Australia - Uruguay BIT (2019)
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13. In any proceeding involving a dispute relating to an investment, the respondent shall not assert, as a defence, counter-claim, right of set-off or otherwise, that the claimant has received or will receive, pursuant to an insurance or guarantee contract, indemnification or other compensation for all or part of any alleged loss.

14. Unless the disputing parties agree otherwise, the tribunal shall comprise three arbitrators, one arbitrator appointed by each of the disputing parties and the third, who shall be the presiding arbitrator, appointed by agreement of the disputing parties.

15. The Secretary-General shall serve as appointing authority for an arbitration under this Agreement. If a tribunal has not been constituted within a period of 75 days after the date that a claim is submitted to arbitration, the Secretary-General, on the request of a disputing party, shall appoint, in his or her discretion, after consulting with the disputing parties, the arbitrator or arbitrators not yet appointed. The Secretary-General shall not appoint a national of either Party as the presiding arbitrator unless the disputing parties agree otherwise.

16. All arbitrators appointed pursuant to this Article shall have expertise or experience in public international law, international trade or international investment rules, or the resolution of disputes arising under international trade or international investment agreements. They shall be independent, serve in their individual capacities and not take instructions from any organisation or government with regard to matters related to the dispute, or be affiliated with the government of either Party or any disputing party, and shall comply with Annex C (Code of Conduct).

17. In case any arbitrator appointed as provided in this Article shall resign or become unable to act, a successor arbitrator shall be appointed in the same manner as prescribed for the appointment of the original arbitrator and the successor shall have all the powers and duties of the original arbitrator.

18. In the event that the respondent requests within 45 days after the tribunal is constituted, the tribunal shall decide on an expedited basis an objection that the dispute is not within the tribunal's competence, including an objection that the dispute is not within the tribunal's jurisdiction. The tribunal shall suspend any proceedings on the merits and issue a decision or award on the objection, stating the grounds therefor, no later than 150 days after the date of the request. However, if a disputing party requests a hearing, the tribunal may take an additional 30 days to issue the decision or award. Regardless of whether a hearing is requested, a tribunal may, on a showing of extraordinary cause, delay issuing its decision or award by an additional brief period, which may not exceed 30 days.

19. Any dispute referred to arbitration under this Article shall be conducted in accordance with the UNCITRAL Rules on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration of 1 April 2014.

20. Subject to paragraph 22, when a claim is submitted under this Article, the tribunal shall decide the issues in dispute in accordance with this Agreement and applicable rules of international law.

21. An award shall be final and binding and shall be enforced in the territory of each Party in accordance with its law.

22. A decision of the Parties on the interpretation of a provision of this Agreement shall be binding on a tribunal established under this Article, and any decision or award issued by a tribunal must be consistent with that decision.

23. When a tribunal makes a final award, the tribunal may award, separately or in combination, only:

(a) Monetary damages and any applicable interest; and

(b) Restitution of property, in which case the award shall provide that the respondent may pay monetary damages and any applicable interest in lieu of restitution.

For greater certainty, a tribunal shall not award punitive damages.

Article 15. General and Security Exceptions

1. Subject to the requirement that such measures are not applied by a Party in a manner which would constitute arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between investments or between investors, or a disguised restriction on international investment, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed so as to prevent a Party from adopting or enforcing measures:

(a) Necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health;

(b) Necessary to protect public morals or to maintain public order;

(c) Necessary to secure compliance with laws or regulations which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement;

(d) Imposed for the protection of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value; or

(e) Relating to the conservation of living or non-living exhaustible natural resources.

2. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to:

(a) Require a Party to furnish or allow access to any information the disclosure of which it determines to be contrary to its essential security interests; or

(b) Preclude a Party from applying measures that it considers necessary for the fulfilment of its obligations with respect to the maintenance or restoration of international peace or security, or the protection of its own essential security interests.

Article 16. Taxation Exception

1. Except as provided in this Article, nothing in this Agreement shall apply to taxation measures.

2. Article 7 (Expropriation) shall apply to taxation measures. However, no investor may invoke Article 7 as the basis for a claim if it has been determined pursuant to this paragraph that the measure is not an expropriation. An investor that seeks to invoke Article 7 with respect to a taxation measure must first refer to the competent authorities of the Party of the investor and the respondent Party, at the time that it gives its notice of arbitration under Article 14.9, the issue of whether that taxation measure is not an expropriation. If the competent authorities do not agree to consider the issue or, having agreed to consider it, fail to agree that the measure is not an expropriation within a period of six months of the referral, the investor may submit its claim to arbitration under Article 14.

Article 17. Entry Into Force, Duration and Termination

1. This Agreement shall enter into force thirty days after the date of the latter notification through diplomatic channels by which either Party notifies the other Party that its domestic requirements for the entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled. It shall remain in force for a period of fifteen years and thereafter shall remain in force indefinitely, unless terminated in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article.

