Treaty between the Government of the
Republic of Panama and the Government of Canada
for the Promotion and Protection of Investments
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ,
hereinafter referred to as the "Contracting Parties",
RECOGNIZING that the promotion and the protection of investments of
investors of one Contracting Party in the territory of the other Contracting Party will be
conducive to the stimulation of business initiative and to the development of economic
cooperation between them,
DESIRING to increase the favourable conditions for the reciprocal
investment of capital by nationals of both Contracting Parties;
TAKING into consideration the importance of establishing a predictable
environment for the development of investments;
CONVINCED of the need to facilitate transfers of capital and
technology between the Contracting Parties, with the goal of favouring economic and social
developments;
The Contracting Parties HAVE AGREED to sign the present Treaty, to be
governed by the provisions set out below:
Article I: Definitions
For the purpose of this Agreement:
a. "enterprise" means
i. any entity constituted or organized under applicable law, whether
or not for profit, whether privately-owned or governmentally-owned, including any
corporation, bust, partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture or other association;
and
ii. a branch or subsidiary of any such entity;
b. "measure" includes any law, regulation, procedure,
requirement, or established governmental or administrative practice. 'Non-conforming
measure", for the purposes of Article IV, shall mean any measure which does not
conform to the obligations of paragraph 3(a) of Article 11, paragraph I of Article IV, and
paragraphs I and 2 of Article V;
c. "existing measure" means a measure existing at the time
this Agreement enters into force;
d. "financial service" means a service of a financial
nature, including insurance, and a service incidental or auxiliary to a service of a
financial nature;
e. "financial institution" means any financial intermediary
or other enterprise that is authorized to do business and regulated or supervised as a
financial institution under the law of the Contracting Party in whose territory it is
located;
f. "intellectual property rights" means copyright and
related rights, trademark rights, patent rights, rights in layout designs of semiconductor
integrated circuits, trade secret rights, plant breeders' rights, rights in geographical
indications and industrial design rights;
g. "investment" means any kind of asset owned or controlled
either directly, or indirectly through an investor of a third State, by an investor of one
Contracting Party in the territory of the other Contracting Party in accordance with the
latter's laws and, in particular, though not exclusively, includes:
i. movable and immovable property and any related property rights,
such as mortgages, liens or pledges;
ii. shares, stock, bonds and debentures or any other form of
participation in a company, business enterprise or joint venture;
iii. money, claims to money, and claims to performance under contract
having a financial value;
iv. goodwill;
v. intellectual property rights;
vi. rights, conferred by law or under contract, to undertake any
economic and commercial activity, including any rights to search for, cultivate, extract
or exploit natural resources
but does not mean real estate or other property, tangible or
intangible, not acquired in the expectation or used for the purpose of economic benefit or
other business purposes.
Any change in the form of an investment does not affect its character as an investment.
h. "investor" means
In the case of Canada:
i. any natural person possessing the citizenship of or permanently
residing in Canada in accordance with its laws; or
ii. any enterprise incorporated or duly constituted in accordance with
applicable laws of Canada,
who makes the investment in the territory of the Republic of
Panama; and
In the case of the Republic of Panama:
i.any natural person possessing the citizenship or permanently
residing in the Republic of Panama in accordance with its internal legislation; or
ii. any enterprise incorporated or duly constituted in conformity with
the laws of the Republic of Panama
who makes the investment in the territory of Canada and
who does not possess the citizenship of Canada;
i. "returns" means all amounts yielded by an investment and
in particular, though not exclusively, includes profits, interest, capital gains,
dividends, royalties, fees or other current income;
j. 'state enterprise' means an enterprise that is governmentally-owned
or controlled through ownership interests by a government;
k. "territory" means:
i. in respect of Canada, the territory of Canada, as well as those
maritime areas, including the seabed and subsoil adjacent to the outer limit of the
territorial sea, over which Canada exercises, in accordance with international law,
sovereign rights for the purpose of exploration and exploitation of the natural resources
of such areas;
ii. in respect of the Republic of Panama, the territory of the
Republic of Panama comprises the land area, the territorial waters, the continental shelf,
the subsoil and the airspace between Colombia and Costa Rica in accordance with the Border
Treaties signed between Panama and these States.
