbitration under Article 23 (Submission of a Claim to Arbitration) have a question of law or fact in common, the Tribunal may, in the interest of fair and efficient resolution of the claims and after hearing the respondent Party and the investors that submitted the claims, by order:
    1. assume jurisdiction over, and hear and determine together, all or part of the claims; or
    2. assume jurisdiction over, and hear and determine one or more of the claims, the determination of which it believes would assist in resolving the other claims.
  6. Where a Tribunal has been established under this Article, an investor that has submitted a claim to arbitration under Article 23 (Submission of a Claim to Arbitration) and that has not been named in a request made under paragraph 1 may make a written request to the Tribunal that it be included in an order made under paragraph 5, and shall specify in the request:
    1. the name and address of the investor;
    2. the nature of the order sought; and
    3. the grounds for the order is sought.
  7. An investor referred to in paragraph 6 shall deliver a copy of its request to the disputing parties named in a request under paragraph 1.
  8. A Tribunal established under Article 23 (Submission of a Claim to Arbitration) does not have jurisdiction to decide a claim, or a part of a claim, over which a Tribunal established under this Article has assumed jurisdiction.
  9. On application of a disputing party, a Tribunal established under this Article, pending its decision under paragraph 5, may order that the proceedings of a Tribunal established under Article 23 (Submission of a Claim to Arbitration) be stayed unless the latter Tribunal has already adjourned its proceedings.

Article 28

Documents to, and Participation of, the Other Party

  1. The respondent Party shall deliver to the other Party a copy of the notice of intent to submit a claim to arbitration and other documents within 30 days of the date those documents have been delivered to the respondent Party. The other Party is entitled, at its cost, to receive from the respondent Party a copy of the evidence that has been tendered to the Tribunal, copies of pleadings filed in the arbitration, and the written argument of the disputing parties. The Party receiving such information shall treat the information as if it were a respondent Party.
  2. The other Party has the right to attend hearings held under this Section. Upon written notice to the disputing parties, the other Party may make submissions to a Tribunal on questions of interpretation of this Agreement.

Article 29

Place of Arbitration

The disputing parties may agree on the place of arbitration under the arbitral rules applicable under Article 23(1) (Submission of a Claim to Arbitration) or 27(4) (Consolidation). If the disputing parties fail to agree, the Tribunal shall determine the place in accordance with the applicable arbitral rules, provided that the place shall be in the territory of a Party or of a third State that is a party to the New York Convention.

Article 30

Public Access to Hearings and Documents

  1. A Tribunal award under this Section shall be publicly available, subject to the redaction of confidential information. All other documents submitted to, or issued by, the Tribunal shall be publicly available unless the disputing parties otherwise agree, subject to the redaction of confidential information.
  2. Hearings held under this Section shall be open to the public. The Tribunal may hold portions of hearings in camera to the extent necessary to ensure the protection of confidential information.
  3. A disputing party may disclose to other persons in connection with the arbitral proceedings such unredacted documents as it considers necessary for the preparation of its case, but it shall ensure that those persons protect the confidential information in those documents.
  4. The Parties may share with officials of their respective national and sub-national governments all relevant unredacted documents in the course of dispute settlement under this Section, but they shall ensure that those persons protect the confidential information in those documents.
  5. If a Tribunal’s order designates information as confidential and a Party’s law on access to information requires public access to that information, the Party’s law on access to information prevails. However, the Party should try to apply its law on access to information so as to protect information that the Tribunal’s order has designated as confidential.

Article 31

Submissions by a non-disputing party

A Tribunal has the authority to consider and accept written submissions from a person or entity that is not a disputing party with a significant interest in the arbitration. The Tribunal shall ensure that a non-disputing party submission does not disrupt the proceedings and does not unduly burden or unfairly prejudice a disputing party.

