Public Law Studies Quarterly

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

Author Index

Keyword Index

Journal About

Editorial Board

Journal Aim Scope

News

Journal FAQ

Journal Links

Guide for Authors

Author Guidelines for Manuscript Submission

Reviewers List

Basics and Challenges of Social Responsibility in International Trade Agreements

Document Type : Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. in (Privte Law), Lecturer at Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Privte Law, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

10.22059/jplsq.2022.339056.3032

Abstract

The missing link in major investment and trade agreements in the international arena in recent decades has been social responsibility. What and why the nature and basis of this responsibility and the challenges facing it are the most important issues that must be answered. The results of the research show the fact that the soft language and lack of seriousness, countries' fear of the economic consequences of citing this condition, the possibility of government abuse, litigation costs and the dominance of the commercial approach in the courts are among the challenges of implementing social responsibility. It seems that providing grounds for the free presence of civil society representatives, considering the condition of social responsibility in the framework of the principle of fair treatment and referring to general legal principles such as good faith and applying effective incentive policies can be a suitable solution for the legal consolidation of this clause in the commercial agreements. Finally, based on the experience studied in commercial agreements, it seems that Iranian politicians should also promote social responsibility and legal consolidation of soft rules in international investment laws and regulations and apply these as much as possible; So that with the justifiable measures, the country pays less for non-fulfillment of obligations towards foreign investors.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. English

    1. Books
    2. Van den Bossche, P. (2010). The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization: Text, Cases and Materials. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

 