Article II: Establishment, Acquisition and Protection of Investments
1. Each Contracting Party shall encourage the creation of favourable
conditions for investors of the other Contracting Party to make investments in its
territory.
2. Each Contracting Party shall accord investments or returns of
investors of the other Contracting Party
a. fair and equitable treatment, and
b. full protection and security
in accordance with the principles of
international law.
3. Each Contracting Party shall permit establishment of a new business
enterprise or acquisition of an existing business enterprise or a share of such enterprise
by investors or prospective investors of the other Contracting Party basis no less
favourable than that which, in like circumstances, it permits such acquisition or
establishment by:
a. its own investors or prospective investors; or
b. investors or prospective investors of any third state.
4.
a. Decisions by either Contracting Party, pursuant to measures not
inconsistent with this Agreement, as to whether or not to permit an acquisition shall not
be subject to the provisions of Articles XIII or XV of this Agreement.
b. Decisions by either Contracting Party not to permit establishment
of a new business enterprise or acquisition of an existing business enterprise or a share
of such enterprise by investors or prospective investors shall not be subject to the
provisions of Article XIII of this Agreement.
Article III: Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) Treatment after Establishment and
Exceptions to MFN
1. Each Contracting Party shall grant to investments, or returns of
investors of the other Contracting Party, treatment no less favourable than that which, in
like circumstances, it grants to investments or returns of investors of any third State.
2. Each Contracting Party shall grant investors of the other
Contracting Party, as regards their management, use, enjoyment or disposal of their
investments or returns, treatment no less favourable than that which, in like
circumstances, it grants to investors of any third State.
3. Subparagraph (3)(b) of Article II and paragraphs (1) and (2) of
this Article do not apply to treatment by a Contracting Party pursuant to any existing or
future bilateral or multilateral agreement:
a. establishing, strengthening or expanding a free trade area or
customs union;
b. negotiated within the framework of the GATT, the WTO or any
successor organization to the WTO and liberalizing trade in services; or
c. relating to:
i. aviation;
ii. telecommunications transport networks and telecommunications
transport services;
iii. fisheries;
iv. maritime matters, including salvage; or
v. financial services.
Article IV: National Treatment after Establishment and Exceptions to National
Agreement
1. Each Contracting Party shall grant to investments or returns of
investors of the other Contracting Party treatment no less favourable than that which, in
like circumstances, it grants to investments or returns of its own investors with respect
to the expansion, management, conduct, operation and sale or disposition of investments.
2. Subparagraph (3)(a) of Article II, paragraph (1) of this Article,
and paragraphs a (1) and (2) of Article V do not apply to:
a.
i. any existing non-conforming measures maintained within the
territory of a Contracting Party; and
ii. any measure maintained or adopted after the date of entry into
force of this Agreement that, at the time of sale or other disposition of a government's
equity interests in, or the assets of, an existing state enterprise or an existing
governmental entity, prohibits or imposes limitations on the ownership of equity interests
or assets or imposes nationality requirements relating to senior management or members of
the board of directors;
b. the continuation or prompt renewal of any non-conforming measure
referred to in subparagraph (a);
c. an amendment to any non-conforming measure referred to in
subparagraph (a), to the extent that the amendment does not decrease the conformity of the
measure, as it existed immediately before the amendment, with those obligations;
d. the right of each Contracting Party to make or maintain exceptions
within the sectors or matters listed in the Annex to this Agreement.
Article V: Other Measures
1.
a. A Contracting Party may not require that an enterprise of that
Contracting Party, that is an investment under this Agreement, appoint to senior
management positions individuals of any particular nationality.
b. A Contracting Party may require that a majority of the board of
directors, or any committee thereof, of an enterprise that is an investment under this
Agreement be of a particular nationality, or resident in the territory of the Contracting
Party, provided that the requirement does not materially impair the ability of the
investor to exercise control over its investment.
