This book comprehensively investigates the rationale and effects of the first multilateral agreement on investment facilitation for development, including the interests of key WTO members. It adopts a multidisciplinary, transregional and data-driven approach to explore the political, economic and legal aspects pertaining to the most recent WTO agreement. The book highlights how this agreement broadens the scope of the WTO to the contentious area of foreign investment and adopts the innovative facilitation approach. The book presents cutting-edge research on the (non-)adoption of investment facilitation worldwide, the economic impact of the agreement, its legal implications and the political economy explaining why the investment facilitation for development agreement came about. The book brings together leading experts from various disciplines and practices and aims at inspiring more substantive research in this new field of international economic rule-making. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

‘This book presents the first comprehensive analysis of the main existing efforts on investment facilitation. It is a great contribution for scholars and for trade negotiators and policymakers, as investment facilitation has been proved to be key to attract not only more but better investment, which is necessary for the transition to a more sustainable economy.’

Sofía Boza - Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Chile to the World Trade Organization

‘This is the most comprehensive guide to international investment frameworks today. It is a must for policymakers, scholars, and businesses interested in understanding the details of this important topic.’

Anabel González - Vice President for Countries, Inter-American Development Bank

‘This book convincingly explains how WTO members, especially developing members, have worked together to strengthen the multilateral trading system and foster sustainable development through making the landmark WTO Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development. It serves as a valuable reference for trade policymakers, scholars, and law practitioners.’

LI Chenggang - Ambassador, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the World Trade Organization

‘The international debate on investment facilitation sits at the fascinating intersection of law, politics, and economics. This book provides a valuable contribution to an issue area that is increasingly important. Timely and multidisciplinary, it’s poised to become a reference in investment facilitation.’

Tatiana Prazeres - Foreign Trade Secretary of Brazil

‘Investment facilitation frameworks are becoming ever-more important in the international investment regime. This is the best guide to date.’

Lauge N. Skovgaard Poulsen - Professor, University College London

‘This impressive volume contains a comprehensive discussion of a range of issues related to the WTO’s Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, contributed by an international group of multidisciplinary scholars who have an excellent understanding of the subject matter.’

Karl P. Sauvant - Resident Senior Fellow, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment