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A Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) is an agreement establishing the terms and conditions for private investment by nationals and companies of one state in the state of the other. This type of investment is called Foreign direct investment (FDI). BITs are established through trade pacts.
Most BITs grant investments made by an investor of one Contracting State in the territory of the other a number of guarantees, which typically include fair and equitable treatment, protection from expropriation, free transfer of means and full protection and security. The distinctive feature of many BITs is that they allow for an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whereby an investor whose rights under the BIT have been violated could have recourse to international arbitration, often under the auspices of the International Center for the Resolution of Investment Disputes (ICSID), rather than suing the host State in its own courts.
BITs involving the U.S.
Up to date as of April 25 2005
In force
- signed January 11 1995, entered into force January 4 1998
- signed November 14 1991, entered into force October 20, 1994
- signed September 23 1992, entered into force March 29 1996
- signed August 1 1997, entered into force August 2 2001
- signed September 29 1999, entered into force May 30 2001
- signed March 12 1986, entered into force July 25 1989
- signed April 17 1998, entered into force June 6 2001
- signed September 23 1992, entered into force June 2 1994
- signed February 26 1986, entered into force April 6 1989
- signed July 13 1996, entered into force June 20 2001
- signed October 22 1991, entered into force December 19 1992
- signed August 27 1993, entered into force May 11 1997
- signed March 11 1986, entered into force June 27 1992
- signed April 19 1994, entered into force February 16 1997
- signed March 7 1994, entered into force August 17 1997
- signed May 2 1986, entered into force March 3 1989
- signed July 1 1995, entered into force July 11 2001
- signed February 4 1994, entered into force March 7 1997
- signed July 2 1997, entered into force June 12 2003
- signed May 19 1992, entered into force January 12 1994
- signed January 19 1993, entered into force January 12 1994
- signed January 13 1995, entered into force December 26 1996
- signed January 14 1998, entered into force November 22 2001
- signed April 21 1993, entered into force November 25 1994
- signed October 6 1994, entered into force January 1 1997
- signed July 22 1985, entered into force May 29 1991
- signed December 1 1998, entered into force March 3 2005
- signed October 27 1982, entered into force May 30 1991. Amendment: signed June 1 2000, entered into force May 14 2001
- signed March 21 1990, entered into force August 6 1994
- signed May 28 1992, entered into force January 15 1994
- signed December 6 1983, entered into force October 25 1990
- signed October 22 1991, entered into force December 19 1992
- signed September 20 1991, entered into force May 1 1993
- signed September 26 1994, entered into force December 26 1996
- signed May 15 1990, entered into force February 7 1993
- signed December 3 1985, entered into force May 18 1990
- signed March 4 1994, entered into force November 16 1996
Not yet ratified
- signed January 15 1994, not yet ratified
- signed March 10 1999, not yet ratified
- signed December 13 1983, not yet ratified by Haiti or the U.S.
- signed July 1 1995, not yet ratified by the U.S.
- signed June 17 1992, not yet ratified by Russia
- signed November 4 2005, not yet ratified by the U.S.
- signed December 16 1994, not yet ratified
- negotiations announced September 28 2004, began February 7 2005
Note: NAFTA covers U.S. investment in Canada and Mexico.
External links
- U.S. Bilateral Investment Treaty Program of the U.S. Department of State. Includes links to treaty texts.
- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) lists all BITs between all states (not just the U.S.), with links to treaty texts.
- Country referencing templates
"Bilateral Investment Treaty"