Erstellt am: 25. 2. 2016 - 11:55 Uhr
Today's Webtip: WTF WTO?
One of the things that has people concerned about things like TPP and TTIP are the idea of privileged courts in the form of the proposed ISDS. This dispute settlement program would basically make it possible for corporate or foreign interests to dispute regional legislation that might have a negative impact on their business.
Critics warn that it could be used to subvert the democratic process. Something which has been used as a criticism of the entire TTIP negotiation process as well. Of course, until we have more information about the actual plans, or find out how it will actually be used, it is a bit difficult to say for sure just what kind of effect it could have.
But we might be able to get a glimpse of the possibilities.
Five years ago India launched its National Solar Mission, a plan to jumpstart its solar capacity and help fulfull it's agreements as part of the Paris agreement to tackle climate change.
The idea wasn't just to increase the number of local solar installations, but to help build an Indian solar power industry. A plan that was just a little too successful.
In 2014 the United States brought a case in fron of the WTO that claimed the buy local provision of the program was discriminating against U.S. solar exports. Oddly enough, that very provision was very similar to rules in many U.S. solar development programs.
Yesterday the WTO announced their ruling on the conflict. That ruling came down against India's program.
You can read about it at content.sierraclub.org or www.huffingtonpost.com