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CPTPP is a new-generation FTA covering many aspects in addition to the traditional areas such as trade of goods, services. Non-traditional areas such as labor, environment, intellectual property, etc. all have significant commitments and are specified in each chapter. Enterprises of state member must meet certain conditions applicable to each area to enjoy respective benefits. As for foreign investment, the host country has the right to refuse to apply benefits to foreign investors or its investment if they do not meet the requirements of the CPTPP.
For avoidance of doubt, investment means every asset that an investor owns or controls, directly or indirectly, that has the characteristics of an investment, including such characteristics as the commitment of capital or other resources, the expectation of gain or profit, or the assumption of risk. Forms that an investment may take include: enterprise, forms of equity participation in an enterprise, debt instruments and loans, intellectual property rights, etc. Requirements for enjoying foreign investment benefits are provided indirectly in the way of permitting State Members deny of benefits under some circ*mstances as stipulated in Article 9.15:
“Article 9.15: Denial of Benefits
1.A Party may deny the benefits of this Chapter to an investor of another Party that is an enterprise of that other Party and to investments of that investor if the enterprise:
(a) is owned or controlled by a person of a non-Party or of the denying Party; and
(b) has no substantial business activities in the territory of any Party other than the denying Party.
2.A Party may deny the benefits of this Chapter to an investor of another Party that is an enterprise of that other Party and to investments of that investor if persons of a non-Party own or control the enterprise and the denying Party adopts or maintains measures with respect to the non-Party or a person of the non-Party that prohibit transactions with the enterprise or that would be violated or circumvented if the benefits of this Chapter were accorded to the enterprise or to its investments.”
Most commitments in the Investment Chapter apply to only investors and its investment that come from CPTPP Member States. However, Vietnam may deny the benefits to an investor of State Member that is an enterprise and to investments of that investor if the enterprise:
- is owned or controlled by an individual or enterprise of a Non- State Member.
- is owned or controlled by an individual or enterprise of Vietnam.
- has no substantial business activities in the territory of any State Member other than Vietnam.
By the above permitted denial, the CPTPP applies investment benefits selectively, restricts individual or enterprise of a Non-State Member to taking advantage of benefits from CPTPP. When performing investment licensing procedures in Vietnam, foreign enterprises that come from State Member must present internal documents indicating the owner or controller to demonstrate that their business is out of permitted denial. Besides, these investors must have substantial business activities in the territory of any State Member other than Vietnam. It is necessary to wait for more guidance from the competent state authorities on implementation of CPTPP.
The CPTPP Agreement restricts investment under its protection. CPTPP protects investment which is in its territory of an investor of CPTPP State Member in existence as of the date of entry into force of CPTPP for those State Members or established, acquired, or expanded thereafter. Therefore, the investments ended or terminated prior to the effective date of CPTPP in Vietnam and host country will not gain the benefits under CPTPP.
In the meantime, the investor could also challenge the denial decision of the host country through the dispute settlement mechanism between investor and state (ISDS).
Vietnam has ratified the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership – CPTPP on Jan 14th, 2019. This Agreement include 11 countries New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Peru, Australia and Vietnam.
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