Article 32

Governing Law

  1. A Tribunal established under this Section shall decide the issues in dispute consistently with this Agreement and applicable rules of international law. A joint interpretation by the Parties of a provision of this Agreement shall bind a Tribunal established under this Section, and an award under this Section must be consistent with that interpretation.
  2. Where a respondent Party asserts as a defence that the measure alleged to be a breach is within the scope of a reservation or exception set out in Annex II or III, on the request of the respondent Party, the Tribunal shall request the joint interpretation of the Parties on the issue. Within 60 days of the delivery of the request, the Parties shall submit in writing their joint interpretation to the Tribunal. The joint interpretation of the Parties is binding on the Tribunal. If the Parties fail to submit their joint interpretation within 60 days of the Tribunal’s request, the Tribunal shall decide the issue.

Article 33

Expert Reports

  1. Subject to paragraph2, aTribunal may appoint an expert to report to it in writing on a factual issue concerning environmental, health, safety or other scientific matter raised by a disputing party, subject to such terms and conditions as the disputing parties may decide.
  2. The Tribunal may not appoint an expert under paragraph 1 if the disputing parties agree that the Tribunal may not do so.
  3. Paragraph 1 does not affect the appointment of other kinds of experts where the appointment is authorized by the applicable arbitration rules.

Article 34

Interim Measures of Protection and Final Award

  1. A Tribunal may order an interim measure of protection to preserve the rights of a disputing party or to ensure that the Tribunal’s jurisdiction is made fully effective, including an order to preserve evidence in the possession or control of a disputing party or to protect the Tribunal’s jurisdiction. A Tribunal may not order attachment or enjoin the application of the measure alleged to constitute a breach referred to in Article 20 (Claim by an Investor of a Party on Its Own Behalf or on Behalf of anEnterprise). For the purposes of this paragraph, an order includes a recommendation.
  2. Where a Tribunal makes a final award against the respondent Party, the Tribunal may award, separately or in combination, only:
    1. monetary damages and any applicable interest; and
    2. restitution of property, in which case the award shall provide that the respondent Party may pay monetary damages and any applicable interest in lieu of restitution.

    The Tribunal may also award costs in accordance with the applicable arbitration rules.

  3. Subject to paragraph 2, where a claim is made under Article 20(2) (Claim by an Investor of a Party on Behalf of anEnterprise):
    1. an award of monetary damages and any applicable interest shall provide that the sum be paid to the enterprise;
    2. an award of restitution of property shall provide that restitution be made to the enterprise; and
    3. the award shall provide that it is made without prejudice to a right that a person may have in monetary damages or property awarded under paragraphs (a) or (b) under a Party’s domestic law.
  4. A Tribunal may not order the respondent Party to pay punitive damages.

Article 35

Finality and Enforcement of an Award

  1. An award made by a Tribunal has no binding force except between the disputing parties and in respect of that particular case.
  2. 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.
  3. A disputing party may not seek enforcement of a final award until:
    1. in the case of a final award made under the ICSID Convention:
      1. 120 days have elapsed from the date the award was rendered, provided that a disputing party has not requested the award be revised or annulled, or
      2. revision or annulment proceedings have been completed; and
    2. in the case of a final award under the ICSID Additional Facility Rules or the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules:
      1. 90 days have elapsed from the date the award was rendered and no disputing party has commenced a proceeding to revise, set aside or annul the award, or
      2. a court has dismissed or allowed an application to revise, set aside or annul the award and there is no further appeal.
  4. Each Party shall provide for the enforcement of an award in its territory.
  5. A claim that is submitted to arbitration under this Section shall be considered to arise out of a commercial relationship or transaction for the purposes of Article I of the New York Convention.

Article 36

Receipts under Insurance or Guarantee Contracts

A respondent Party shall not object at any stage of the arbitration procedure or the execution of an arbitration award, that the disputing investor has received or will receive, under an insurance or guarantee contract, indemnification or other compensation for all or part of its alleged damages.