2. This Agreement may be amended by written agreement between the Parties. Any amendments shall enter into force thirty days after the date of the latter notification through diplomatic channels that each Party has fulfilled its domestic requirements for the entry into force, or such other date as the Parties may agree.

3. Either Party may terminate this Agreement at any time after it has been in force for fifteen years by giving one year's written notice to the other Party.

4. Notwithstanding termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article, the Agreement shall continue to be effective for a further period of fifteen years from the date of its termination in respect of investments made before the date of termination of this Agreement.

5. The Parties agree that the "Agreement between Australia and Uruguay on the Promotion and Protection of Investments", signed at Punta del Este on 3 September 2001 (hereafter the "IPPA"), will terminate on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

6. For greater certainty, the agreement of the Parties to terminate the IPPA in paragraph 5 shall, on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, supersede the provisions for termination contained in Article 15 (Entry into force, duration and termination) of the IPPA.

Conclusion

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised, have signed this Agreement.

DONE in duplicate at Canberra on this 5th day of April two thousand and nineteen, in the English and Spanish languages, both texts being equally authentic.

FOR AUSTRALIA

FOR THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY

Attachments

1. The Arbitral Tribunal referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 13 shall consist of three persons appointed as follows:

(a) Each Party shall appoint one arbitrator;

(b) The arbitrators appointed by the Parties shall, within thirty days of the appointment of the second of them, by agreement, select a third arbitrator who shall be a citizen or permanent resident of a non-Party which has diplomatic relations with both Parties;

(c) The Parties shall, within thirty days of the selection of the third arbitrator, approve the selection of that arbitrator who shall act as Chair of the Tribunal.

2. Arbitration proceedings shall be instituted upon notice of arbitration being given through diplomatic channels by the Party instituting such proceedings to the other Party. Such notice of arbitration shall:

(a) Specify for each claim, the provision of this Agreement alleged to have been breached and any other relevant provisions;

(b) Specify the legal and factual basis for each claim;

(c) Specify the relief sought; and

(d) Contain the name of the arbitrator appointed by the Party instituting such proceedings.

Within sixty days after the giving of such notice of arbitration the respondent Party shall notify the Party instituting proceedings of the name of the arbitrator appointed by the respondent Party.

3. If, within the time limits provided for in paragraph 1(b), paragraph 1(c) and paragraph 2 of this Annex, the required appointment has not been made or the required approval has not been given, either Party may request the President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointment. If the President is a citizen or permanent resident of either Party or is otherwise unable to act, the Vice-President shall be invited to make the appointment. If the Vice-President is a citizen or permanent resident of either Party or is unable to act, the Member of the International Court of Justice next in seniority who is not a citizen or permanent resident of either Party shall be invited to make the appointment.

4. In case any arbitrator appointed as provided for in this Annex shall resign or become unable to act, a successor arbitrator shall be appointed in the same manner as prescribed for the appointment of the original arbitrator and the successor shall have all the powers and duties of the original arbitrator.

5. The Arbitral Tribunal shall convene at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Chair of the Tribunal. Thereafter, the Arbitral Tribunal shall determine where and when it shall sit. The Arbitration shall be held in a party to the New York Convention.

6. The Arbitral Tribunal shall decide all questions relating to its competence and shall, subject to any agreement between the Parties, determine its own procedure.

7. Before the Arbitral Tribunal makes a decision, it may at any stage of the proceedings propose to the Parties that the dispute be settled amicably. The Arbitral Tribunal shall reach its award by majority vote taking into account the provisions of this Agreement, the international agreements both Parties have concluded and the generally recognised principles of international law.

8. Each Party shall bear the costs of its appointed arbitrator. The costs of the Chair of the Tribunal and other expenses associated with the conduct of the arbitration shall be borne in equal parts by both Parties. The Arbitral Tribunal may decide, however, that a higher proportion of costs shall be borne by one of the Parties.

9. The Arbitral Tribunal shall afford to the Parties a fair hearing. It may render an award on the default of a Party. Any award shall be rendered in writing and shall state its legal basis. A signed counterpart of the award shall be transmitted to each Party.

10. An award shall be final and binding on the Parties.

The Parties confirm their shared understanding that:

1. An action or a series of actions by a Party cannot constitute an expropriation unless it interferes with a tangible or intangible property right or property interest in an investment.

2. Article 7 addresses two situations. The first is direct expropriation, in which an investment is nationalised or otherwise directly expropriated through formal transfer of title or outright seizure.

3. The second situation addressed by Article 7 is indirect expropriation, in which an action or series of actions by a Party has an effect equivalent to direct expropriation without formal transfer of title or outright seizure.