2. Neither Contracting Party may impose any of the following
requirements in connection with permitting the establishment or acquisition of an
investment or enforce any of the following requirements in connection with the subsequent
regulation of that investment:
a. to export a given level or percentage of goods;
b. to achieve a given level or percentage of domestic content;
c. to purchase, use or accord a preference to goods produced or
services provided in its territory, or to purchase goods or services from persons in its
territory;
d. to relate in any way the volume or value of imports to the volume
or value of exports or to the amount of foreign exchange inflows associated with such
investment; or
e. to transfer technology, a production process or other proprietary
knowledge to a person in its territory unaffiliated with the transferor, except when the
requirement is imposed or the commitment or undertaking is enforced by a court,
administrative tribunal or competition authority, either to remedy an alleged violation of
competition laws or acting in a manner not inconsistent with other provisions of this
Agreement.
3. Subject to its laws, regulations and policies relating to the entry
of aliens, each Contracting Party shall grant temporary entry to citizens of the other
Contracting Party employed by an enterprise who seeks to render services to that
enterprise or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof, in a capacity that is managerial or
executive.
Article VI : Miscellaneous Exceptions
1.
a. In respect of intellectual property rights, a Contracting Party may
derogate from Articles III and IV in a manner that is consistent with the Final Act
Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at
Marrakesh on 15th April, 1994.
b. The provisions of Article VIII do not apply to the issuance of
compulsory licenses granted in relation to intellectual property rights, or to the
revocation, limitation or creation of intellectual property rights, to the extent that
such issuance, revocation, limitation or creation is consistent with the Final Act
Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at
Marrakesh on 15th April, 1994.
2. The provisions of Articles II, III, IV and V of this Agreement do
not apply to:
a. procurement by a government or state enterprise;
b. subsidies or grants provided by a government or a state enterprise,
including government-supported loans, guarantees and insurance;
c. any measure denying investors of one Contracting Party and their
investments any rights or preferences provided to the aboriginal peoples of the other
Contracting Party; or
d. any current or future foreign aid program to promote economic
development, whether under a bilateral agreement, or pursuant to a multilateral
arrangement or agreement, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) Agreement on Export Credits.
3. Investments in cultural industries are exempt from the provisions
of this Agreement. "Cultural industries" means natural persons or enterprises
engaged in any of the following activities:
a. the publication, distribution, or sale of books, magazines,
periodicals or newspapers in print or machine readable form but not including the sole
activity of printing or typesetting any of the foregoing;
b. the production, distribution, sale or exhibition of film or video
recordings;
c. the production, distribution, sale or exhibition of audio or video
music recordings;
d. the publication, distribution, sale or exhibition of music in print
or machine readable form; or
e. radiocommunications in which the transmissions are intended for
direct reception by the general public, and all radio, television or cable broadcasting
undertakings and all satellite programming and broadcast network services.
Article VII: Compensation for Losses
Investors of one Contracting Party who suffer losses because their investments or
returns on the territory of the other Contracting Party are affected by an armed conflict,
a national emergency or a natural disaster on that territory, shall be accorded by such
latter Contracting Party, in respect of restitution, indemnification, compensation or
other settlement, treatment no less favourable than that which it accords to its own
investors or to investors of any third State.
Article VIII: Expropriation
1. Investments or returns of investors of either Contracting Party
shall not be nationalized, expropriated or subjected to-measures having an effect
equivalent to nationalization or expropriation (hereinafter referred to as
‘expropriation’) in the territory of the other Contracting Party,
except for a public purpose, under due process of law, in a non-discriminatory manner and
against prompt, adequate and effective compensation. Such compensation shall be based on
the genuine value of the investment or returns expropriated immediately before the
expropriation or at the time the proposed expropriation became public knowledge, whichever
is the earlier, shall be payable from the date of expropriation at a normal commercial
rate of interest, shall be paid without delay and shall be effectively realizable and
freely transferable.
2. The investor affected shall have a right, under the law of the
Contracting Party making the expropriation, to prompt review, by a judicial authority of
that Party, of its case and of the valuation of its investment or returns in accordance
with the principles set out in this Article.
3. In the case of Canada, a "judicial authority" for the
purposes of this Article shall include any other competent administrative or
quasi-judicial authority.