Section D – State-to-State Dispute Settlement Procedures

Article 37

Disputes between the Parties

  1. A Party may request consultations on the interpretation or application of this Agreement. The other Party shall give sympathetic consideration to the request. A dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall, whenever possible, be settled amicably through consultations.
  2. If a dispute cannot be settled through consultations, it shall, at the request of a Party, be submitted to an arbitral panel for decision.
  3. An arbitral panel shall be constituted for each dispute. Within two months after receipt through diplomatic channels of the request for arbitration, each Party shall appoint one member to the arbitral panel. The two members shall then select a national of a third State who, upon approval by the two Parties, shall be appointed Chair of the arbitral panel. The Chair shall be appointed within two months from the date of appointment of the other two members of the arbitral panel.
  4. If within the periods specified in paragraph 3 the necessary appointments have not been made, a Party may invite the President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointments. If the President is a national of a Party or is otherwise prevented from discharging the said function, the Vice-President shall be invited to make the necessary appointments. If the Vice-President is a national of a Party or is otherwise prevented from discharging this function, the Member of the International Court of Justice next in seniority, who is not a national of a Party, shall be invited to make the necessary appointments.
  5. Arbitrators shall have expertise or experience in public international law, international trade or international investment rules, or the resolution of disputes arising under international trade or international investment agreements. They shall be independent of, and not be affiliated with or take instructions from, a Party.
  6. Where a Party determines that the dispute involves measures relating to financial institutions, or to investors or investments of such investors in financial institutions, or where a Party invokes Article 11(6) (Transfers), 17(2) or 17(3) (General Exceptions), the arbitrators shall, in addition to the criteria set out in paragraph 5, have expertise or experience in financial services or practice, which may include the regulation of financial institutions.
  7. The arbitral panel shall determine its own procedure. The arbitral panel shall reach its decision by a majority of votes. The decision is binding on both Parties. Unless otherwise agreed, the decision of the arbitral panel shall be rendered within six months of the appointment of the Chair.
  8. Each Party shall bear the costs of its own member of the arbitral panel and of its representation in the arbitral proceedings. The costs related to the Chair and any remaining costs shall be borne equally by the Parties. The arbitral panel may, however, award that a higher proportion of costs be borne by one of the two Parties, and this award shall be binding on both Parties.
  9. Within 60 days of the decision of an arbitral panel, the Parties shall agree on the manner in which to resolve their dispute. The agreement must normally implement the decision of the arbitral panel. If the Parties fail to agree, the Party bringing the dispute shall be entitled to compensation or to suspend benefits of equivalent value to those awarded by the panel.

Section E – Final Provisions

Article 38

Consultations and other Actions

  1. A Party may request in writing consultations with the other Party regarding an actual or proposed measure or any other matter that it considers might affect the operation of this Agreement.
  2. The consultations under paragraph 1 may address, inter alia, matters relating to:
    1. the implementation of this Agreement; or
    2. the interpretation or application of this Agreement.
  3. Further to consultations under this Article, the Parties may take an action as they may agree, including making and adopting rules supplementing the applicable arbitral rules under Section C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party) of this Agreement.

Article 39

Extent of Obligations

Each Party shall ensure that it takes all necessary measures to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement, including their observance, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, by its sub-national governments.

Article 40

Exclusions

Sections C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party) and D (State-to-State Dispute Settlement Procedures) of this Agreement do not apply to the matters set out in Annex IV.

Article 41

Application and Entry into Force

  1. All Annexes are an integral part of this Agreement.
  2. Each Party shall notify the other in writing of the completion of the procedures required in its territory for the entry into force of this Agreement. This Agreement enters into force on the date of the later of these notifications.
  3. This Agreement shall remain in force unless a Party notifies the other Party in writing of its intention to terminate it. The termination of this Agreement will be effective one year after notice of termination has been received by the other Party. In respect of investments or commitments to invest made prior to the date when the termination of this Agreement becomes effective, Articles 1 to 40 inclusive, as well as paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, shall remain in force for a period of 15 years.

