EU Opens Arbitration Proceedings Against Algeria Over Trade Restrictions
The EU opened arbitration proceedings with Algeria under the EU-Algeria Association Agreement, claiming that Algeria's trade and investment restrictions violate the agreement.
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Specifically, the EU requested the establishment of an arbitration panel regarding Algeria's trade barriers, which include "an import licensing system virtually equivalent to an import ban on some products, a total ban on the import of marble and ceramic products, a cap on foreign ownership of and onerous re-registration requirements for companies importing goods into Algeria, and an overarching import substitution policy." The bloc previously requested consultations with Algeria in June 2024 to resolve the dispute to no avail, leading to the arbitration proceedings.
The EU appointed its arbitrator, noting that Algeria should appoint the second arbitrator in the dispute within two months. The third arbitrator will be appointed by the Association Council under the agreement. The EU selected Isabelle Van Damme as its arbitrator. Van Damme is a professor of international economic law at the World Trade Institute and of counsel at Van Bael & Bellis.