(a) The determination of whether an action or series of actions by a Party, in a specific fact situation, constitutes an indirect expropriation, requires a case-by-case, fact-based inquiry that considers, among other factors:

(i) The economic impact of the government action, although the fact that an action or series of actions by a Party has an adverse effect on the economic value of an investment, standing alone, does not establish that an indirect expropriation has occurred;

(ii) The extent to which the government action interferes with distinct, reasonable investment-backed expectations; and

(iii) The character of the government action.

(b) Non-discriminatory regulatory actions by a Party that are designed and applied to protect legitimate public welfare objectives, such as public health, (4) safety and the environment, do not constitute indirect expropriations.

(4) For greater certainty and without limiting the scope of this subparagraph, regulatory actions to protect public health include, among others, such measures with respect to the regulation, pricing and supply of, and reimbursement for, pharmaceuticals (including biological products), diagnostics, vaccines, medical devices, gene therapies and technologies, health-related aids and appliances and blood and blood-related products.

Responsibilities to the Process

1. Every arbitrator shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety, shall be independent and impartial, shall avoid direct and indirect conflicts of interests and shall observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and impartiality of the dispute settlement process are preserved. Former arbitrators shall comply with the obligations established in paragraphs 17, 18, 19 and 20.

Disclosure Obligations

2. Prior to confirmation of his or her selection as an arbitrator under this Agreement, a candidate shall disclose any interest, relationship or matter that is likely to affect his or her independence or impartiality or that might reasonably create an appearance of impropriety or bias in the proceeding. To this end, a candidate shall make all reasonable efforts to become aware of any such interests, relationships and matters.

3. Once selected, an arbitrator shall continue to make all reasonable efforts to become aware of any interests, relationships and matters referred to in paragraph 2 and shall disclose them by communicating them in writing to the disputing parties for their consideration. The obligation to disclose is a continuing duty, which requires an arbitrator to disclose any such interests, relationships and matters that may arise during any stage of the proceeding.

Performance of Duties by Arbitrators

4. An arbitrator shall comply with the provisions of this Agreement and the applicable rules of procedure.

5. On selection, an arbitrator shall perform his or her duties thoroughly and expeditiously throughout the course of the proceeding with fairness and diligence.

6. An arbitrator shall not deny other arbitrators the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the proceeding.

7. An arbitrator shall consider only those issues raised in the proceeding and necessary to render a decision and shall not delegate the duty to decide to any other person.

8. An arbitrator shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that the arbitrator's assistant and staff are aware of, and comply with, paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 18, 19 and 20.

9. An arbitrator shall not engage in ex parte contacts concerning the proceeding.

10. An arbitrator shall not communicate matters concerning actual or potential violations of this Annex unless the communication is to both disputing parties or is necessary to ascertain whether an arbitrator has violated or may violate this Annex.

Independence and Impartiality of Arbitrators

11. An arbitrator shall be independent and impartial. An arbitrator shall act in a fair manner and shall avoid creating an appearance of impropriety or bias.

12. An arbitrator shall not be influenced by self-interest, outside pressure, political considerations, public clamour, loyalty to a Party or a disputing party or fear of criticism.

13. An arbitrator shall not, directly or indirectly, incur any obligation or accept any benefit that would in any way interfere, or appear to interfere, with the proper performance of the arbitrator's duties.

14. An arbitrator shall not use his or her position on the arbitral tribunal to advance any personal or private interests. An arbitrator shall avoid actions that may create the impression that others are in a special position to influence the arbitrator. An arbitrator shall make every effort to prevent or discourage others from representing themselves as being in such a position.

15. An arbitrator shall not allow past or existing financial, business, professional, family or social relationships or responsibilities to influence the arbitrator's conduct or judgment.

16. An arbitrator shall avoid entering into any relationship, or acquiring any financial interest, that is likely to affect the arbitrator's impartiality or that might reasonably create an appearance of impropriety or bias.

Duties in Certain Situations

17. An arbitrator or former arbitrator shall avoid actions that may create the appearance that the arbitrator was biased in carrying out the arbitrator's duties or would benefit from the decision or award of the arbitral tribunal.

Maintenance of Confidentiality

18. An arbitrator or former arbitrator shall not at any time disclose or use any non-public information concerning the proceeding or acquired during the proceeding except for the purposes of the proceeding and shall not, in any case, disclose or use any such information to gain personal advantage or advantage for others or to affect adversely the interest of others.

19. An arbitrator shall not disclose an arbitral tribunal award or parts thereof prior to its publication.

20. An arbitrator or former arbitrator shall not at any time disclose the deliberations of an arbitral tribunal, or any arbitrator's view, except as required by law.

Definitions

21. For the purposes of this Annex:

"assistant" means a person who, under the terms of appointment of an arbitrator, conducts research or provides support for the arbitrator;

"arbitrator" means a member of an arbitral tribunal established under Article 14 of this Agreement;

"proceeding", unless otherwise specified, means the proceeding of an arbitral tribunal under Article 14 of this Agreement; and

"staff", in respect of an arbitrator, means persons under the direction and control of the arbitrator, other than assistants.

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