Article IX : Transfer of Funds
1. Each Contracting Party shall guarantee to an investor of the other
Contracting Party the unrestricted transfer of investments and returns. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, each Contracting Party shall also guarantee to the
investor the unrestricted transfer of:
a. funds in repayment of loans related to an investment;
b. the proceeds of the total or partial liquidation of any investment;
c. wages and other remuneration accruing to a citizen of the other
Contracting Party who was permitted to work in connection with an investment in the
territory of the other Contracting Party;
d. any compensation owed to an investor by virtue of Articles VII or
VIII of the Agreement.
2. Transfers shall be effected without delay in the convertible
currency in which the capital was originally invested or in any other convertible currency
agreed by the investor and the Contracting Party concerned. Unless otherwise agreed by the
investor, transfers shall be made at the rate of exchange applicable on the date of
transfer.
3. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2, a Contracting Party may prevent
a transfer through the equitable, non-discriminatory and good faith application of its
laws relating to:
a. bankruptcy, insolvency or the protection of the rights of
creditors;
b. issuing, trading or dealing in securities;
c. criminal or penal offenses;
d. reports of transfers of currency or other monetary instruments; or
e. ensuring the satisfaction of judgments in adjudicatory proceedings.
4. Neither Contracting Party may require its investors to transfer, or
penalize its investors that fail to transfer, the returns attributable to investments in
the territory of the other Contracting Party.
5. Paragraph 4 shall not be construed to prevent a Contracting Party
from imposing any measure through the equitable, non-discriminatory and good faith
application of its laws relating to the matters set out in subparagraphs (a) through (e)
of paragraph 3.
Article X: Subrogation
1. If a Contracting Party or any agency thereof makes a payment to any
of its investors under a guarantee or a contract of insurance it has entered into in
respect of an investment, the other Contracting Party shall recognize the validity of the
subrogation in favour of such Contracting Party or agency thereof to any right or title
held by the investor.
2. A Contracting Party or any agency thereof which is subrogated to
the rights of an investor in accordance with paragraph (1) of this Article, shall be
entitled in all circumstances to the same rights as those of the investor in respect of
the investment concerned and its related returns. Such rights may be exercised by the
Contracting Party or any agency thereof or by the investor if the Contracting Party or any
agency thereof so autorizes.
Article XI: Investment in Financial Services
1. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a
Contracting Party from adopting or maintaining reasonable measures for prudential reasons,
such as:
a. the protection of investors, depositors, financial market
participants, policy-holders, policy-claimants, or persons to whom a fiduciary duty is
owed by a financial institution;
b. the maintenance of the safety, soundness, integrity or financial
responsibility of financial institutions; and
c. ensuring the integrity and stability of a Contracting Party's
financial system.
2. Notwithstanding paragraphs (1), (2) and (4) of Article IX, and
without limiting the applicability of paragraph (3) of Article IX, a Contracting Party may
prevent or limit transfers by a financial institution to, or for the benefit of, an
affiliate of or person related to such institution or provider, through the equitable,
non-discriminatory and good faith application of measures relating to maintenance of the
safety, soundness, integrity or financial responsibility of financial institutions.
3.
a. Where an investor submits a claim to arbitration under Article
XIII, and the disputing Contracting Party invokes paragraphs (1) or (2) above, the
tribunal established pursuant to Article XIII (the "Article XIII Tribunal")
shall, at the request of that Contracting Party, seek a report in writing from the
Contracting Parties on the issue of whether and to what extent the said paragraphs are a
valid defense to the claim of the investor. The Article XIII Tribunal may not proceed
pending receipt of a report under this Article.
b. Pursuant to a request received in accordance with subparagraph 3
(a), the Contracting Parties shall proceed in accordance with Article XV, to prepare a
written report, either on the basis of agreement following consultations, or by means of
an arbitral tribunal established pursuant to Article XV ("the Article XV
Tribunal"). The consultations shall be between the competent authorities for
financial services of the Contracting Parties. The report shall be transmitted to the
Article XIII Tribunal, and shall be binding upon it.
c. Where, within 70 days of the referral by the Article XM Tribunal,
no request for the establishment of an Article XV Tribunal pursuant to subparagraph 3(b)
has been made and no report has been received by the Article XIII Tribunal, it may proceed
to decide the matter.
