Introduction

On 29 July 2009, the Department of State and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) co-hosted a public meeting soliciting input to incorporate into their current review of the US model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). The comments presented at the public meeting generally fell into two camps. The first camp consisted of those who would like to strengthen the BIT's protections for US investors abroad. The second camp consisted of those who would like the BIT's provisions to increase the State's ability to legislate in the public interest. In addition, two ...