About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative is funded by both the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. It assists ASEAN Member States (AMS) in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, or AANZFTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.

Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming.

The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.

Project Summary

The RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), implemented RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realise the full benefits of RCEP through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise.

The following project is approved under RISP.

• Project Name: Study on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Reform – Introducing Safeguards in Modern Investment Agreements
• Project Objective: The project addresses the AANZFTA Committee on Investment’s (COI) Sectoral Strategic Directions Priorities Document (SSDP) to ‘Progress in Advancing the Work Programme for the Upgrade AANZFTA Investment Chapter’ and in particular, the COI Work Programme activity to review Section B (Investment Disputes between a Party and an Investor) of the Upgraded AANZFTA. It aims to support AANZFTA Parties’ consideration of modern ISDS safeguards included in recent agreements and ISDS reforms discussed in international fora, in the context of the review of the AANZFTA ISDS provisions. The project is designed with the following objectives:

o Provide AANZFTA Parties with the latest discussions and outcomes on ISDS reform in other fora.

o Enhance AANZFTA Parties’ understanding of the safeguards to protect governments’ right to regulate as introduced in newer International Investment Agreements (IIAs), and its usage under arbitration cases.

o Align AANZFTA Parties’ understanding on the potential benefits of introducing safeguards to the current ISDS provisions under the AANZFTA.

o Provide recommendations for AANZFTA Parties on the potential modern ISDS safeguard elements that are suitable to be considered for inclusion under the AANZFTA ISDS review.

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Program Background

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) is the Australian Government’s flagship infrastructure initiative for Southeast Asia. It partners with Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to foster inclusive growth through sustainable economic infrastructure (i.e. transport, energy, telecommunications, and utilities).

Delivered through a single team, the initiative is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in collaboration with EY, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One. The Program’s Head Office is in Bangkok.

P4I focuses on infrastructure prioritisation and planning, policy and regulation, and procurement and project preparation (P4I does not finance the delivery of infrastructure). All services aim to address gender equality and social inclusion, and disaster risk reduction and climate change issues. P4I can respond to rapid requests, but ultimately aims to develop longer-term infrastructure engagement.