4. Article XV Tribunals for disputes on prudential issues and other
financial matters shall have the necessary expertise relevant to the specific financial
service in dispute.
5. Sub-paragraph 3(b) of Article II does not apply in respect of
financial services.
Article XII: Taxation Measures
1. Except as set out in this Article, nothing in this Agreement shall
apply to taxation measures.
2. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations
of the Contracting Parties under any tax convention. In the event of any inconsistency
between the provisions of this Agreement and any such convention, the provisions of that
convention apply to the extent of the inconsistency.
3. Subject to paragraph (2), a claim by an investor that a tax measure
of a Contracting Party is in breach of an agreement between the central government
authorities of a Contracting Party and the investor concerning an investment shall be
considered a claim for breach of this Agreement unless the taxation authorities of the
Contracting Parties, no later than six months after being notified of the claim by the
investor, jointly determine that the measure does not contravene such agreement.
4. Article VIII may be applied to a taxation measure unless the
taxation authorities of the Contracting Parties jointly determine that the measure is not
an expropriation, no later than six months after being notified by an investor that he
disputes a taxation measure.
5. If the taxation authorities of the Contracting Parties fail to
reach the joint determinations specified in paragraphs (3) and (4) within six months after
being notified, the investor may submit its claim for resolution under Article XIII.
Article XIII: Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and the Host
Contracting Party
1. Any dispute between one Contracting Party and an investor of the
other Contracting Party, relating to a claim by the investor that a measure taken or not
taken by the former Contracting Party is in breach of this Agreement, and that the
investor has incurred loss or damage by reason of, or arising out of, that breach, shall,
to the extent possible, be settled amicably between them.
2. If a dispute has not been settled amicably within a period of six
months from the date on which it was initiated, it may be submitted by the investor to
arbitration in accordance with paragraph (4). For the purposes of this paragraph, a
dispute is considered to be initiated when the investor of one Contracting Party has
delivered notice in writing to the other Contracting Party alleging that a measure taken
or not taken by the latter Contracting Party is in breach of this Agreement, and that the
investor has incurred loss or damage by reason of, or arising out of, that breach.
3. An investor may submit a dispute as referred to in paragraph (1) to
arbitration in accordance with paragraph (4) only if:
a. the investor has consented in writing thereto;
b. the investor has waived its right to initiate or continue any other
proceedings in relation to the measure that is alleged to be in breach of this Agreement
before the courts or tribunals of the Contracting Party concerned or in a dispute
settlement procedure of any kind;
c. if the matter involves taxation, the conditions specified in
paragraph 5 of Article XII have been fulfilled; and
d. not more than three years have elapsed from the date on which the
investor first acquired, or should have first acquired, knowledge of the alleged breach
and knowledge that the investor has incurred loss or damage.
4. The dispute may, at the election of the investor concerned, be
submitted to arbitration under:
a. The International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes
(ICSID), established pursuant to the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes
between States and Nationals of other States, opened for signature at Washington 18 March,
1965 (ICSID Convention), provided that both the disputing Contracting Party and the
Contracting Party of the investor are parties to the ICSID Convention; or
b. the Additional Facility Rules of ICSID, provided that either the
disputing Contracting Party or the Contracting Party of the investor, but not both, is a
party to the ICSID Convention; or
c. an international arbitrator or ad hoc arbitration tribunal
established under the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International
Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
5. Each Contracting Party hereby gives its unconditional consent to
the submission of a dispute to international arbitration in accordance with the provisions
of this Article.
6.
a. The consent given under paragraph (5), together with either the
consent given under paragraph (3), or the consents given under paragraph (12), shall
satisfy the requirements for:
i. written consent of the parties to a dispute for purposes of Chapter
II (Jurisdiction of the Centre) of the ICSID Convention and for purposes of the Additional
Facility. Rules; and
ii. an "agreement in writing" for purposes of Article 11 of
the United Nations Convention for the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral
Awards, done at New York, June 10, 1958 ("New York Convention").
b. Any arbitration under this Article shall be held in a State that is
a party to the New York Convention, and claims submitted to arbitration shall be
considered to arise out of a commercial relationship or transaction for the purposes of
Article I of that Convention.
