The World Trade Institute (WTI) of the University of Bern hosts a conference entitled “Is a Multilateral Investment Treaty Needed?” on June 19, 2017 with the support of the World Economic Forum and the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS).

Attempts at crafting a multilateral agreement on investment have proven repeatedly contentious. The question of whether a multilateral investment agreement is needed, desirable or politically feasible is thus of considerable policy salience. Even if one believes that a strong case can yet be made in favour of such an agreement ­ whether on substantive grounds or for the needed settlement of investment disputes, the question remains what kind of agreement should be proposed. This conference plans to debate the many important questions emerging from the negotiation of a possible multilateral framework agreement on investment.