In Witness Whereof, the undersigned, duly authorised by their respective governments, have signed this Agreement.

Done at ….. on this ….. day of 20__, in two originals, the English and French languages, each version being equally authentic.

 

For the Government of Canada

 

For the Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire

 

Annex B.10

Expropriation

The Parties confirm their shared understanding that:

  1. indirect expropriation results from a measure or a series of measures of a Party that has an effect equivalent to direct expropriation without formal transfer of title or outright seizure;
  2. the determination of whether a measure or a series of measures of a Party constitutes an indirect expropriation requires a case-by-case, fact-based inquiry that considers, among other factors:
    1. the economic impact of the measure or the series of measures, although the sole fact that a measure or a series of measures of a Party has an adverse effect on the economic value of an investment does not establish that an indirect expropriation has occurred,
    2. the extent to which the measure or the series of measures interferes with distinct, reasonable investment-backed expectations, and
    3. the character of the measure or the series of measures;
  3. except in rare circumstances, such as when a measure or a series of measures is so severe in the light of its purpose that it cannot be reasonably viewed as having been adopted and applied in good faith, a non-discriminatory measure of a Party that is designed and applied to protect legitimate public welfare objectives, such as health, safety and the environment, does not constitute indirect expropriation.

Annex C.21

Conditions Precedent to the Submission of a Claim or to the Continuation of Proceedings by a Tribunal Established under Section C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party): Conditions Specific to a Party

  1. An investor may submit a claim regarding a taxation measure of Côte d’Ivoire only if:
    1. the investor uses the domestic administrative procedure applicable to taxation measures; and
    2. the investor determines that the internal administrative procedures is not available, or that a dispute still exists four months after the investor initiated the domestic administrative procedure.

    It is understood that the claim must also meet the conditions precedent to submission of a claim to arbitration in Section C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party) and Article 14 (Taxation Measures).

  2. If an investor submits a claim without meeting the conditions set out in subparagraphs 1 (a) and (b), but the claim raises the issue as to whether a given measure in Côte d’Ivoire is a taxation measure, and the taxation authorities of the Parties seized of the claim under Article 14(7) (Taxation Measures):
    1. agree that the claim concerns a taxation measure; or
    2. do not agree, and the Tribunal established under Section C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party) decides that the claim concerns a taxation measure;

    the Tribunal established under Section C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party) may not proceed until the conditions set out in subparagraphs 1 (a) and (b) are met.

Annex I

Reservations for Existing Measures and Liberalization Commitments

Illustrative Schedule of Canada

  1. Investment Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 28 (1st Supp.)
    Investment Canada Regulations, SOR/85-611

    These measures deal with the acquisition and establishment of businesses by non-Canadians and the establishment of new businesses by non-Canadians may be subject to review. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Articles 4 (National Treatment), 8 (Senior Management, Board of Directors and Entry of Personnel) and 9 (Performance Requirements).

  2. Canada Business Corporations Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-44
    Canada Business Corporations Regulations, SOR/2001-512
    Canada Cooperatives Act, S.C. 1998, c. 1
    Canada Cooperatives Regulations, SOR/99-256
    Canada Corporations Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-32

    The Canada Business Corporations Act provides for constraints on shares of businesses and cooperatives incorporated pursuant to Canadian legislation to maintain participation requirements and Canadian ownership and control levels set out in the Canada Business Corporations Regulations. These measures are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 4 (National Treatment).

  3. Canada Business Corporations Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-44
    Canada Business Corporations Regulations, SOR/2001-512
    Canada Cooperatives Act, S.C. 1998, c. 1
    Canada Cooperatives Regulations, SOR/99-256
    Canada Corporations Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-32
    Special Acts of Parliament incorporating specific companies

    These measures contain provisions dealing with the nationality of senior management or directors of Canadian businesses. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 8 (Senior Management, Board of Directors and Entry of Personnel).