7. A tribunal established under this Article shall decide the issues
in dispute in accordance with this Agreement and applicable rules of international law.
A tribunal established under this Article may order an interim measure of protection to
preserve the rights of a disputing party, or to ensure that the tribunal's jurisdiction is
made fully effective, including an order to preserve evidence in the possession or control
of a disputing party or to protect the tribunal's jurisdiction. The tribunal may not order
attachment or enjoin the application of the measure alleged to constitute a breach of this
Agreement. The tribunal may, inter alia., make recommendations consistent with this
paragraph.
(SIC)
9. A tribunal established under this Article may award, separately or
in combination, only:
a. monetary damages and any applicable interest;
b. restitution of property, in which case the award shall provide that
the disputing Contracting Party may pay monetary damages and any applicable interest in
lieu of restitution.
The tribunal may also award costs in accordance with the applicable arbitration rules.
10. An award of arbitration shall be final and binding and shall be
enforceable in the territory of each of the Contracting Parties.
11. Any proceedings under this Article are without prejudice to the
rights of the Contracting Parties under Articles XIV and XV.
12.
a. A claim that a Contracting Party is in breach of this
Agreement, and that an enterprise that is a juridical person incorporated or duly
constituted in accordance with applicable laws of that Contracting Party has incurred loss
or damage by reason of, or arising out of, that breach, may be brought by an investor of
the other Contracting Party acting on behalf of an enterprise which the investor owns or
controls directly or indirectly. In such a case
i. any award shall be made to the affected enterprise;
ii. the consent to arbitration of both the investor and the enterprise
shall he required;
iii. both the investor and enterprise must waive any right to initiate
or continue any other proceedings in relation to the measure that is alleged to be in
breach of this Agreement before the courts or tribunals of the Contracting Party concerned
or in a dispute settlement procedure of any kind; and
iv. the investor may not make a claim if more than three years have
elapsed from the date on which the enterprise first acquired, or should have first
acquired, knowledge of the alleged breach and knowledge that it has incurred loss or
damage.
b. Notwithstanding subparagraph 12(a), where a disputing Contracting
Party has deprived a disputing investor of control of an enterprise, the following shall
not be required:
i. a consent to arbitration by the enterprise under 12(a)(ii); and
ii. a waiver from the enterprise under 12(a)(iii).
Article XIV: Consultations and Exchange of Information
Either Contracting Party may request consultations on the interpretation or application
of this Agreement. The other Contracting Party shall give sympathetic consideration to the
request. Upon request by either Contracting Party, information shall be exchanged on the
measures of the other Contracting Party that may have an impact on new investments,
investments or returns covered by this Agreement.
Article XV: Disputes between the Contracting Parties
1. Any dispute between the Contracting Parties concerning the
interpretation or application of this Agreement shall, whenever possible, be settled
amicably through consultations.
2. If a dispute cannot be settled through consultations, it shall, at
the request of either Contracting Party, be submitted to an arbitral tribunal for decision
in accordance with this Article.
3. An arbitral tribunal shall be constituted in accordance with each
Article for each dispute. Within two months after receipt through diplomatic channels of
the request for arbitration, each Contracting Party shall appoint one member to the
arbitral tribunal. The two members shall then select a national of a third State who, upon
approval by the two Contracting Parties, shall be appointed Chairman of the arbitral
tribunal. The Chairman shall be appointed within two months from the date of appointment
of the other two members of the arbitral tribunal.
4. If within the periods specified in paragraph (3) of this Article
the necessary appointments have not been made, either Contracting Party may, in the
absence of any other agreement, invite the President of the International Court of Justice
to make the necessary appointments. If the President is a national of either Contracting
Party or is otherwise prevented from discharging the said function, the Vice-President
shall be invited to make the necessary appointments. If the Vice-President is a national
of either Contracting Party or is prevented from discharging the said function, the Member
of the International Court of Justice next in seniority, who is not a national of either
Contracting Party, shall be invited to make the necessary appointments.
5. The arbitral tribunal shall determine its own procedure. The
arbitral tribunal shall reach its decision by a majority of votes. Such decision shall be
binding on both Contracting Parties. Unless otherwise agreed, the decision of the arbitral
tribunal shall be rendered within six months of the appointment of-the Chairman in
accordance with paragraphs (3) or (4) of this Article.
