双边投资协定的仲裁管辖权、最惠国待遇及保护伞条款问题

Jurisdiction,MFN and Umbrella Clause in BITs

BITs中的ICSID仲裁条款是ICSID管辖权的依据。当BITs与有关投资协议在争端解决方面做出不同规定时,ICSID倾向于根据BITs确认其具有管辖权。投资者能否根据BITs或相关国际条约中的最惠国待遇条款诉诸ICSID尚无定论,这使得ICSID享有广泛的自由裁量权。保护伞条款可能导致合同义务转变为条约义务,为投资者增加救济途径的同时加重了东道国的负担。中国的BITs实践应该审慎考虑上述风险。

ICSID clause is the precondition that ICSID has arbitration jurisdiction.If the stipulation of dispute settlement in BITs is different from that in the relevant investment agreement,the latter prevails in determination of arbitration jurisdiction in ICSID practice.Whether investors resort to ICSID in accordance with the MFN clause in BITs or other relevant treaties is pending,which makes ICSID have great discretion.Umbrella clause may transfer obligations of contract to obligations of treaty,which provides investors with more remedies,but make host country burdened.China should seriously consider such risks in BITs practice.