  4. Citizenship Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29
    Foreign Ownership of Land Regulations, SOR/79-416

    These measures deal with foreign ownership of land. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 4 (National Treatment).

  5. Air Canada Public Participation Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 35 (4th Supp.)
    Canadian Arsenals Limited Divestiture Authorization Act, S.C. 1986, c. 20
    Eldorado Nuclear Limited Reorganization and Divestiture Act, S.C.1988, c. 41
    Nordion and Theratronics Divestiture Authorization Act, S.C. 1990, c. 4

    These measures set out non-resident ownership restrictions on the voting shares of certain companies. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 4 (National Treatment).

  6. Customs Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.)
    Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, SOR/86-1067

    These measures set out residency requirements for customs brokers. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Articles 4 (National Treatment) and 8 (Senior Management, Board of Directors and Entry of Personnel).

  7. Customs Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.)
    Duty Free Shop Regulations, SOR/86-1072

    These measures set out residency and other requirements for duty free shop operations. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 4 (National Treatment).

  8. Cultural Property Export and Import Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-51

    This measure sets out restrictions on foreign participation in the import or export of cultural property. This measure is reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 4 (National Treatment).

  9. Patent Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-4
    Patent Rules, SOR/96-423

    These measures set out Canadian residency requirements for registered patent agents. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Articles 4 (National Treatment) and 9 (Performance Requirements).

  10. Trade-Marks Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. T-13
    Trade-mark Regulations, SOR/96-195

    These measures set out Canadian residency requirements for registered trade-mark agents. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Articles 4 (National Treatment) and 9 (Performance Requirements).

  11. Canada Petroleum Resources Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 36 (2nd Supp.)
    Territorial Lands Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. T-7
    Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act, S.C. 1991, c. 50
    Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act, S.C. 1987, c. 3
    Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, S.C. 1988, c. 28
    Canada Oil and Gas Land Regulations, C.R.C. 1978, c. 1518

    These measures set out Canadian ownership requirements for oil and gas production licenses. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 4 (National Treatment).

  12. Canada Oil and Gas Production and Conservation Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. O-7, as amended by the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, S.C. 1992, c. 35
    Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, S.C. 1988, c. 28
    Canada - Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act, S.C. 1987, c. 3
    Measures implementing the Canada-Yukon Oil and Gas Accord
    Measures implementing the Northwest Territories Oil and Gas Accord

    These measures deal with benefits plans required to obtain authorisations set out in these measures. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 9 (Performance Requirements).

  13. Canada - Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act, S.C. 1987, c. 3
    Hibernia Development Project Act, S.C. 1990, c. 41

    These measures deal with benefits plans and performance requirements. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 9 (Performance Requirements).

  14. Investment Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 28 (1st Supp.)
    Investment Canada Regulations, SOR/85-611
    Non-Resident Ownership Policy in the Uranium Mining Sector, 1987

    These measures deal with non-resident ownership in the uranium mining sector. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Articles 4 (National Treatment) and 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment).

  15. Canada Transportation Act, S.C. 1996, c.10
    Aeronautics Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.A-2
    Canadian Aviation Regulations
    Part II “Aircraft Identification and Registration and Operation of a Leased Aircraft by a Non-Registered Owner”
    Part IV “Personnel Licensing and Training”
    Part VII “Commercial Air Services”

    These measures set out restrictions on non-Canadians wishing to register or operate Canadian aircraft or to provide air services in Canada. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 4 (National Treatment).

  16. Canada Shipping Act, 2001, S.C. 2001, c. 26

    This measure sets out requirements to own a ship on the Canadian register. It is reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 4 (National Treatment).