6. Each Contracting Party shall bear the costs of its own member of
the arbitral tribunal and of its representation in the arbitral proceedings; the costs
related to the Chairman and any remaining costs shall be borne equally by the Contracting
Parties. The arbitral tribunal may, however, in its decision direct that a higher
proportion of costs shall be borne by one of the two Contracting Parties, and this award
shall be binding on both Contracting Parties.
7. The Contracting Parties shall, within 60 days of the decision of
the arbitral tribunal, reach agreement on the manner in which to resolve their dispute.
Such agreement shall normally implement the decision of the arbitral tribunal. If the
Contracting Parties fail to reach agreement, the Contracting Party bringing the dispute
shall be entitled to compensation or to suspend benefits of equivalent value to those
awarded by the panel.
Article XVI: Transparency
1. The Contracting Parties shall, within a two year period after the
entry into force of this Agreement, exchange letters listing, to the extent possible, any
existing measures that do not conform to the obligations in subparagraph (3)(a) of Article
11, Article IV or paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article V.
2. Each Contracting Party shall, to the extent practicable, ensure
that its laws, regulations, procedures, and administrative rulings of general application
respecting any matter covered by this Agreement are promptly published or otherwise made
available in such a manner as to enable interested persons and the other Contracting Party
to become acquainted with them.
Article XVII: Application and General Exceptions
1. This Agreement shall apply to any investment made by an investor of
one Contracting Party in the territory of the other Contracting Party before or after the
entry into force of this Agreement.
2. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a
Contracting Party from adopting, maintaining or enforcing any measure otherwise consistent
with this Agreement that it considers appropriate to ensure that investment activity in
its territory is undertaken in a manner sensitive to environmental concerns.
3. Provided that such measures are not applied in an arbitrary or
unjustifiable manner, or do not constitute a disguised restriction on international trade
or investment, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a Contracting Party
from adopting or maintaining measures, including environmental measures:
a. necessary to ensure compliance with laws and regulations that are
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement;
b. necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health; or
c. relating to the conservation of living or non-living exhaustible
natural resources if such measures are made effective in conjunction with restrictions on
domestic production or consumption.
Article XVIII: Entry Into Force
1. Each Contracting Party shall notify the other in writing through
diplomatic channels of the completion of the procedures required in its territory for the
entry into force of this Agreement. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of
the latter of the two notifications.
2. This Agreement shall remain in force unless either Contracting
Party notifies the other Contracting Party in writing of its intention to terminate it.
The termination of this Agreement shall become effective one year after notice of
termination has been received by the other Contracting Party. In respect of investments or
commitments to invest made prior to the date when the termination of this Agreement
becomes effective, the provisions of Articles I to XVII inclusive of this Agreement shall
remain in force for a period of fifteen years.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized to that
effect by their respective Governments, have signed this Treaty.
DONE at Guatemala this 12th day of September 1996, in duplicate, in the
English, French and Spanish languages, all texts being equally authentic.
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF |
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE |
CANADA |
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA |
Annex
1. In accordance with Article IV, subparagraph 2(d), Canada reserves
the right to make and maintain exceptions in the sectors or matters listed below:
- social services (i.e. public law enforcement; correctional services; income security
or insurance; social security or insurance; social welfare; public education; public
training; health and child care);
- services in any other sector;
- government securities - as described in SIC 8152;
- residency requirements for ownership of oceanfront land;
- measures implementing the NorthWest Territories and the Yukon Oil and Gas Accords.
2. In accordance with Article IV, subparagraph 2(d), the Republic of
Panama reserves the right to make and maintain exceptions in the sectors or matters listed
below:
- acquisition of real estate situated within ten kilometres of the borders;
- retail trade;
- provision of postal and telegraphic services;
- fishing in Panamanian waters for products intended for domestic sale;
- broadcasting.
3. For the purpose of this Annex, "SIC" means, with respect
to Canada, Standard Industrial Classification numbers as set out in Statistics Canada, Standard
Industrial Classification, fourth edition, 1980.
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