The Adjudicator's Toolkit and the Force of International Law : : Comparing Trade and Investment Disputes.

• Author: Strain, Nicola.
• Place / Publishing House: Boston : : BRILL,, 2024.; ©2024.
• Year of Publication: 2024
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (399 pages)

International economic adjudication is under stress. International law could act as a legitimising force. Yet, this book shows how far away that goal is: the inconsistency in the application of the international legal toolkit plagues the dispute settlement systems in need of reform.

Table of Contents

Front Cover -- Contents -- Acknowledgements -- Figures and Tables -- Figures -- Tables -- Selected Abbreviations -- 1 Introduction -- 1 The Toolkit: Opening and Closing the Gateway to Other International Law -- 2 The Puzzle: Normative Goals and Design Choices -- 3 Research Approach: Method of the Study -- 4 Findings -- 5 Structure of the Book -- 2 Setting the Scene -- 1 Defragmentation and the System of International Law -- 2 The Role of Adjudicators: Normative Goals and Judicial Functions -- 2.1 Consensual Approach: the Limits of Jurisdictional Authority -- 2.2 Systemic Approach: the International Judicial Function -- 3 Legal Concepts and Provisions -- 3.1 Jurisdiction -- 3.1.1 WTO -- 3.1.2 ISDS -- 3.1.3 Conclusion on Jurisdiction -- 3.2 Applicable Law -- 3.2.1 WTO -- 3.2.2 ISDS -- 3.2.3 Conclusions on Applicable Law -- 3.3 Interpretation -- 3.3.1 Role of Interpretation in International Law -- 3.3.2 Distinguishing Applicable Law and Interpretation -- 3.3.3 Conclusion on Interpretation -- 3.4 Conclusions and Implications -- 3 Empirical Perspective -- 1 Empirical Perspectives on the Force of International Law -- 1.1 Responding to Fragmentation: Relevant Decisions -- 1.1.1 A Timeline of Fragmentation Responses? -- 1.1.2 Acceptance of Other International Law -- 1.2 Impact of Dispute Settlement Design -- 1.2.1 Sources of Law -- 1.2.2 Legal Basis and Method of Reasoning: Application of International Law -- 1.2.3 Legal Basis and Method of Reasoning: Rejection of International Law -- 1.2.4 Regime Interactions: Courts and Tribunals -- 1.3 Conclusions on Responses to Fragmentation in ISDS and WTO -- 2 Beyond the Numbers: Consistently Inconsistent? -- 2.1 Treaty Interactions: Overview -- 2.2 Human Rights in ISDS -- 2.3 Environment in WTO -- 2.4 Customary International Law -- 2.5 Conclusions on Inconsistency -- 4 Opening Tools -- 1 Applicable Law.

1.1 Applicable Law in ISDS Practice: the Relevance of Different Applicable Law Language -- 1.2 Applicable Law in ISDS Practice: the Relevance of the Absence of an Applicable Law Clause -- 1.3 Comparing ISDS and WTO Practice -- 1.4 Applicable Law and General Principles: the Avoidance of Non Liquet -- 2 General Principles -- 2.1 General Principles in Numbers -- 2.2 General Principles in Practice -- 2.2.1 Good Faith -- 2.2.2 Estoppel -- 2.2.3 Coordinating Jurisdictions -- 2.2.4 Conclusion on General Principles in Practice -- 2.3 Coherence and Systemization: the Broader Function of General Principles -- 3 Systemic Integration -- 3.1 Systemic Integration and Its Indeterminacy -- 3.2 Systemic Integration in Numbers -- 3.3 Systemic Integration in Practice -- 3.3.1 Environmental Agreements in the WTO -- 3.3.2 Necessity in ISDS -- 3.4 Implications: Systemic Integration as Providing the Solution or the Problem of Fragmentation? -- 5 Closing Tool -- 1 Jurisdiction and Its Indeterminacy -- 1.1 Jurisdiction in General International Law -- 1.1.1 Understandings in Treaty -- 1.1.2 Understandings in Jurisprudence -- 1.1.3 Distinguishing Jurisdiction and Admissibility -- 1.2 Jurisdiction in the WTO -- 1.3 Jurisdiction in ISDS -- 1.4 Implications of the Indeterminacy: Unclear Power and Authority -- 2 Jurisdiction as a Closing Tool in Practice -- 2.1 Jurisdictional Objections -- 2.2 Inherent and Procedural Powers -- 2.3 Implications -- 6 Unpacking Inconsistency -- 1 Source of Inconsistency: Relationship between Jurisdiction and Applicable Law -- 1.1 The Murky Waters of International Jurisprudence -- 1.1.1 Implications of This Murky Relationship -- 1.2 Treatment by WTO Panels and the Appellate Body -- 1.2.1 Peru - Agricultural Products -- 1.2.2 EC - Large Civil Aircraft -- 1.2.3 Mexico - Soft Drinks.

1.2.4 Conclusions on the WTO-Perspective of the Relationship between Jurisdiction and Applicable Law -- 1.3 Treatment of the Relationship by Investor-State Adjudicators -- 1.3.1 Tenaris v Venezuela (II) -- 1.3.2 Mamidoil Jetoil v Albania -- 1.3.3 Methanex v USA -- 1.3.4 Conclusions on the ISDS-Perspective of the Relationship between Jurisdiction and Applicable Law -- 1.4 Implications: Divergent Treaty-Perspectives but a Common Tribunal Understanding? -- 2 Resulting Inconsistency: Normativity and the Toolkit -- 2.1 Jurisdiction and Applicable Law: the Confusing Approach to Countermeasures -- 2.2 Jurisdiction and Interpretation: the Complexity of Systemic Integration -- 2.2.1 Relationship between Jurisdiction and Article 31(3)(c): ISDS -- 2.2.2 Relationship between Jurisdiction and Article 31(3)(c): WTO Disputes -- 2.2.3 Implications -- 2.3 Applicable Law and Interpretation -- 2.4 Conclusions and Implications -- 7 Legitimacy, Reform and the Adjudicator's Toolkit -- 1 Legitimacy -- 1.1 Legitimacy Framework -- 1.2 Normative Legitimacy -- 1.2.1 Performance Standards -- 1.2.2 Justice Standards -- 1.3 Sociological Legitimacy: States' Perceptions -- 1.3.1 WTO -- 1.3.2 ISDS -- 1.4 Implications -- 2 Reform Options -- 2.1 Strengthening Interpretation and Communication Mechanisms of States -- 2.2 Strengthening Precedent -- 2.3 Strengthening Adjudicatory Institutions and Appeal Mechanisms -- 2.4 Implications -- 8 Conclusion -- Appendix -- List of Relevant WTO Decisions -- List of Relevant ISDS Decisions -- References -- Table of Cases -- International Investment Tribunals -- World Trade Organization -- International Court of Justice -- Others -- Table of Treaties and Other Instruments -- Table of Reports and Documents -- Bibliography -- Index -- Back Cover.