  17. Canada Shipping Act, 2001, S.C. 2001, c. 26
    Marine Certification Regulations, SOR/97-391

    These measures set out restrictions on the provision of services on Canadian ships by non-Canadians. They are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 8 (Senior Management, Board of Directors and Entry of Personnel).

  18. Pilotage Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. P-14
    General Pilotage Regulations, SOR/2000-132
    Atlantic Pilotage Authority Regulations, C.R.C. 1978, c. 1264
    Laurentian Pilotage Authority Regulations, C.R.C. 1978, c. 1268
    Great Lakes Pilotage Regulations, C.R.C. 1978, c. 1266
    Pacific Pilotage Regulations, C.R.C. 1978, c. 1270

    These measures set out restrictions on non-Canadians in relation to pilotage and are reserved from the obligations imposed by Article 8 (Senior Management, Board of Directors and Entry of Personnel).

Illustrative Schedule of Côte d’Ivoire

  1. Law No. 95-620 of August 3, 1995, adopting the Investment Code
    Decree No. 95-712 of September 13, 1995, establishing procedures for applying the Investment Code

    These measures require that an investor, to be certified as an investor in Côte d’Ivoire, produce a file that includes a commitment to employ Ivorian executives, front-line supervisors, and other workers, and to train them in accordance with the provisions governing the operation of the vocational training development fund.

  2. Law No. 96-669 of August 29, 1996, adopting the Petroleum Code

    This law contains provisions that require petroleum contract-holding enterprises to specify the terms and conditions for State ownership interests; to give Ivorian enterprises priority for construction work, procurement and delivery of services; to give priority to employing qualified Ivorian personnel; to give priority to allocating their commercial production of hydrocarbons to meeting the needs of the Ivorian market.

  3. Law No. 95-553 of July 18, 1995, adopting the Mining Code

    Some provisions of the Mining Code require Ivorian nationality for shareholding and ownership interests by juridical or natural persons, to obtain authorization to operate quarries, or to obtain authorization for artisanal or semi-industrial mining of resources under a mining tenure system. Moreover, tax exemptions applicable to material and equipment used for mining operations do not apply to the import of goods that are available or whose equivalent can be found in Côte d’Ivoire.

  4. Law No. 95-05 of January 11, 1995, adopting the 1995 financial law
    (Article 111 of the General Income Tax Code)

    These provisions grant tax exemptions to enterprises that employ nationals of Côte d’Ivoire.

  5. Law No. 98-750 of December 23, 1998, respecting estate in land

    These measures exclude non-Ivorian natural or juridical persons from access to rural land ownership.

  6. Law No. 89-1332 of December 26, 1989, adopting the 1990 financial law (Article 146 of the General Income Tax Code)

    These measures tax employers that employ expatriates, while exempting those that employ local personnel.

Annex II

Reservations for Future Measures

Schedule of Canada

In accordance with Article 16(3) of this Agreement, Canada reserves the right to adopt or maintain any non-conforming measure to the obligations set out below with respect to the following sectors or matters:

Schedule of Côte d’Ivoire

In accordance with Article 16(3) (Reservations and Exceptions) of this Agreement, Côte d’Ivoire reserves the right to adopt or maintain any non-conforming measure to the obligations set out below with respect to the following sectors or matters:

Annex III

Exceptions from Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment

  1. Article 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment) does not apply to treatment accorded by a Party under a bilateral or multilateral international agreement in force or signed prior to the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
  2. Article 5 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment) does not apply to treatment accorded by a Party under an existing or future bilateral or multilateral agreement:
    1. establishing, strengthening or expanding a free trade area or customs union; or
    2. relating to:
      1. aviation;
      2. fisheries; or
      3. maritime matters, including salvage.

Annex IV

Exclusions from Dispute Settlement

  1. A decision by Canada following a review under the Investment Canada Act, is not subject to the dispute settlement provisions under Sections C (Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host Party) or D (State-to-State Dispute Settlement Procedures) of this Agreement.
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