  1. Articles
  1. Alston, P. (2002). Resisting the Merger and Acquisition of Human Rights by Trade Law. A Reply to Petersmann. European Journal of International Law, 13)4(, 815-844.
  2. Backer, L. C. (2014). The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Japan, China, the U.S. and the Emerging Shape of a New World Trade Regulatory Order. Washington University Global Studies Law Review, 13)1(, 49-81.
  3. Briese, R., & Schill, S. (2009). Djibouti v France: Self-judging Clauses before the International Court of Justice. Melbourne Journal of International Law, 10(1), 1-19.
  4. Chang-fa, L. (2009). Environmental Protection through FTAs: Paradigm Shifting from Multilateral to Multi-Bilateral Approach. Asian Journal of WTO and International Health Law and Policy, Vol. 4(2), 309- 324 .
  5. Chase, K. (2006). Multilateralism Compromised: The Mysterious Origins of GATT Art24. World trade review, 15(1), 1-30.
  6. Civins, J., & Mendoza, M. (2008). Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility: A Legal Perspective. Texas Bar Journal, Vol.71,. 368-420.
  7. Condon, M. (2015). The Integration of Environmental Law into International Investment Treaties and Trade Agreements: Negotiation Process and the Legalization of Commitments. Virginia Environmental Law Journal, 33(1), 103-129.
  8. Dhananjay Joshi, R., & Gurpur, S, (2020). The Silent Spring of Human Rights in Investment Arbitration: Jurisprudence Constante through Case-Law Trajectory. Arbitration International, 36(4), 557–570.
  9. Gathii, J. T. (2001). Construing Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Policy Consistently With Facilitating Access to Affordable Aids Drugs to Low-End Consumers. Florida Law Review, Vol. 53, 727–778.
  10. Gerard Ruggie, J. (2007). Business and Human Rights: The Evolving International Agenda. The American Journal of International Law, 101(4), 819-840.
  11. Hestermeyer, H. P (2014). Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the World Trade Organization: Legal Aspects and Practice, in: E. Riedel & G. Giacca, Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: Contemporary Issues and Challenges. King's College London Law School Research Paper, 43, 260-286.
  12. Hilf, M. (2001). Power, rules and principles - which orientation for WTO/GATT law?. Journal of International Economic Law, 4(1), 111-130.
  13. Holland, A. (1997). The North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation: The Effect of the North American Free Trade Agreement on the Enforcement of the U.S. Environmental Laws. Texas Law Review, (28), 1219- 1238.
  14. Kanargelidis, G., Van Zeyl, E., & Hussain, M. (2008). Canada Enter New Trade Agreements with South America. INT’L TRADE L. REG, 14(5), 102-130.
  15. Licht, A. N (2003). The Maximands of Corporate Governance: A Theory of Values and Cognitive Style. Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, (29), 648-744.
  16. Midttun, A., Gjølberg, M., Kourula, A., Sweet, S., & Vallentin, S. (2015). Public Policies for Corporate Social Responsibility in Four Nordic Countries: Harmony of Goals and Conflict of Means. Business & Society, 54(4), 464-500
  17. Mihir, K. (2012). Human Rights and Multilateral Trade: A Pragmatic Approach to Understanding the Linkages. Journal Jurisprudence, 3(1), 389-420.
  18. Monteiro, J. A. (2016). Typology of environment-related provisions in regional trade agreements. WTO Staff Working Papers, 1(3), 1-109.
  19. Petersmann, Ernst-Ulrich (2002). Time for a United Nations ‘Global Compact’ for Integrating Human Rights into the Law of Worldwide Organizations: Lessons from European Integration. European Journal of International Law, (13), 621-650.
  20. Powell, S.J. (2004). The Place of Human Rights Law in World Trade Organization Rules. Florida Journal of International Law, (16),1-14.
  21. Sajó, A. (2002). Socioeconomic Rights and the International Economic Order. New York University Journal of international law & politic, (35).
  22. Slater, T. L. (2015). Investor-State Arbitration and Domestic Environmental Protection. Washington University Global Studies Law Review, 14(1), 131-154.
  23. Staff, M. J., & Lewis, C. W. (2003). Arbitration Under NAFTA Chapter 11: Past, Present, and Future. Houston Journal of International Law, 25(2), , 302- 333.
  24. Vidal-León, C. ( 2013). Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Rights, and the World Trade Organization. Journal of International Economic Law, 16(4), 893–920.
  25. Villarreal, M. Angeles, Fergusson, I. F. (2017). The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Congressional Research Service Report, https://sgp.fas.org/crs/row
  26. Wagner, A. (2017). The Failure of Corporate Social Responsibility Provisions within International Trade Agreements and Export Credit Agencies as A Solution. Boston University International Law Journal, (35), 195-219.
  27. Wang, W. (2017). The Non-Precluded Measure Type Clause in International Investment Agreements: Significances, Challenges, and Reactions. ICSID Review - Foreign Investment Law Journal, 32, (2), 447- 456.
  28. Wilensky, Meredith (2015). “Reconciling International Investment Law and Climate Change Policy: Potential Liability for Climate Measures Under the Trans-Pacific Partnership. L. REP. NEWS & ANALYSIS, Vol. 45(7), 10683-10697.
  29. Wilkinson, R. (1999). Labour and trade-related regulation: beyond the trade-labour standards debate?. British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 1(2),. 165–191.

 

  1. Report
  1. Appellate Body Report, European Communities — Measures Affecting Asbestos and Products Containing Asbestos, WT/DS135/AB/R, (12 March 2001)
  2. Panel Report, Canada- Measures Affecting Exports of Unprocessed Herring and Salmon, L/6268 - 35S/98, (22 March 1988).
  3. Reports, Alleged Violations of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America, Provisional Measures, Order of 3 October 2018.
  4. Reports, Certain Iranian Assets (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America), Preliminary Objections, 2019.
  5. ICJ Report, Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America, 2003.
  6. ICSID Case No. ARB/03/9, Continental Casualty Company v. argentine Republic, Award of 5 September 2008
  7. ICSID Case No. ARB/02/1, LG & E Energy Corp., LG & E capital Corp., LG & E International Inc. v. Argentine Republic, Decision on Liability of 3 October 2006
  8. Panel Report, Japan - Measures Affecting Consumer Photographic Film and Paper, WT/DS44/R, (31 March 1998).
  9. Panel Report, Thailand - Restrictions on Importation of and Internal Taxes on Cigarettes, DS10/R - 37S/200, (7 November 1990).
  10. Panel Report, United States-Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services, WT/DS285/R, (10 November 2004)

 

  1. Document
  1. United Nations commission on human rights the realization of economic, social; and cultural rights, human rights as the primary objective of trade, investment and financial policy sub commission resolution 1998/12.

