I think that's the term applied to nations ruled by companies rather than Govts.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... settlement

Well it will be the case if they sign the Pan Pacific treaty. The idea of opening trade between the EU and the US is good, but the problem will be the additional aspects that strip governments of all rights. It will make surrendering of sovereignty to the EU small potatoes in comparison. UKIP really need to wake up to this deal.

Do we want an open market with the US? Their food is packed of all sorts of nasties, high fructose corn syrup, and antibiotics in meat. Do we want them to be able to innundate the markets with their cheap crap?

What a Daily Mail level of nonsense panic and misrepresentation that piece is.

ITSD is a process that allows a company or investor to deal with disputes arising from interference with their business by a foreign sovereign power in a setting where that power isn't absolute. It means that a country can't promise to buy something in dollars, but then just decide to pay in the local Zloty at a fraudulent exchange rate (and then make a special law allowing themselves to do that). Countries which refuse to arbitrate in this way are the likes of Argentina, who steal entire oil companies.

What you, and your foolish correspondent, are failing to take into account, is that countries like Argentina are quite entitled, whenever they choose, to make those laws, screw the investor and get on with [LIFTED] anyway. The reason why we don't do that is the same reason why Argentina shouldn't - you don't get any investors after behaving like that. Failure to go to arbitration is a mark of desperation or despotism, not of moral courage.