Thank you for contacting me about investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms and the Covid-19 outbreak.
The inclusion of investment protection provisions and associated ISDS mechanisms in trade agreements helps protect UK investors, both large and small, from discriminatory or unfair treatment by a state.
These kind of provisions are already in place within over 90 bilateral investment treaties between the UK and other countries, helping safeguard the interests of UK businesses trading across the globe. You will be pleased to know that there has never been a successful ISDS claim made against the UK and nor has the threat of potential disputes affected the Government’s legislative programme nor its response to Covid-19.
I have been reassured that the UK's future approach to investment policy will continue to protect our right to regulate in the public interest, including in relation to healthcare, climate change and environmental objectives.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
October 2020