International Arbitration: A Tool to Manage Risk When Dealing in High Growth/High Risk Markets

By K&L Gates partner, Ian Meredith, and published in The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel.

As many businesses experience declining growth in their domestic and traditional markets, they are looking increasingly towards the "BRIC" countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and other high growth economies outside their traditional trading areas.  The report of the International Monetary Fund entitled the "World Economic Outlook" which was released on 9 April 9, 2008 downgraded projections for growth in 2008 and 2009 across the major Advanced Economies including those of the US, Canada and Western Europe whilst continuing to project relatively higher rates of growth across certain Emerging and Developing Economies including China and India.  It seems likely that the move by many US businesses to target Emerging and Developing Economies will gather pace.

This article will assess the extent to which international arbitration can play a role in assisting US businesses in managing commercial risk when seeking to invest and/or trade in higher risk overseas markets and it will provide a number of suggestions on ways to limit risk[1].

Read the full article here.