 

Persian references

  1. A) Books
  2. Fatemi Nejad, S. S. (2017). World Trade Organization and International Human Rights. Tehran: Mizan (In Persian).
  3. Hester Mir, H. (2011). Human rights and the World Trade Organization, inventions and access to medicine. translation and research: Hale Hosseini Akbaranjad and Hourieh Hosseini Akbaranjad, Tehran: Shahr Danesh Legal Studies and Research Institute (In Persian).

 

  1. B) Articles
  2. Ghanbari Jahromi, M. J., & Baghban, R. (2013). Litigation against Multinational Enterprises: Corporate Social Responsibility and its Challenges. Legal Research, (67), 189-214 (In Persian).
  3. Ghanbari-Jahrami, M. J., Shafiei-Bafti, N. (2012). Regulating the environmental responsibility of multinational companies in the field of marine oil pollution, the link between soft law and hard law. Legal Research, (13), 171-210 (In Persian).
  4. Hassas Yaganeh, Y., & Barzegar, Q.O. (2012). Theoretical Foundations of Corporate Social Responsibility and Research Paradigms in Professional Accounting. Management Accounting, (22), 109-133 (In Persian).
  5. Mihemi, M. (2018). The legitimate expectations of the investor in contrast to the essential ‏security interests of the host state and its analysis as a political risk. Private Law Research, (28), 255-284 (In Persian).
  6. Nouri-Yoshanluyi, J., Johar, S. (2013). The concept of corporate social responsibility in Germany, France, Britain and Iran with Comparative Approach. Journal of Comparative Law, (2), 603-627 (In Persian).
  7. Pasban, M. R., & Asghari, Z. (2014). The Role of Fair and Equitable Treatment in the Settlement of Foreign Investment Disputes: With Particular Emphasis on Social Responsibility of Transnational Corporations. Private Law Research, 3(8), 43-70 (In Persian).
  8. Rezaei, A. (2017). Financial Remedies in WTO Dispute Settlement System. Biannual Scientific Journal of Comparative Law, 1(9), 47-70 (In Persian).
  9. Sadeghi-Ziazi, H., Ramezani-Qawamabadi, M.H., & Alizadeh, M. (2018). Labor Services in the World Trade Organization. Legal Research, (85), 121-146. (in Persian)
  10. Shiravi, A. H., Vakili-Moghadam, M. H. (2014). Extra-legal performance guarantee and its place in soft law. Encyclopedia of Economic Law, 21 (5), 1-27 (In Persian).
  11. Timuri, M. S., Junidi, L., Saqri, M., & Abbasian, R. (2017). Indirect expropriation of foreign investors; an investigation to Iran and international law. Private Law Research, (24), 9-36 (In Persian).
  12. Yazdani, H. (translator) (1385). The role of international judicial systems in the settlement of environmental disputes and ways to consolidate international proceedings in these disputes. Theology and Law Journal of Razavi University of Islamic Sciences, 6(19), 215-236 (In Persian).
  13. Zamani, S. Q. (1377). The Status of Peremptory norm among the sources of international law. Law Journal, (22), 317-344 (In Persian).
  14. Zamani, S. Q., Rahman-Nasab-Amiri, N. (2015). Obstacles and capacities in the European Union regarding the establishment of direct human rights obligations for transnational corporations. Public Law Studies, 46(1), 1-18 (In Persian).

 

  1. C) theses
  2. Baghban, R. (2013). Obligations and Responsibilities of Multinational Companies and the Government of Origin. Master's Degree Thesis of University of Science and Research (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 September 2024
Files
History
  • Receive Date: 01 March 2022
  • Revise Date: 17 September 2022
  • Accept Date: 24 October 2022
Share
How to cite
Statistics