The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has commenced preliminary consultations with Argentina, Pakistan and Türkiye with a view to renegotiating our decades-old bilateral investment treaties.

• Argentina (Date of entry into force: 11 January 1997)
  Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Argentine Republic on the Promotion and Protection of Investments, and Protocol
• Pakistan (Date of entry into force: 14 October 1998)
  Agreement between Australia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the Promotion and Protection of Investments
• Türkiye (Date of entry into force: 29 June 2009)
  Agreement between Australia and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments

Key renegotiation objectives

Consistent with the Government's November 2022 policy, key objectives to be addressed in the renegotiation of our BITs with Argentina, Pakistan, and Türkiye include modernising investment protection provisions to reflect current best practice. We aim to ensure there are explicit protections for governments' right to regulate in the public interest (including in relation to the environment and public health) and to remove or reform investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions. At the same time, we seek to ensure that investors' rights remain protected and that we maximise opportunities to facilitate investment flows that support energy transition, jobs and economic prosperity.

Stakeholder consultations

The Department anticipates conducting roundtables with interested stakeholders with dates to be advised. To register your interest to attend an in-person or virtual consultation session please email: BITreformsubmissions@dfat.gov.au.

Stakeholder consultation submissions

In renegotiating BITs, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) consulted widely with a range of stakeholders. A list of submissions received is published below.

DFAT will continue to provide information and updates on this website. Requests for additional information can be made by email to BITreformsubmissions@dfat.gov.au.

Submissions received

• Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) [PDF 348 KB]
• Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET) [PDF 706 KB]
• Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia (BCSDA) [PDF 283 KB]
  • BCSDA Attachment – Argentina BIT [PDF 387 KB]
  • BCSDA Attachment – Pakistan BIT [PDF 417 KB]
  • BCSDA Attachment - Türkiye BIT [PDF 326 KB]
• Combined Retired Union Members Association of New South Wales (CRUMA)  [PDF 1 MB]
• Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) Victoria [PDF 173 KB]
• DigitalTrade4.EU [PDF 508 KB]
  • DigitalTrade4.EU Attachment [PDF 1.8 MB]
• Dr Stephanie Triefus and Mr Dmytro Cherneha
• Fortescue (commercial-in-confidence)
• Friends of the Earth [PDF 117 KB]
  • Friends of the Earth Attachment [PDF 6.7 MB]
• GeneEthics [PDF 261 KB]
• New South Wales Retired Teachers' Association [PDF 227 KB]
• Orica (commercial-in-confidence)
• Public Services International [PDF 287 KB]
• Submission – Individual 1 [PDF 183 KB]
• Submission – Individual 2 [PDF 286 KB]
• Submission – Individual 3 [PDF 189 KB]
• Submission – Individual 4 [PDF 745 KB]
• Submission – Individual 5 [PDF 853 KB]
• Submission – Individual 6 [PDF 194 KB]
• Sutherland Shire Environment Centre (SSEC) [PDF 264 KB]
• Uniting Church in Australia – Synod of Victoria and Tasmania [PDF 293 KB]